Brittney Griner

Wyclef Jean to Perform at Brittney Griner’s WNBA Return Home Game

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wyclef jean

Brittney Griner’s first home game in her return to the WNBA will have a special guest. According to TMZ, Wyclef Jean will perform a special halftime set to celebrate the return of the Phoenix Mercury star.

Wyclef‘s performance will be a joint effort of the Mercury and The Sum, bringing the performance to the May 21 game bringing the Mercury opposite of the Chicago Sky in a 2021 WNBA Finals rematch.

Wyclef is set to perform Bob Marley’s “One Love” and will be joined by 200 fans to perform with him. In addition, Jean will deliver a postgame concert.

After inking a new one-year deal with the Phoenix Mercury, Brittney Griner has returned to the WNBA court.

The Mercury dropped a new set of pictures in the gym working on her craft. The caption was noted, “There she is.”

Griner’s new deal was announced for one-year at $165,100.

“It’s a great day for all of us to announce that Brittney Griner has officially signed to play for the Mercury in 2023,” general manager Jim Pitman said in a statement. “We missed BG every day that she was gone and, while basketball was not our primary concern, her presence on the floor, in our locker room, around our organization, and within our community was greatly missed.

“We will continue to use the resources of our organization to support her, on and off the floor, and we are thrilled for her that she gets to return to basketball, which she loves so dearly. This is a special signing and today is a special day for all of us.”

The post Wyclef Jean to Perform at Brittney Griner’s WNBA Return Home Game appeared first on The Source.

Brittney Griner Set for 2023 Met Gala

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

WNBA superstar Brittney Griner is headed to the Met Gala. According to Page Six, the Phoenix Mercury star will be a guest at the illustrious New York City-based Gala.

Griner is currently in training camp for the forthcoming WNBA season but will take time to attend the May 2023 celebration.

As of reporting, Griner’s fashion designer of choice is unknown for the event that will honor fashion icon, Karl Lagerfeld. The theme for the event is Karl Lagerfield: A Line of Beauty.

Last month, Brittany Griner revealed she will let us in on what her “unfathomable” experience in a Russian prison was like. The AP notes Griner plans to release a memoir in the spring of 2024.

Griner was detained for 10 months in a Moscow prison after being arrested at an airport on drug-related charges. Her arrest came near the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She was released in a prisoner swap.

“That day (in February) was the beginning of an unfathomable period in my life which only now am I ready to share,” Griner said in a statement.

“The primary reason I traveled back to Russia for work that day was because I wanted to make my wife, family, and teammates proud. After an incredibly challenging 10 months in detainment, I am grateful to have been rescued and to be home. Readers will hear my story and understand why I’m so thankful for the outpouring of support from people across the world.”

Earlier in April, Griner asked the Biden Administration to step in and work to free American reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia on espionage charges. Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, is facing 20 years in prison.

“Our hearts are filled with great concern for Evan Gershkovitch and his family since Van’s detainment in Russia. We must do everything in our power to bring him and all Americans home. We are grateful for President Biden and his administration’s deep commitment to rescue Americans. We celebrate their recent successful efforts to bring home Jeff Woodke and Paul Rusesabagina.”

You can see the full statement below.

The post Brittney Griner Set for 2023 Met Gala appeared first on The Source.

Brittney Griner Defends Inclusion Of Trans Athletes

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The debate around transgender athletes is a fierce and unpleasant one. Pro-trans supporters point to the stringent qualification regulations imposed by sporting authorities. They also argue that we should treat people with respect and dignity, not call them groomers or similar. Those on the opposite side of the issue largely rely on their belief that transgender individuals are simply pretending to be the opposite gender to one they were assigned at birth. They claim “men” have a biological advantage over “women” and that transgender women make it unfair to “real women”.

Anti-trans advocates point to the likes of former NCAA swimmer Lia Thomas. Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA title. In 2022, she won the women’s 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA National Swimming Championships. In response, pro-trans defenders point to literally every other race and event where a cisgender person beat a transgender person. Furthermore, the issue recently made headlines once again. The House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban transgender athletes from competing at any educational institution that received federal funding.

Brittney Griner Calls Trans Exclusion “A Crime”

WNBA veteran Brittney Griner spoke to the media on Friday as part of the Phoenix Mercury’s training camp. The press conference was also part of a launch of a campaign between the Mercury and the Bring Our Families Home campaign. Bring Our Families Home seeks to help free American political prisoners held overseas. Griner was recently freed after spending nine months in a Russian jail on drug charges. Furthermore, her imprisonment, which occurred days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was widely seen as a political detention.

Griner, who is a cisgender woman, has long been an advocate for the rights of transgender athletes. When asked about the recently passed House bill, Griner said that she “definitely will be speaking up against that legislation and that [trans ban] law expected to be passed.” Continuing, Griner said “Everyone deserves the right to play. I think it’s a crime to separate someone for any reason.” While not segregated because of her gender, Griner has experience on what it is like to be yourself. Identifying as lesbian, Griner was reportedly told by her college coach Kim Mulkey to not be openly gay while on her Baylor Bears squad.

