WNBA

SOURCE SPORTS: Brittney Griner Signs 1-Year Deal With Phoenix Mercury

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Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner is set to return to the WNBA in the upcoming season, as it has been reported she’s signed a new one-year contract with the Phoenix Mercury. The news follows Griner recent high-profile 10-month imprisonment in Russia, in which she vowed to return to professional basketball following her release in December.

MORE: Brittney Griner Cut Her Hair While in Russian Custody Because It Kept Freezing

“I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season,” said Griner during a press conference. “And in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon.”

The 32-year-old center rejoins the Mercury with a $165,100 deal that will enable the organization to secure two veteran minimum and two base minimum contracts within the salary cap for next season. Griner has been seen working out sporadically since her release from Russian custody last December. 

MORE: Brittney Griner Dunks in Light Basketball Workout at Fort Sam Houston

Griner’s last game in the WNBA was back in 2021 when the Mercury lost to Chicago in the WNBA Finals.

Mercury has not officially announced the re-signing of Brittney Griner at press time. The WNBA’s 2023-2024 season begins May 19.

Griner and her wife were last seen on a public outing at this year’s Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix, Arizona.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Brittney Griner Signs 1-Year Deal With Phoenix Mercury appeared first on The Source.

Brittney Griner Makes Huge WNBA Career Decision

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Brittney Griner has been through a lot over these past few months. About one year ago, Griner was taken to a Russian prison after being caught with weed cartridges in the airport. Overall, the timing could not have been worse as the war in Ukraine was just beginning at the time. Subsequently, Russia decided to take a hard stance against the Americans, leading to a diplomatic showdown. Griner eventually spent upwards of nine months in jail before ultimately being released thanks to a prison swap.

Since that time, Griner has been spending time with her family. She has gone through hell and back, and there is no doubt what she has been through is traumatic. However, some questions have still arisen in regard to whether or not she would ever come back to the WNBA. At the end of the day, no one would blame her if she decided to retire. Although, Griner loves basketball and the Phoenix Mercury fans would love to have her back. Overall, it would be the ultimate comeback story.

Brittney Griner Decides

As it turns out, Griner has decided that she will, in fact, come back to the WNBA next season. According to Josh Weinfuss, Griner has signed a one-year deal with the Mercury. This will allow her to enjoy at least one more season with the team she has spent so much time with. Moreover, it gives her the opportunity to potentially retire at the end of the season. After all, given all that she has gone through, no one would really blame her if this was her last season. However, she could certainly come back after this deal is up. For now, everything remains up in the air.

Regardless, once Griner makes it back to the court, it will be a huge celebration for fans. Just a few months ago, no one knew if Griner would be able to come home from Russia. Now, however, she is free and will be getting back on the court very shortly. Hopefully, WNBA fans embrace her with open arms as she makes one of the more unlikely comebacks in the history of sports.

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Kyrie Irving Shows Support For WNBA Players Amid Travel Debate

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Kyrie is currently a vice president for the NBPA, which means he gets to handle all things player related. Moreover, he even works with the WNBA whenever they have labor disputes. Given the fact that Kyrie has been an advocate for the league, he is the perfect person to vouch for their interests.

Unfortunately, the WNBA is currently in a dispute over chartered flights. Overall, chartered flights are banned from the league. Only some owners can afford them, and the WNBA feels like they give a competitive advantage. However, flying commercial has led to numerous issues within the WNBA. This includes illness, showing up late to games, and various other mishaps.

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets in action during the first half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on January 20, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Kyrie Speaks

According to Nets Daily, Irving has spoken out about this latest dispute. As you can imagine, Kyrie is taking the side of the players. He understands just how important travel arrangements are and is advocating for proper conditions. For Irving, peace of mind is extremely important in this situation.

