WNBA Star Brittney Griner Celebrates MLK Jr. Day with Fans in Phoenix

Brittney Griner has now made her first public appearance after returning to the country on December 8. She spent around ten months in Russian captivity after she was detained in a Moscow airport for carrying small amounts of cannabis oil in her belongings. Griner was in Russia to play in the Russian Premier League for the UMMC Ekaterinburg basketball club. After continuous negotiations, the 2014 WNBA champion was eventually released by Russia in exchange for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout in a one-for-one swap deal.

Her release was celebrated by her fans and many celebrities in the country. After the release, Griner released a public statement thanking everyone who played a part in her release.

Brittney Griner makes a surprise public appearance on MLK Jr. day

In her first public statement after the release, Brittney Griner noted that she would play for the Phoenix Mercury next season. Griner added that she would meet Mercury fans during the season and thank them personally. However, now she has made a surprise appearance meeting fans in person in Phoenix. She also celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. day with the fans. As people were gathered for a march on MLK Jr. day, Griner and her spouse Cherelle made an appearance.

The fans were elated to see the eight-time WNBA All-Star for the first time in person. Griner posed for pictures with many. As per reports from Jonathan McCall of 12News, she said she is happy to be home.

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After spending months in a Russian prison and missing out on the WNBA season, Griner is all set to return to the hardwood in the upcoming season. The fans and the team missed the presence of the towering center last season.

Both the Phoenix Mercury and the Phoenix Suns suffered major off-the-court controversies and issues last season. This hampered their performance on the court. Griner’s absence was a huge blow to the team as well. The eventual champions the Las Vegas Aces swept the Mercury in the first round of the playoffs. With Griner’s return next season, the team will be looking to make a deeper playoff run.

NBA on MLK Jr. day

On MLK Jr. day, many NBA players, along with NBA teams and the league, also paid their tributes to Martin Luther King Jr. The Washington Wizards were seen wearing shirts reading ‘now is the time to make justice a reality for all’ during warmup.

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The Milwaukee Bucks hosted a non-profit fair during their game. The Sacramento Kings were wearing warmup shirts with ‘I have a dream’ written on them. Every team paid their respect to Martin Luther King Jr. one way or the other. Many players took to social media to show respect for the civil rights icon.