Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner Opens Up On Prison Experience And Having Suicidal Thoughts

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Griner is getting ready for her 11th WNBA season but is now discussing a difficult time in her life. She has now sat down and opened up about her experience being in Russsian Prison and the toll it took on her mental health. Griner revealed details about her journey in her memoir titled “Coming Home.” Additionally, Griner has now sat down for an interview detailing the 11 months she spent in prison. Griner spoke to Robin Roberts about the incident, which was an emotional discussion.

In February 2022, Griner was detained by Russian authorities for allegedly possessing cannabis vaporizer cartridges in her luggage. As a result, Griner was on trial for two weeks and was found guilty of possession and rug smuggling. Finally, The WNBA star was sentenced to nine years in prison. Griner was sent to a Russian labor camp to serve out her sentence. The U.S. government negotiated her release for months. Fortunately, Griner persevered through a terrible situation and is now comfortable enough to talk through her experience fully.

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Brittney Griner Details Suicidal Thoughts From Incident

 
 
 
 
 
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Griner discusses the circumstances she faced while being held in the video. Additionally, She gave details of her traumatizing experience. The Russian Prison deprived the WNBA star, of basic needs. She said her mattress “had a huge blood stain on it.” The prison did not provide basic needs like soap or toilet paper. Additionally, Griner says the entire experience was dehumanizing. She recalled her lowest moment, saying, “There was a huge knife sitting on the table, and I was just like, ‘No, this is going to be a ride.’ You gotta do what you gotta do to survive.” Thankfully, Griner survived and made it home.

Brittney Griner was released after the U.S. Government negotiated a prisoner exchange with Russia. Furthermore, She signed with the Phoenix Meurary when she got back to the United States. Griner averaged over 17 points and 6 rebounds per game in her return season. Additionally, Griner also recently announced she is expecting her first child with her wife, Cherelle Griner. Brittney Griner couldn’t be happier to be done with her troubles. Overall, Opening up about something so personal and traumatic takes a lot of bravery. The WNBA season kicks off Tuesday, May 14, and it is shaping up to be a great season.

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Bill Richardson, Diplomat Who Helped Free Brittney Griner, Dies At 75

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Bill Richardson, the man many will know as the face of the diplomatic effort to free Brittney Griner from Russian detention, has died at his home in Massachusetts at the age of 75. Richardson was a congressman, cabinet secretary, UN ambassador, and two-term governor across a long and storied career in American politics.

“He lived his entire life in the service of others — including both his time in government and his subsequent career helping to free people held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. There was no person that Gov. Richardson would not speak with if it held the promise of returning a person to freedom. The world has lost a champion for those held unjustly abroad, and I have lost a mentor and a dear friend,” said Mickey Bergman. Bergman is the Vice President of the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, which Richardson founded and led.

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Political World Mourns Bill Richardson

After retiring from mainstream politics in 2011 after two terms as Governor of New Mexico, Richardson became a renowned political troubleshooter. Whether the public knew it or not, Richardson was a central figure in many of the efforts to free American citizens imprisoned abroad. However, it was a role Richardson cherished, once referring to himself as “the unofficial undersecretary for thugs.” He also ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, hoping to become the nation’s first Hispanic president. However, he dropped out after fourth-place finishes in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries.

While well-known to political junkies, Richardson hit a new level of public-facing attention in 2022. He became one of the central public-facing figures in the effort to free Brittney Griner from Russian detention. Richardson and Bergman made multiple trips to Russia and Eastern Europe to speak with their Russian contacts in hopes of bringing Griner home. They eventually managed to do so after the WNBA star spent nine months in a Russian prison. Richardson is reported to have died peacefully at home.

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SOURCE SPORTS: A’Ja Wilson, Brittney Griner, Breanna Stewart Highlight WNBA All-Star Starters

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The WNBA has announced the starters for the WNBA All-Star game. The rosters are highlighted by the return of Brittney Griner to the game, voted in by fans.

The game is set for July 15, and the overall leading vote recipients were Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart. The two will be captains for the game.

The other starters announced with Griner, Wilson, and Stewart include highly-touted Indiana Fever rookie Aliyah Boston. She will be the sixth rookie in league history to start the game. Joining Boston are guards Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young of Las Vegas; guard Arike Ogunbowale and forward Satou Sabally of the Dallas Wings; forward Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks; and guard Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm.

The 12 reserves will be selected next week by the coaches.

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Brittney Griner Harassed By YouTuber At Dallas Airport

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A condition of Britney’s Griner return to the WNBA after nearly a year spent in Russian detention concerned her in-season travel. The WNBA has long-held an anti-charter position to ensure fairness for all teams and their owners. However, fears for Griner’s safety, the WNBA allowed Griner to travel via charter flight for road games.

