Brittney Griner strolled along the sidelines about 1 1/2 hours before the Phoenix Mercury played Friday night, giving hugs and high-fiving her teammates, coaches and opponents.
Then it was a bit of stretching, a bit of shooting, and a bit of skill work to get ready for a basketball game.
Just like before.
“I’m thankful to be here, that’s for sure,” said Griner. “I’m not going to take a day for granted.”
Griner returned to game action for the first time since a nearly 10-month detention in Russia on drug-related charges ended with a December prisoner swap.
The seven-time All-Star, who missed the entire 2022 season due to the detention, finished with 10 points and three rebounds in a WNBA preseason game against the Los Angeles Sparks.
The 6-foot-9 Griner looked good, especially given the long break, casually throwing down a one-handed dunk during warmup.
She stood with her teammates as the national anthem was played and received a loud ovation from the home crowd when introduced for the tip.
“When I heard the national anthem, it definitely resonated differently,” said Griner. “It’s like going to the Olympics, you’re sitting there, about to get gold around your neck, the flags go up and the national anthem plays, it just hits different.
“To be here today… it means a lot.”
Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard said the national anthem and introductions were emotional for the entire team.
“We looked at each other and just had chills,” Nygaard said. “Last year we were here for everything. I’m getting emotional now. Just to see her there again – it’s an absolute miracle. It was amazing. It gives me chills again.”
Once the game got underway, the 32-year-old Griner went straight to work and scored on a turnaround jumper early in the first quarter.
A few minutes later, she was fouled on another reversal and sank both free throws.
She even had a cameo with the medical staff in the third quarter. Teammate Sophie Cunningham went down with a knee injury and Griner helped carry her off the field so she wouldn’t have to put any strain on her leg.
“When one of us goes down, we’re always there,” said Griner. “That’s one thing about this team, we’re always there for each other. We have each other’s backs, great.
Griner’s return to the Mercury sparks hopes that the franchise can go to the WNBA Finals once again.
The former Baylor star helped the franchise win its third title in 2014, averaging 17.7 points and 7.6 rebounds over her nine-year career.
She was runner-up for Most Valuable Player in 2021, when the Mercury also played in the Finals but lost to the Chicago Sky.
Griner said she was rustier on the track than expected. But considering the trials and emotions of the past 18 months, it was a pretty good night.
“Not where I want it to be, but on the right track,” said Griner. “We are making the right steps.”
Phoenix opens the regular season in Los Angeles next Friday.
The added exposure to detention in Russia for having cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage has given Griner a platform to advocate for other Americans detained abroad.
She has been an LGBTQ+ activist since coming out publicly in 2013 and became the first openly gay athlete to be sponsored by Nike.
Griner announced in April that she is working with Bring Our Families Home, a campaign launched last year by the relatives of American hostages and wrongful prisoners held abroad.
She said her team has been in touch with the family of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is being held in Russia on espionage charges.
