Brittney Griner is back in the US and dunking again after almost 10 ...

CNN —

Fresh off her elated return to the US after months in Russian custody, two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is back on a basketball court.

But her reintegration into American life is far from over, as is the fight by WNBA players for equity as US professional athletes. The issue was highlighted by the 10-month detention of Griner, who’d gone to Russia to play basketball in the WNBA offseason.

Griner’s first move on a Texas basketball court Sunday was a dunk, her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, told CNN on Monday.

Confirming news first reported by ESPN, Colas said Griner wore a pair of black Chuck Taylor shoes, Phoenix Suns shorts and a T-shirt touting Title IX as she played. Months ago, in pre-trial detention in Russia, Griner was offered a basketball and a hoop, but she declined to play, Colas said.

“I think it’s fair to say that her picking up a ball voluntarily and the first thing being a dunk … it was really encouraging,” Colas said. “She was really excited.”

The 32-year-old had arrived two days earlier at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for routine evaluation after her release Thursday from what US officials deemed wrongful detention. She was freed amid Russia’s war in Ukraine in a prisoner swap for notorious convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

It’s not clear how long Griner will stay at the medical center, Colas said.

“She’s had a lot of psychological support,” Colas said. “The resources are very robust. It’s very supportive and very BG centered. It’s about her developing agency.”

Griner’s agent believes she will try to “utilize her fame for good” but did not detail what that would look like. Colas said Griner opted into the Department of Defense’s Post Isolation Support Activities, or PISA, program that has served other wrongfully detained Americans.

It’s also unclear whether the Phoenix Mercury center will return to the WNBA. The 2023 regular season begins May 19, with training camps typically opening a month before.

“If she wants to play, it will be for her to share,” Colas told ESPN’s T.J. Quinn. “She has the holidays to rest and decide what’s next without any pressure. She’s doing really, really well. She seems to have endured this in pretty incredible ways.”

But the fact that Griner typically plays basketball in Russia during her WNBA offseasons highlights the inequities faced by professional female athletes in the US, fellow WNBA players said.

For many years, WNBA players have spent their offseasons playing in international leagues, where they often can earn more money.

“We’ve been talking about the pay disparity for a long time, and players have been going overseas for a long time,” Elizabeth Williams, a Washington Mystics player and secretary for the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, told CNN on Monday.

“I think this is when people are realizing … the dangers and perils of people going overseas and the impact of what those pay equity issues are.”

‘A horrendous experience’

Brittney Griner spent most of the 18-hour flight from Russia speaking with a US presidential envoy for hostage affairs. RIA

Griner was arrested on drug charges at a Russian airport in February and sentenced to nine years in prison. As concerns grew that Griner was being used as a political pawn, efforts to negotiate her release took months.

Now back on US soil, it’s not clear how long Griner will stay in Texas for medical evaluation.

“I’m understanding that it’s going to be a few more days before she gets out,” former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson told CNN on Sunday.

Richardson and his center privately work on behalf of families of hostages and detainees. He previously traveled to Russia to discuss Griner’s release, as well as Paul Whelan, a US Marine veteran who was wrongfully detained and remains in custody.

Richardson said it’s important to give former detainees like Griner ample time to get settled.

“We’ve got to give them a little space, a little time to readjust because they’ve had a horrendous experience in these Russian prisons,” said Richardson, who served as US ambassador to the United Nations in the Clinton administration.

While held in a Russian penal colony, Griner was unable to perform the work done by many female prisoners due to her size, Griner’s Russian lawyer Maria Blagovolina told ESPN and confirmed to CNN.

Most of the women in the penal colony worked sewing uniforms, but the 6-foot-9 Griner was too tall to sit at a work table, and her hands were too big to manage the sewing. So instead, she carried fabric all day, her attorney said.

‘I’m here to take you home’

On the day of her release, Griner had a feeling she would be going home, said Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, who led the prisoner exchange mission in the United Arab Emirates.

But it didn’t feel real until he boarded the plane and told her: “On behalf of the President of the United States, Joe Biden, and Secretary of State Tony Blinken, I’m here to take you home,” Carstens recalled to CNN.

He described Griner as an intelligent, compassionate, humble and patriotic person who immediately wanted to thank all the crew members who helped her.

“When she finally got onto the US plane, I said, ‘Brittney, you must have been through a lot over the last 10 months. Here’s your seat. Please feel free to decompress. We’ll give you your space,’” Carstens recalled.