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Brittney Griner Gets Emotional On WNBA Return

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Brittney Griner’s long road to returning to the WNBA has taken the next step. On Thursday, Griner spoke with the media about her return to the league. During the press conference, it was hard for Griner to keep her emotions in check. The WNBA star was detained in Russia in March of 2022 for possession of Marijuana. What followed was a very public demand for the release of the basketball star. After 10 long months, Griner was freed from Russia in a prisoner swap with Russia.

Griner has kept it no secret how she was treated during her time in detainment. However, Griner is done discussing the negatives. Now, she is thankful for the opportunity to have her life back. “Thank y’all for covering me and all the exposure that you gave me, my family to get me home… I expect to see the same coverage because we have a great product.” Many in the media made Griner’s freedom a top priority, as well as many celebrities.

Brittney Griner Is Thankful To Be Home

During her return press conference, Griner mentioned that she would not be going overseas again. Except for one condition. “I can say for me, I’m never going overseas to play again unless I’m representing my country at the Olympics… The whole reason a lot of us go overseas is the pay gap, to make an income, to support our families, to support ourselves.” Griner isn’t the first, or will she be the last, to take her talents overseas to make a livable wage playing the game she is passionate about. However, the United States has attempted to make a change with that issue.

The pay gap between female and male athletes has long been an issue in the United States. However, many professional leagues are taking the necessary steps to give women the same opportunities as men. Brittney Griner’s story will not soon be forgotten. The Phoenix star plans on releasing a memoir about her time in a Russian prison. For now, we all can celebrate that another American citizen has been brought home safely. For the latest news in sports, keep it right here with HNHH.

Brittney Griner to Release Memoir on Her Experience in Russian Prison

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

Brittany Griner will let us in on what her “unfathomable” experience in a Russian prison was like. The AP notes Griner plans to release a memoir in the spring of 2024.

Griner was detained for 10 months in a Moscow prison after being arrested at an airport on drug-related charges. Her arrest came near the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She was released in a prisoner swap.

“That day (in February) was the beginning of an unfathomable period in my life which only now am I ready to share,” Griner said in a statement.

“The primary reason I traveled back to Russia for work that day was because I wanted to make my wife, family, and teammates proud. After an incredibly challenging 10 months in detainment, I am grateful to have been rescued and to be home. Readers will hear my story and understand why I’m so thankful for the outpouring of support from people across the world.”

Earlier this month, Griner asked the Biden Administration to step in and work to free American reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia on espionage charges. Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, is facing 20 years in prison.

“Our hearts are filled with great concern for Evan Gershkovitch and his family since Van’s detainment in Russia. We must do everything in our power to bring him and all Americans home. We are grateful for President Biden and his administration’s deep commitment to rescue Americans. We celebrate their recent successful efforts to bring home Jeff Woodke and Paul Rusesabagina.”

You can see the full statement below.

The post Brittney Griner to Release Memoir on Her Experience in Russian Prison appeared first on The Source.

Brittney Griner To Release Memoir On Russian Detainment

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WNBA star Brittney Griner is working on a memoir to recount her “unfathomable” experiences in Russia. She was detained in the country for just under 300 days last year. The former All-Star announced the book in a statement shared on Tuesday. It will release in the spring of 2024.

“That day (in February) was the beginning of an unfathomable period in my life which only now am I ready to share,” Griner said in the statement released by Alfred A. Knopf. Authorities arrested Griner on smuggling charges as she passed through customs in Moscow. She was carrying cartridges containing less than a gram of medically prescribed hash oil at the time.

Brittney Griner During Her Imprisonment In Russia

US basketball player Brittney Griner (C) is escorted by police before a hearing during her trial on charges of drug smuggling, in Khimki, outside Moscow on August 2, 2022. – Griner was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport in February 2022 just days before Moscow launched its offensive in Ukraine. Speaking at the trial on July 27, Griner said she still did not know how the cartridges ended up in her bag. (Photo by Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP) (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images)

Griner continued in her statement: “The primary reason I traveled back to Russia for work that day was because I wanted to make my wife, family, and teammates proud. After an incredibly challenging 10 months in detainment, I am grateful to have been rescued and to be home. Readers will hear my story and understand why I’m so thankful for the outpouring of support from people across the world.” Knopf noted that the book will be “intimate and moving” and that Griner will disclose “in vivid detail her harrowing experience of her wrongful detainment (as classified by the State Department) and the difficulty of navigating the byzantine Russian legal system in a language she did not speak.”

Russia eventually released Griner from captivity in December 2022. She was freed in a prisoner exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. In February, she re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury and plans to play in the team’s upcoming season. The regular season will begin in May.

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Brittney Griner Calls for Biden Administration to Work to Free Detained WSJ Reporter in Russia

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

WNBA Star Brittney Griner is asking for the Biden Administration to step in and work to free American reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia on espionage charges. Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, is facing 20 years in prison.