Despite this, the incident has once again been thrown into the spotlight after an incident at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. After two games against the Dallas Wings, members of the Phoenix Mercury were moving through DFW ahead of a Sunday game in Indiana. There, they were confronted by right-wing YouTuber Alex Stein, who has become well-known for his videos harassing politicians. In an excerpt of the video that Stein posted to his Twitter page, he is heard yelling “Do you still want to boycott America?” at Griner. After he is detained by team security and called “weird” by one of Griner’s teammates, Stein replies, “Why I am weird? She hates America.” It is unknown why Griner was not traveling via charter to Indiana.

WNBA Criticized For Griner Incident

Brittney Griner during a WNBA game
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 21: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the Chicago Sky during the second half of the WNBA game at Footprint Center on May 21, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The WNBA released a statement soon after the incident was first reported. “As we gather additional information about today’s incident at the Dallas airport, it has come to our attention that this was orchestrated by a social media figure and provocateur. His actions were inappropriate and unfortunate. The safety of Brittney Griner and all WNBA players is our top priority. Prior to the season, the WNBA worked together with the Phoenix Mercury and BG’s team to ensure her safety during her travel, which included charter flights for WNBA games and assigned security personnel with her at all times. We remain steadfastly committed to the highest standards of security for players.”

In her owner statement, Griner’s teammate Brianna Turner argued that the incident should have never happened in the first place. “”Player safety while traveling should be at the forefront. People following with cameras saying wild remarks is never acceptable. Excessive harassment. Our team nervously huddled in a corner unsure how to move about. We demand better.” It’s unclear what, if any, changes the league will make as a result of this incident. This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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Brittney Griner Makes First WNBA Return To Home State Of Texas

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In an emotional homecoming, WNBA star Brittney Griner played in her home state of Texas for the first time since being released from Russian detention. Griner was born in Houston and stayed in-state for college, winning a National Championship with Baylor in 2012. However, she has played her entire WNBA career in Phoenix after the Mercury drafted her first overall in 2013.

Griner was in Texas to face the Dallas Wings. The Mercury were hoping to find their second win of the season, entering the matchup 1-3. Meanwhile, the Wings were 3-3 and looking to push their win percentage above .500. Griner was the joint-leading scorer with 24 points. However, a late rally from the Wings soured the evening as the Mercury fell 84-79. The teams will face off again on Friday.

Griner Feels The Love, College Jersey Retirement Teased

Aside from the game against the Wings, Griner also returned to her alma mater to meet the current crop of Baylor players. Furthermore, Baylor head coach Nicki Collen also raised the idea of retiring Griner’s jersey in the near future. “That’s the goal,” Collen said. “We’re opening a new arena. There’s no doubt that I want to see her jersey in the rafters.” Baylor’s new basketball arena, Foster Pavillion, is scheduled to open in January 2024. Collen, who coached Griner in the WNBA, was very keen to re-establish a positive relationship after taking over at Baylor in 2021. Furthermore, this represents a definitive shift in Griner’s relationship with Baylor. Griner’s college coach, Kim Mulkey, openly avoided discussing Griner’s detention in Russia. Furthermore, Griner has previously said that Mulkey demanded she hide her sexuality while Griner was at Baylor.

Griner also spoke about the reception she received in Texas. When her name was announced, the fans at College Park Center went absolutely wild for the veteran center. “It was good seeing everybody and just being back in Texas. I miss being here. When I came out and they announced my name, the love meant a lot to me,” Griner said of the crowd. As mentioned, the Mercury will remain in Texas for a few more days, facing off again on Friday. They will then travel to Indiana for a game on Sunday.

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Brittney Griner Balling Out In WNBA Return

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Prior to May 19, Brittney Griner had not played in the WNBA since October 2021. Griner had been arrested in Russia in February 2022 on drug charges and spent the 2022 season in a Russian prison. However, the veteran center returned to the United States via a prisoner swap in December 2022. Despite fears that Griner might sit out the 2023 season, she made it clear that she would play.

Griner rejoined a Phoenix Mercury team in a state of flux. The team finished 15-21 in 2022, their second losing season in the last four years. However, they still entered the playoffs as the eight-seed but were swept in the first round. It was a disappointing decline from their Finals appearance in 2021. With Griner’s return, there were high hopes that the Mercury could bounce back. They were named among the title contender conversation, if not title favorites due to the superteams that had formed in Las Vegas and New York.

Griner’s Hot But The Mercury Are Not

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 21: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the Chicago Sky during the second half of the WNBA game at Footprint Center on May 21, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

A grueling and unimaginable year away from the court appears to have had little effect on Griner’s game. Through the Mercury’s first two games of the season, Griner has 45 points, 16 rebounds, and 8 blocks. Furthermore, she recorded a double-double against the Chicago Sky on May 21 (25 points, 10 rebounds). The problem is that Griner is really the only player in Phoenix hooping hard.