“As one of the Vice Presidents in the NBPA, we’ve discussed a range of these things, and I wish it was as easy as getting it tomorrow, but business takes a little bit of patience, and our W ladies have been patient long enough,” Irving said. “We’ve definitely gotta get something done, and I’m with them no matter how much it costs. I think we could all collectively come together and make something very doable happen, and we just want to have our ladies have peace of mind while they’re playing.”

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets in action during the first half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on January 20, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Overall, this is a tough situation given the fact that some owners want chartered flights, and others don’t. Those who don’t like the idea believe it would bankrupt their teams. Needless to say, it is a sticky situation.

Let us know what you think should happen, in the comments down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from around the sports world.

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SOURCE SPORTS: 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones Trade to New York Liberty

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jonquel jones sun

The WNBA arms race is underway, and a former MVP is the first domino to fall. The Connecticut Sun have traded 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty in a three-team deal.

According to ESPN, Jones requested a trade to New York after exploring deals with other teams.

Completing the trade, Rebecca Allen and Natasha Howard will be moved to the Connecticut Sun and the Dallas Wings, respectively, from New York. The Wings will also obtain Crystal Dangerfield’s Liberty rights and will send Kayla Thornton to New York and Ty Harris to Connecticut. The Sun’s also secure the Liberty’s No. 6 pick in this year’s drafts.

Jones will now be paired with hoops phenom Sabina Ionescu. The Liberty is still rumored to chase Breanna Stewart in free agency.

With Jones moving to the Liberty, the Sun will now aim to give the core designation to Brionna Jones, making her the key centerpiece of the team and snatching her off the free agent market. Brionna Jones, a 6-foot-3 forward and two-time All-Star, won Most Improved in 2021 and Sixth Woman of the Year in 2022.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones Trade to New York Liberty appeared first on The Source.

Brittney Griner’s Wife Cherelle Recalls First Night Back Together

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Brittney Griner went through hell while being detained inside a Russian prison. After pleading guilty to possession and trafficking charges, Griner eventually went to a labor camp. Subsequently, the United States was able to negotiate a prisoner swap right before the holidays.

Overall, this was incredible news for her family. This is especially true for her wife Cherelle, who led a national campaign to bring her home. There was no guarantee that Brittney would make it home, however, she did and Cherelle is forever grateful.

Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury walks hand and hand with wife Cherelle Watson after defeating the Dallas Wings at Feld Entertainment Center on August 10, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Britteny Griner Makes It Home

In a new interview with PEOPLE, Cherelle Griner spoke about the very first night with Brittney following her release. Essentially, they stayed up and talked all night. After so many months apart, they could not sleep, which is not surprising given everything that happened to the WNBA superstar.

“We just talked all night long and all morning,” Cherelle said. “I had all my freedom. I had my bed. But when you have your family overseas in a situation like that, time zones play a factor. Every night, that’s the only time I could talk to her attorneys and I could handle things. And so I just hadn’t slept.”

Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury kisses her wife Cherelle Griner in the stands after the Mercury defeated the Las Vegas Aces 87-84 in Game Five of the 2021 WNBA Playoffs semifinals to win the series at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 8, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Griner got to spend Christmas with her family, which was probably one of the few things she hoped for while in prison. Now that it has finally happened, she must be feeling good.

Hopefully, Brittney Griner can excel on a WNBA court in just a few months from now, We cannot wait to see her back out there.

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Air Jordan 12 “WNBA” Rumored Release Date Revealed

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One of the more underrated Jumpman models to ever be released is the Air Jordan 12. This shoe came out the same year that Michael Jordan got his very own imprint within Nike. It was a dope shoe from the jump and it even helped Jordan during his “Flu Game.”

Overall, this is a silhouette that Jumpman has been putting a lot of stock into as of late. There is definitely good reason for this as the shoe continues to be popular amongst fans. The new colorways have been great, and subsequently, we can expect even more in 2023.

The Air Jordan logo at the Air Jordan XX Launch Party at Rise Nightclub on February 18, 2005 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

WNBA-Inspired Air Jordan 12

According to @zsneakerheadz, 2023 is going to bring us a women’s exclusive Jordan 12. Interestingly enough, this model is going to be inspired by the WNBA. The logo of that league is orange, and that is exactly what we get with this new model.