“Our hearts are filled with great concern for Evan Gershkovitch and his family since Van’s detainment in Russia. We must do everything in our power to bring him and all Americans home. We are grateful for President Biden and his administration’s deep commitment to rescue Americans. We celebrate their recent successful efforts to bring home Jeff Woodke and Paul Rusesabagina.”

You can see the full statement below.

The post Brittney Griner Calls for Biden Administration to Work to Free Detained WSJ Reporter in Russia appeared first on The Source.

Kevin Durant & Brittney Griner Reunite At Suns Facility: Watch

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Kevin Durant is currently in Phoenix right now as he looks to play his first game with the Phoenix Suns. At this point, there is no denying that the Suns are title contenders. Overall, they boast the talents of Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, and then KD. Although time will tell whether or not this is a winning combination, it is currently looking very good. Fans seem confident that this roster can win it all, and barring injuries, they are definitely favorites to win it all. Hopefully, KD can deliver.

Phoenix basketball as a whole is in very good hands. This is because it was announced last week that Brittney Griner would be returning to the Phoenix Mercury this season. Over the last year or so, Griner has been through a lot of personal hardship. However, she wants to be back on the floor, and as a result, the Mercury are being seen as potential champions. After all, she has already won with them in the past. Needless to say, it should be a whole lot of fun.

Kevin Durant x Brittney Griner

As a member of the Mercury, Griner gets to practice at the same facility as the Suns. This subsequently led to a reunion between KD and BG. In the video posted above, you can see Durant and Griner hugging it out on the court. Griner was in the midst of a training session, and Durant wanted to pay her a visit. It was a very heartwarming moment that the Mercury social media team captioned “All love between BG x KD. It’s a new dawn in the desert.” If you live in Phoenix and love basketball, then you are living through a fantastic era.

Hopefully, both Griner and KD are able to deliver on what fans are expecting. In fact, we could very well see the Suns and Mercury win a title in the same year. Overall, that would be truly special, especially when you consider the entire context of Griner and Durant’s careers. Be sure to keep it locked to HNHH as we will continue to bring you the latest news and updates from around the sports world.

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Brittney Griner & Her Wife Appear At NAACP Image Awards, Thank Everyone For Their Support

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Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle appeared at this year’s NAACP Image Awards and thanked everyone for their support during Brittney’s Russian prison stint. Moreover, authorities in Russia arrested the WNBA player for carrying cannabis, and she faced inhumane conditions while behind bars. Afterwards, many organizations, individuals, government figures, and activists worked hard to try and get her back home. Thankfully, a prison swap facilitated her release, and she was able to return home in December. Following her release, she and her partner had some appreciative words for the crowd at the awards ceremony.

Furthermore, Brittney’s wife thanked all of those who sought to free Brittney, “many of whom are Black women. And Black-led organizations who fought so hard to bring BG home tonight,” she expressed. On her part, the Phoenix Mercury player had some short but powerful words for the crowd. “It feels so good to be here. Especially with my beautiful, amazing wife and with all of y’all here today.” Since Brittney’s release, there’s been no shortage of celebrities, public figures, and fans celebrating her freedom.

Brittney Griner Is Thankful At The NAACP Image Awards

For example, NBA superstar Steph Curry took the time to shout out Griner and the U.S. government’s actions during his Sports Illustrated “Sportsperson of the Year” speech. “We are glad she’s home, we’re glad she’s reunited with her family,” he expressed. “It’s a constant reminder for everybody continuing to use their platforms to speak on issues that are meaningful and can move the needle. Thank you to President Biden’s administration for being a part of that fight. But, it’s also a reminder that we all need to stay engaged in the fight to protect American citizens at home and abroad who are wrongfully detained, and we can continue to be engaged in that fight.”

Meanwhile, the 32-year-old recently announced that she will return to the court for a one-year contract, giving her at lease one more season with the Phoenix Mercury. If this was her last season, no one could blame her based on what she’s gone through, but at least she gets to enjoy the sport again. “It feels so good to be home!” she wrote on Instagram. “The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help.” Stick around on HNHH for the latest on Brittney Griner.

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

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

After inking a new one-year deal with the Phoenix Mercury, Brittney Griner has returned to the WNBA court.

The Mercury dropped a new set of pictures in the gym working on her craft. The caption was noted, “There she is.”

Griner’s new deal was announced on Tuesday, signing for one-year at $165,100.

“It’s a great day for all of us to announce that Brittney Griner has officially signed to play for the Mercury in 2023,” general manager Jim Pitman said in a statement. “We missed BG every day that she was gone and, while basketball was not our primary concern, her presence on the floor, in our locker room, around our organization, and within our community was greatly missed.

“We will continue to use the resources of our organization to support her, on and off the floor, and we are thrilled for her that she gets to return to basketball, which she loves so dearly. This is a special signing and today is a special day for all of us.”

The post Brittney Griner Hits Mercury Practice Court After Signing New Deal for Upcoming Season appeared first on The Source.