Brittney Griner: 1st Photo Of WNBA Star As She Arrives In U.S. From Russian Prison

Brittney Griner is backmost successful the United States harmless and dependable aft being held successful Russia for 10 months. The WNBA player, 32, was seen for the archetypal clip aft her level landed successful San Antonio, Texas connected Friday, December 9. She was photographed getting disconnected an craft successful the aboriginal hours of Dec. 9. The White House National Security Council Communications Coordinator said Brittney was successful “very bully spirits” arsenic she arrived home.

Brittney Griner arrives backmost successful the U.S. (Eric Gay/AP/Shutterstock)

Brittney’s imprisonment successful Russia had been protested, with galore Americans calling for her release, arsenic good arsenic officials speaking retired connected her behalf. Now, she’s yet returned location to beryllium with her wife Cherelle, 29, who greeted her alongside her parents successful Texas.

Brittney received aesculapian attraction successful Texas upon her return, according to People. WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert revealed that she’d conscionable Cherelle and her parents determination arsenic well. The commissioner besides released a statement showing that the league was arrogant to person the subordinate backmost successful the States. ” The WNBA is grateful beyond measurement to the Biden Administration, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and each those who played a relation successful bringing BG location today,” she said.

Brittney’s merchandise was announced connected Thursday by President Joe Biden. It was reported that she was released successful exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who had been arrested successful 2008 for conspiring to termination Americans. The president spoke astir however overmuch enactment went into securing her merchandise aft she was arrested successful a White House property conference. “These past fewer months person been hellhole for Brittney,” helium said. “I’m gladsome to beryllium capable to accidental Brittney is successful bully spirits. She’s relieved to yet beryllium heading home, and the information remains that she’s mislaid months of her life, experienced a needless trauma. She deserves space, privateness and clip with her loved ones to retrieve and heal from her clip being wrongfully detained.”

Cherelle besides expressed her gratitude to the president for each the enactment helium enactment guardant successful helping her instrumentality home. “I’m conscionable lasting present overwhelmed with emotions, but the astir important emotion that I person close present is conscionable sincere gratitude for President Biden and his full administration,” she said.

During Brittney’s imprisonment and trial, a fig of stars and her woman spoke retired calling for her to beryllium released. Celebrities like LeBron James showed enactment for her. “For implicit 100 days, BG has faced inhumane conditions successful a Russian situation and has been denied communications with her household and loved ones. As a decorated Olympian and subordinate of an elite planetary sports community, BG’s detention indispensable beryllium resolved retired of respect for the sanctity of each athletics and for each Americans traveling internationally,” the NBA prima said connected behalf of his institution Uninterrupted.

Brittney is seen handcuffed successful a Russian prison. (YURI KOCHETKOV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

While Brittney’s merchandise was surely exciting, Biden besides admitted that the medication was not capable to negociate the merchandise of Paul Whelan, who is besides being held successful Russia aft being accused of espionage. Both the president and Cherelle explained that they were going to support moving tirelessly to merchandise Paul.

Brittney was arrested for possession of marijuana vape cartridges successful March, soon aft Russia’s warfare with Ukraine began. She was tried and recovered guilty successful August. Despite her lawyer’s appeals, she was sentenced to 9 years successful a Russian penal colony, which she had been transferred to the penal colony successful November earlier her merchandise was finalized. During her imprisonment, Cherelle said that she had constricted contact with her, revealing that she’d lone spoken to her 3 times since her apprehension successful a November quality on The View.

Click to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter to get the hottest celeb news.