Firstly, this shoe opens up with a predominantly black leather upper. Secondly, we have orange on the midsole and the strip that goes from the midfoot to the toe box. Altogether, these elements form a dope shoe that male sneakerheads will potentially be jealous of.

One could even make the comparison to the “Shattered Backboard” aesthetic that has become so popular within Jumpman lore. However, this shoe will certainly be looking to forge its own path. Needless to say, this silhouette has a bright future throughout 2023 and most certainly beyond.

Release Rumors

At the time of writing this, the shoe is set to drop this summer on July 13. This release date has yet to be confirmed by Jordan Brand, so stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sneaker world. Additionally, let us know what you think of these, in the comments down below.

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Brittney Griner Urges Fans To Support Paul Whelan

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Brittney Griner is finally back home following a long and grueling 10 months in a Russian prison. Of course, Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport with a weed cartridge in her bag. Consequently, Griner was hit with a nine-year prison sentence.

Subsequently, the United States government was able to negotiate a prisoner swap to bring her home. This was great news, especially since it is Christmas this weekend. Her family wanted her home for the Holidays, and that is exactly what they got.

Center Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury attempts to shoot after being fouled by forward Nia Coffey #12 of the Los Angeles Sparks at Los Angeles Convention Center on June 16, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

Brittney Griner Writers To Paul Whelan

During Griner’s time in Russia, the U.S. government was also trying to bring home former marine, Paul Whelan. Unfortunately, Russia played hardball with Whelan as he is in prison on espionage charges. Regardless, Griner has not forgotten about Whelan, and she is urging her fans to support him, any way they can.

In the Instagram post below, Griner wrote a letter to the fans who wrote her letters in prison. Griner now wants fans to direct that energy to Whelan and the various other families that have been ripped apart overseason.

“My family is whole and now, thanks to you, we are fortunate to get to spend the holidays together. However, there remain too many families with loved ones wrongfully detained,” she wrote. […] “I hope you’ll join me in writing to Paul Whelan and continuing to advocate for other Americans to be rescued and returned to their families.”

It remains to be seen when Whelan will be brought home, however, it is good to see Griner offering her support. She is now dedicating her time and effort to other Americans abroad, which is beautiful to see.

Stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates on this developing story.

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Brittney Griner To Make Big Decision On WNBA Future

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Brittney Griner is currently making massive headlines thanks to the fact that she was officially released from prison last Thursday. The WNBA superstar had been in Russia for 10 months due to drug possession. Of course, she simply had a small weed cartridge on her, however, the Russian system made an example out of her.

Luckily, Griner is back home and is spending some much-needed time surrounded by family. This is great news for the basketball world, as Griner is a huge pioneer for the WNBA. Overall, fans are very excited to see her back on a court soon.

Brittney Griner #42 and Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts to a foul call in the second half during the game against the Chicago Sky at Footprint Center on October 10, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Mattina/Getty Images)

Brittney Griner Remains Undecided

In a report from ESPN, it was revealed by BG’s agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas that she had yet to make a decision on whether or not she will play again. While Griner did participate in a workout this weekend, the WNBA star still has a lot on her mind.

“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 said. “She’s doing really, really well. She seems to have endured this in pretty incredible ways.

“There’s no timeline on her return at this point. She’s reintegrating into a world that has changed for her now. From a pure security standpoint she’s not going to be able to move in the world the way she did. It’s not a fate that she asked for, but I think she’s going to try to utilize her fame for good.”

Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury prepares for game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Footprint Center on October 10, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Mattina/Getty Images)

While many want to see her back on the court, it makes sense for her to want to focus on other avenues right now. She has been through a lot, and there is no doubt the Phoenix Mercury will allow her some time to process all of this.

Stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates on this developing story.

