WNBA Star Brittney Griner's Future Still Uncertain Despite Playing, Dunking in First Workout Since Her Release From Russia

By BERT HOOVER First Posted: Dec 13, 2022 06:04 AM EST

Brittney Griner is back in the United States after her release from Russia, but her WNBA future still remains uncertain.

On Sunday, the Phoenix Mercury star reportedly hit a court in San Antonio, Texas, and made her first dunk since she got back home from Russia. TMZ reported that it was Griner's first hoops sesh in almost 10 months.

The WNBA star's agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, told ESPN that the session was "light," but she was still able to shake the rim. Colas said Griner has yet to reveal what she will do with her basketball career after her release.

"If she wants to play, it will be for her to share. She has the holidays to rest and decide what's next without any pressure," Colas noted, adding that Griner is "doing really, really well" and "seems to have endured this in pretty incredible ways."

WNBA Star Brittney Griner's Release

Brittney Griner has been relatively quiet in the media since her freedom. She was only seen in a video smiling and talking to the staff on her plane ride home, Fox News reported.

Griner, who was imprisoned in Russia on drug charges, was freed on Thursday after nearly 10 months of captivity. Her release came after the U.S. agreed to release notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Bout, known as the "Merchant of Death," was sentenced to 25 years in prison by a U.S. judge in 2012 on charges of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and plotting to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons illegally to a terrorist organization.

According to Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Griner wanted to draw more attention to other Americans detained in other countries, like Marine veteran Paul Whelan.

Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan, was arrested in Russia in 2018 and was sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in prison on espionage charges.

A prisoner swap deal negotiated by the Biden administration freed Griner from jail in Russia in exchange for the release of notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

President Joe Biden issued an executive grant of clemency to release the Russian arms dealer from a federal prison in Illinois in exchange for Griner. Biden told the press that they still have not forgotten about Whelan.

The president said, "We will keep negotiating in good faith for Paul's release." However, U.S. officials admitted that bringing him home might be harder, as his case is going to be treated differently by the Russians because of the "sham espionage" charges against him.

WNBA Star Brittney Griner's Wife Thanked Everyone Who Helped Them

At present, Lindsay Kagawa Colas said Brittney Griner has been spending time with her wife and other family members, enjoying barbeque diners and some of her other favorite snacks, according to TMZ.

Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, thanked everyone who helped or had a part in the WNBA star's release.

In her lengthy thank-you note she posted on Instagram on Saturday, Cherelle expressed gratitude to dozens of people and groups, including President Joe Biden's administration, the WNBA, Greg Stanton, Sheila Jackson Lee, Colin Allred, Gayle King, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and Tamika Mallory.

"As BG and I start our journey to heal our minds, bodies, and spirits -- I wanted to personally say thank you to some of the hands; seen and unseen, that helped make it possible for me to see my wife again! I appreciate each and every one of you!" Cherelle noted.

Cherelle also called for the freedom of Paul Whelan from a Russian prison.

"Let's continue to use our hands, voices, platforms, and resources to bring Paul and all Americans home. All families deserve to be whole!" she noted.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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