WNBA star Brittney Griner expressed her immense joy for the Americans who were recently released in a significant prisoner swap after being detained in Russia for several years. Griner shared her feelings with reporters from Paris, where she is currently competing in basketball for Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games.
“Today is a great day. We’ll discuss it further later on. Right now, I am completely thrilled for the families. Whenever Americans come home, it’s a victory,” Griner stated enthusiastically.
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In February 2022, Griner was apprehended in Moscow after authorities discovered two vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her backpack. She was handed a nine-year sentence by the Russian court and endured poor living conditions in prison, with limited exposure to sunlight. Her freedom was eventually restored in December 2022 following a prisoner swap deal that involved the exchange of her for the Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
During Thursday’s match, the U.S. women’s team triumphed over Belgium with a score of 87-74, ensuring their spot in the quarterfinals at the Paris Games. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, continues to shine on the court.