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Brittney Griner Ditched Her Locs To Endure Winter Weather In Russia

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WNBA star Britney Griner is finally free after being arrested this past February and sent to a Russian labor camp. Now back in the states, many were shocked to find that the famed athlete no longer had locs and was instead sporting a low cut.

According to her lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, the decision to cut her hair was due to the cold weather in Russia. 

Per ESPN, the attorney shared that the Phoenix Mercury player shaved her hair weeks ago, saying, “It’s very cold in there and every time she washed her hair she got cold and would get a chill.”

“She should have waited until New Year’s Day,” Blagovolina added, also revealing that Griner was sick with the flu recently.

READ MORE: Trump Calls Brittney Griner Release “Unpatriotic” & “Stupid”

Griner was released this past Thursday (Dec. 8) after spending 10 months in custody overseas. The Houston native was sentenced to nine years behind bars after cannabis vape cartridges were found in her luggage while at an airport in Moscow. 

TOPSHOT – US Women National Basketball Association’s (WNBA) basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport and later charged with illegal possession of cannabis, leaves the courtroom before the court’s final decision in Khimki outside Moscow, on August 4, 2022. – Russian prosecutors requested that US basketball star Brittney Griner be sentenced to nine and a half years in prison on drug smuggling charges. Her hearing comes with tensions soaring between Moscow and Washington over Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine that has sparked international condemnation and a litany of Western sanctions. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / POOL / AFP) (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Biden Administration successfully performed a prison swap, trading Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Often referred to as the “Merchant of Death,” Bout was sentenced to 25 years in prison back in 2012.

Cherelle Griner, the basketball star’s wife, had been working to bring her back home for months. On Thursday morning, she was invited over to the White House where she met with Biden. The U.S. president then delivered the good news that her spouse was soon on her way back.

He also took to Twitter to announce the deal.

While on her flight back home, Griner appeared to be in good spirits, simply commenting, “I’m happy.”

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Brittney Griner Gives Update Following Prison Release: “I’m Happy”

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Brittney Griner is finally a free woman. After serving 294 days in a Russian prison, she’s on her way back home to the United States.

Previously, the WNBA star made headlines due to her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession in the foreign country. She was arrested on February 17 for attempting to bring cannabis with her on a trip.

Phoenix Mercury fan Carley Givens takes a photo of a “Black Lives Matter” mural depicting Brittney Griner outside the Footprint Center on December 08, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. ((Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The sentence was not far off from the maximum that she was facing. Prosecutors had asked for a 9.5 year sentence in the trial. 

Four months later, the 32-year-old is on her way back home after a prison swap got official approval.

President Joe Biden consequently made the announcement yesterday (December 8) via Twitter. In the photos, POTUS and Vice President Kamala Harris are seen talking with the athlete’s wife, Cherelle Griner, in the White House. 

In a video of newly-released Griner en route back home on the plane, the Phoenix Mercury star looks undoubtedly thrilled. When asked about her mood, she simply responds “I’m happy” with a smile.

Rumours surrounding a possible prison swap in order to get Griner home previously began going around for a few months now.

The exchange between the U.S. and Russia was a one-for-one swap. Surprisingly, international arms dealer Viktor Bout was freed by the U.S. in order to bring Griner home.

In Russian footage, the world was witness to the trade taking place on the tarmac of a United Arab Emirates airport.

The Russian arms dealer has a gruesome nickname – “Merchant of Death.” Of course, this has sparked some debate about the fairness of the exchange.

Others have chimed in, suggesting that another detained American should have been freed instead of the WNBA player. Paul Whelan is a former U.S. marine, who was detained by Russian authorities in 2018.

Two years, later he was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his alleged involvement in an intelligence operation. However, he is still presently serving this time.

Nonetheless, the U.S. is standing by the swap. Officials are indicating that the country didn’t have a choice of which American to bring home.

Let us know your thoughts on the trade down below. Additionally, make sure to stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates on Griner’s return home.

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