Brittney Griner drops a bombshell announcement following prison release

San Antonio, Texas - After being released from a Russian prison, WNBA player Brittney Griner took to Instagram to express gratitude and reveal her future plans in basketball.

WNBA champion Brittney Griner revealed what her WNBA future may look like in the months ahead in an Instagram post on Friday.
WNBA champion Brittney Griner revealed what her WNBA future may look like in the months ahead in an Instagram post on Friday.  © Collage: Mike Mattina / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP ? Screenshot / Instagram / cherelletgriner

"It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn," Griner said in an IG post. "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."

For the two-time Olympic gold medalist, the day marked a huge step in her reintegration into American life after nearly 300 days in Russian custody.

On Friday, Griner departed a medical military facility at Fort Sam Houston base in San Antonio after being evaluated and cleared to travel home to Arizona.

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In the post, she expressed gratitude to those who supported her during her wrongful detention overseas, including her wife Cherelle Griner, agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas, and President Joe Biden. Griner also dropped a bombshell announcement about her return to the basketball court.

"I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, 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."

Prior to Griner's Moscow arrest, the WNBA champion was one of the leading players on the hardwood and the only true center in WNBA history to lead the league in scoring. The 32-year-old also holds the league's regular season record for blocks in a single game and season.

The Mercury will open the forthcoming season on the road against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 19. The team's first home game will take place two days later against the Chicago Sky.

Cover photo: Collage: Mike Mattina / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP ? Screenshot / Instagram / cherelletgriner

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