?It?s Like When You Go for the Olympics,? WNBA Star Brittney Griner Returns to the Hardwood and Speaks Her Heart Out After a 10-Month Detainment in Russia

The WNBA had missed Brittney Griner’s action for the entirety of the 2022 season. Drug charges and a subsequent 10-month detention in Russia had kept Griner away from both the American soil and the hardwood. However, the 2014 WNBA champion spread a smile across her fans’ face after proclaiming that she will be back in action soon. Turns out, an effervescent crowd witnessed Brittney Griner’s much awaited return to the court on Friday.

Brittney Griner has once again donned the Phoenix Mercury’s colors. Griner returned to the court in a preseason game against the Los Angeles Sparks. The 32-year-old put out a decent display after the long break and she also spoke her heart out during the emotional night.

Brittney Griner gets candid during her iconic return to the court

The Phoenix Mercury and their supporters gave the warmest of welcomes to Brittney Griner. The 9x-All-Star lined up for the national anthem with her teammates and she was introduced before the action began. The crowd was totally electrified to witness Griner’s iconic return. Amid the ovations, the national anthem had hit differently for Brittney Griner.

“Hearing the national anthem, it definitely hit different. It’s like when you go for the Olympics, you’re sitting there, about to get gold put on your neck, the flags are going up and the anthem is playing, it just hits different,”?Brittney Griner said in an interview with cbsnews.com. She also added that it means a lot for her to be back in action.

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Immediately after the emotional and warm welcome, the 2014 WNBA champion lit up her comeback by scoring a turnaround jump shot. Griner finished the game with 10 points and three rebounds.

Brittney Griner’s comeback means a lot to her side

Just like Brittney Griner, her coach Vanessa Nygaard to get emotional during the national anthem and the introductions. Nygaard said she got chills after exchanging glances with Griner. “Just to see her back out there – it’s an absolute miracle. It was amazing. It’s giving me chills again,” Nygaard said.

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During the third quarter of the game, Griner’s teammate Sophie Cunningham injured her knee. It was Griner who helped the medical staff carry Cunningham off the court. With a decent performance and a warm gesture, Brittney Griner has now loudly proclaimed that she is back to lead the Mercury.

While Griner feels extremely happy to make it back to the hardwood, she is also determined to not take a day for granted. The Pheonix side and Griner will start their regular season run, next Friday against the Los Angeles Sparks.