The Mercury are 0-2 after losses to two rebuilding teams in the Sparks and Sky. By comparison, the Mercury have the fifth-best odds to win the WNBA title this season. There are signs of life in Phoenix, but they have simply been outplayed in their first two games. The Mercury are in win-now mode, trading a lot of 2023 capital to build a team around Griner and Diana Taurasi. However, that team has simply not come together through the opening games of the season. They will look to turn things around against the Minnesota Lynx on May 25.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Brittney Griner’s Agent Reveals Plans for Star to Stand During National Anthem

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Brittney Griner Hits Mercury Practice Court After Signing New Deal for Upcoming Season

Brittney Griner made her return to the WNBA court on Friday night. Ahead of her battle with the Los Angeles Sparks, Griner’s agent, Kagawa Colas, revealed the basketball star’s decision to stand for The National Anthem.

“Having been put in a literal cage, too small for her frame, stripped of her essential American freedoms, and deprived of even her most basic rights during a sham trial and unjust sentencing, Brittney, supported by many other players, will make a statement this WNBA season by standing tall for those uniquely American freedoms.”

– Kagawa Colas

You can read the full story via TIME here.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Brittney Griner’s Agent Reveals Plans for Star to Stand During National Anthem appeared first on The Source.

Brittney Griner Appears In First US Game Since 2021

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The last time Brittney Griner stepped onto a basketball court in the United States in a professional capacity was October 17, 2021. She put 28 points and seven rebounds in an 80-74 loss that sealed the WNBA Championship for the Chicago Sky. Exactly four months, she was arrested at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow on drug smuggling charges. In what many decried as a political imprisonment, she was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony.

On December 8, Griner returned to the United States after being exchanged in a prisoner swap for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout. While there were concerns about Griner’s future, the eight-time all-star made it clear that she intended to return to the court with the Phoenix Mercury. She officially re-signed with the team in February and is the most experienced center on the roster. She will be backed up by Megan Gustafson and Kylee Shook.

Griner Scores 10 In US Court Return

573 days after last stepping foot on a US basketball court, Griner donned her Mercury prepared to face her first American audience in nearly two years. As she stepped out in view, the 17,000 fans packed into Phoenix’s Footprint Center rose to their feet to give the center a standing ovation. Griner high-fived her teammates before pointing to the sky as she prepared to take on the rebuilding Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks have the second-lowest odds to win the WNBA Championship in 2023.

The result, a 90-71 win for the Sparks, wasn’t important to the fans in the crowd. They were largely there to see Griner. Playing 17 minutes in the preseason game, Griner put up 10 points. She also pulled down three rebounds as Vanessa Nygaard rotated her players frequently. But Griner showed without a doubt that she was ready for the 2023 season. Without Griner, the Mercury went 15-21 in 2022 but still made the playoffs as the eighth seed. The Mercury will face the Sparks again on May 19 for their regular season opener in Los Angeles. Are you excited for the 2023 WNBA season? How do you think Brittney Griner will do this season? Let us know in the comments.

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Wyclef Jean to Perform at Brittney Griner’s First Home Game Since Returning from Russia

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Wyclef Jean x Brittney Griner

Grammy-winning artist and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean is set to perform at the halftime show during the Phoenix Mercury game on May 21. The game, which will take place at the Footprint Center, marks Brittney Griner‘s first home game since her release from a Russian prison after being detained for drug possession for ten […]

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Wyclef Jean Is Performing At Brittney Griner’s Homecoming

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Wyclef Jean, Haitian musician, will be performing at Brittney Griner’s first home game since being released from Russian prison. Jean plans to perform a cover of late Jamaican icon Bob Marley’s “One Love.” Additionally, he will select 200 lucky fans to perform the song with him in celebration of the WNBA player’s homecoming. Also, Wyclef will be performing a concert after the game.

Jean shared in April that he was checking himself into the hospital. The artist admitted himself for unknown reasons. He then shared the news with fans in a video of the artist in a wheelchair. Text overlaying the video reads, “Sometimes we forget that our body is our temple.” Then he added, “Be back soon.” In October, Jean signed on as the Chair of the Music Advisory Board for the Harlem Festival of Culture. He expresses that he is “thrilled” about his new position with the festival. “On a personal note, Harlem has always held a special place in my heart,” he revealed. Jean shares that he has a connection with the neighborhood “as [he] performed there very early in [his] career and throughout.”

Griner’s Comeback

Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury poses for a portrait during the WNBA media day at Footprint Center on May 03, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The basketball player shared an emotional statement shortly after her release from Russian police custody and was sent back to the United States. She thanked the public, saying, “Thank y’all for covering me and all the exposure that you gave me […] to get me home.” The basketball star says she’s writing a memoir, which is based on her experiences as a prisoner in Russia in the spring of 2024. Griner calls the experience “an unfathomable period in my life” which she is “only now am I ready to share.” The memoir will outline “in vivid detail her harrowing experience of her wrongful detainment.” Also, it will outline “the difficulty of navigating the byzantine Russian legal system in a language she did not speak.”

Griner came to the defense of transgender athletes in April, saying that she believes “everyone deserves the right to play.” She added, “I think it’s a crime to separate someone for any reason.” She additionally shared that she wants to speak out about the anti-trans sports bill that was recently passed. The artist’s performance at her homecoming celebrates the battle she faced to return.

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