Brittney Griner, who understands all too well the intense emotions involved in a prisoner swap, expressed her deep joy Thursday night upon learning that fellow Americans were being brought back home from Russia. After the U.S. women’s basketball team defeated Belgium 87-74, securing a spot in the Paris Games quarterfinals, Griner shared her thoughts.
Brittney Griner Celebrates Return of Fellow Americans: ‘A Huge Win’
“It’s a great day. Truly a great day,” Griner said. “We’ll discuss it more later, but I’m overjoyed for the families right now. Anytime Americans come home, it’s a victory. It’s a win.”
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, experienced her high-profile prisoner exchange in 2022 after being sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison for drug possession and smuggling.
She was thrilled to hear that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan—both of whom were convicted on espionage charges that the U.S. government has deemed baseless—were on their way back home.
Although Griner didn’t reveal how she learned about the prisoner exchange, she admitted feeling “extremely emotional” upon receiving the news.
“I’m sure the emotions will hit me even more later,” Griner said. “But right now, I’m just happy. This is a significant victory. A huge win.”
Griner returned to the U.S. in December 2022, and 19 months later, she is once again playing for the national team, contributing seven points as the Americans continue their quest for an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal with their 57th straight win at the Olympics.
Since coming back to the U.S., Griner has been actively involved in advocating for other Americans detained abroad. She has partnered with Bring Our Families Home, a campaign launched in 2022 by the families of American hostages and wrongful detainees held overseas.
Griner has also had conversations with President Joe Biden twice, including one in April, to keep the issue of detainees in the public eye.
In addition to her advocacy, Griner has been readjusting to life in the U.S., a process she is still navigating.
