Photo: Darryl Webb/AP/ShutterstockBrittney Grineris enjoying a sporting weekend ahead ofSuper BowlSunday.After she wasreleased from a Russian jailin a prisoner swap in December, theWNBAstar and two-timeOlympicgold medalist, 32, made her second public appearance as a free woman with wifeCherelle Grineron Saturday at the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament.They both appeared to be in good spirits, as Brittney smiled and shot a peace sign at her supporters in the stands.Brittney and Cherelle, 30, previously stepped out for theMartin Luther King Jr.Day march in Phoenix last month. “Glad to be home,” she told supporters during the outing.The Phoenix Mercury centerwas detained in Russiaon drug smuggling charges in February for allegedly possessing hash oil in her luggage.Brittney Griner returning home to the U.S. on Dec. 8, 2022.Miguel Negron/U.S. Army WestBefore shewas sentenced to nine years in a Russian prisonin August, Brittney testified that she “had no intention to break the law” and did not mean to pack the cannabis oil.Brittney’s imprisonment sparked anational outcry for her release, as PresidentJoe Bidenentered negotiations toexchange the releaseof the athlete andPaul Whelan, another American prisoner, for a Russian prisoner in the U.S.Theprisoner swap took placeThursday, Dec. 8. in the United Arab Emirates, 10 months after Brittney was first incarcerated. “It feels so good to be home,” she wrote in a heartfelt statement shortly after her release.Brittney Griner during her detention in Russia.Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS/ZUMA"The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn," added Griner in part. “I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going.“Although Whelan, 53, who has been imprisoned in Russia for alleged espionage since 2018, was not released in the deal, Biden, 80, assured that his administration is “not giving up” on securing Whelan’s safe return to the U.S.RELATED VIDEO: Brittney Griner Lands in U.S. After Russian Prison Release: ‘Welcome Home BG!‘The Griners have sinceraised awareness for Whelan and other political prisoners, urging their fans to write him letters through the #WeAreBG campaign. “It’s our turn to support them,” Brittney wrote in December.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Brittney has beengetting back into the gamefollowing her release, expressing that sheplans to play with the Phoenix Mercuryagain when the 2023 season starts in May.
Photo: Darryl Webb/AP/Shutterstock
Brittney Grineris enjoying a sporting weekend ahead ofSuper BowlSunday.After she wasreleased from a Russian jailin a prisoner swap in December, theWNBAstar and two-timeOlympicgold medalist, 32, made her second public appearance as a free woman with wifeCherelle Grineron Saturday at the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament.They both appeared to be in good spirits, as Brittney smiled and shot a peace sign at her supporters in the stands.Brittney and Cherelle, 30, previously stepped out for theMartin Luther King Jr.Day march in Phoenix last month. “Glad to be home,” she told supporters during the outing.The Phoenix Mercury centerwas detained in Russiaon drug smuggling charges in February for allegedly possessing hash oil in her luggage.Brittney Griner returning home to the U.S. on Dec. 8, 2022.Miguel Negron/U.S. Army WestBefore shewas sentenced to nine years in a Russian prisonin August, Brittney testified that she “had no intention to break the law” and did not mean to pack the cannabis oil.Brittney’s imprisonment sparked anational outcry for her release, as PresidentJoe Bidenentered negotiations toexchange the releaseof the athlete andPaul Whelan, another American prisoner, for a Russian prisoner in the U.S.Theprisoner swap took placeThursday, Dec. 8. in the United Arab Emirates, 10 months after Brittney was first incarcerated. “It feels so good to be home,” she wrote in a heartfelt statement shortly after her release.Brittney Griner during her detention in Russia.Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS/ZUMA"The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn,” added Griner in part. “I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going.“Although Whelan, 53, who has been imprisoned in Russia for alleged espionage since 2018, was not released in the deal, Biden, 80, assured that his administration is “not giving up” on securing Whelan’s safe return to the U.S.RELATED VIDEO: Brittney Griner Lands in U.S. After Russian Prison Release: ‘Welcome Home BG!‘The Griners have sinceraised awareness for Whelan and other political prisoners, urging their fans to write him letters through the #WeAreBG campaign. “It’s our turn to support them,” Brittney wrote in December.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Brittney has beengetting back into the gamefollowing her release, expressing that sheplans to play with the Phoenix Mercuryagain when the 2023 season starts in May.
Brittney Grineris enjoying a sporting weekend ahead ofSuper BowlSunday.
After she wasreleased from a Russian jailin a prisoner swap in December, theWNBAstar and two-timeOlympicgold medalist, 32, made her second public appearance as a free woman with wifeCherelle Grineron Saturday at the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament.
They both appeared to be in good spirits, as Brittney smiled and shot a peace sign at her supporters in the stands.
Brittney and Cherelle, 30, previously stepped out for theMartin Luther King Jr.Day march in Phoenix last month. “Glad to be home,” she told supporters during the outing.
The Phoenix Mercury centerwas detained in Russiaon drug smuggling charges in February for allegedly possessing hash oil in her luggage.
Brittney Griner returning home to the U.S. on Dec. 8, 2022.Miguel Negron/U.S. Army West
Before shewas sentenced to nine years in a Russian prisonin August, Brittney testified that she “had no intention to break the law” and did not mean to pack the cannabis oil.
Brittney’s imprisonment sparked anational outcry for her release, as PresidentJoe Bidenentered negotiations toexchange the releaseof the athlete andPaul Whelan, another American prisoner, for a Russian prisoner in the U.S.
Theprisoner swap took placeThursday, Dec. 8. in the United Arab Emirates, 10 months after Brittney was first incarcerated. “It feels so good to be home,” she wrote in a heartfelt statement shortly after her release.
Brittney Griner during her detention in Russia.Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS/ZUMA
“The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn,” added Griner in part. “I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going.”
Although Whelan, 53, who has been imprisoned in Russia for alleged espionage since 2018, was not released in the deal, Biden, 80, assured that his administration is “not giving up” on securing Whelan’s safe return to the U.S.
RELATED VIDEO: Brittney Griner Lands in U.S. After Russian Prison Release: ‘Welcome Home BG!’
The Griners have sinceraised awareness for Whelan and other political prisoners, urging their fans to write him letters through the #WeAreBG campaign. “It’s our turn to support them,” Brittney wrote in December.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Brittney has beengetting back into the gamefollowing her release, expressing that sheplans to play with the Phoenix Mercuryagain when the 2023 season starts in May.
source: people.com