“And she said, ‘Oh no. I’ve been in prison for 10 months now listening to Russian, I want to talk. But first of all, who are these guys?’ And she moved right past me and went to every member on that crew, looked them in the eyes, shook their hands and asked about them and got their names, making a personal connection with them. It was really amazing,” Carstens said.

Griner spent 12 hours of an 18-hour flight talking with Carstens “about everything under the sun,” he said.

When the government plane landed at Kelly Field, the person who emerged from the plane looked very different. Her long, signature dreadlocks had been cut while in captivity. Griner continuously battled the flu while detained because her hair kept freezing and she was unable to dry them, Colas said.

The new do was not a surprise to her family, though, as she sent word home weeks earlier about her decision to cut her hair, Colas said.

In San Antonio this weekend, she received a real hair cut to clean up her “Russian fade” as her friends and family jokingly call it. After that, she hit the basketball court.

A challenging journey ahead

Griner’s life has been forever altered, and adjusting to everyday life could be difficult.

Jorge Toledo – one of the “Citgo 6” – was released in October as part of a prisoner swap after being detained during a 2017 business trip to Venezuela with other oil and gas executives from the Citgo Petroleum Corporation.

After returning home, Toledo told CNN, he’s had trouble sleeping and felt anxiety during normally mundane tasks such as driving.

But Toledo said he was part of a program in San Antonio that involved six days with a group of psychologists. He said the program was “extremely important” for his reintegration and hopes Griner can take advantage of similar resources.

Whelan still held in Russia ‘for totally illegitimate reasons’

While many celebrate Griner’s return, the fate of another American held in Russia remains uncertain.

Whelan – a US, Irish, British and Canadian citizen – is imprisoned in a Russian penal colony after he was arrested in December 2018 on espionage charges, which he has denied. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

With Griner back in the US, Richardson said he’s optimistic about Whelan’s release – noting Russia previously offer a trade for Whelan.

The US tried to persuade Russia to swap both Griner and Whelan for Bout, but Russian officials would not budge on the matter. Russia said the Americans’ cases were handled differently based on the charges each of them faced.

“This was not a choice of which American to bring home,” Biden said last week. “Sadly, for totally illegitimate reasons, Russia is treating Paul’s case differently than Brittney’s. And while we have not yet succeeded in securing Paul’s release, we are not giving up. We will never give up.”

Whelan said he was happy Griner was released, but told CNN, “I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up.”

Griner is eager to use power and influence to help others, her agent said, especially Whelan.

“It was one of the first things she asked me about,” Colas said. “She’s very, very concerned about that. And will be sending a message to Paul.”

Nouran Salahieh Holly Yan
Nouran Salahieh
Holly Yan

Brittney Griner is heartbroken Paul Whelan remains detained in ...

CNN —

Freed from a Russian penal colony and back on American soil, WNBA star Brittney Griner got her first taste of a return to normal life over the weekend at a Texas military facility. But though she’s home, Griner is heartbroken that Paul Whelan is still detained, her agent said.

The Olympic gold medalist arrived Friday at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and is now staying with her wife, Cherelle Griner, in a residential environment on the base – one her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, decorated with a Christmas tree.

Griner, 32, is “upbeat, thankful and hopeful,” Colas told CNN, after returning to the states from what US officials deemed wrongful detention in Russia.

Still, she’s thinking of Whelan, who remains behind bars in Russia, her agent said.

“She is thinking about his family and talked about her intention to call them as soon as she gets home,” Colas told CNN’s Anderson Cooper Tuesday. “She’s really committed to telling this story and making sure that this population of wrongfully detained Americans, that people know their names.”

For Griner – who spent nearly 10 months in Russian custody – “normal” has meant indulging in her favorites, including a Dr Pepper soda, the first drink she had in the airplane hangar after landing.

Griner’s relatives also have visited her off and on for hours, bringing San Antonio barbecue for her to enjoy.

The athlete has been eating far more nutritious food and supplements compared with her time in detention, Colas said. “Her energy level was really high,” she added.

Griner also got a haircut to clean up her “Russian fade,” as her friends and family jokingly call it, Colas said. Griner’s long, signature dreadlocks were cut while in captivity as she continuously battled the flu because her wet hair kept freezing, Colas said.

At the Texas military base, Griner hit the basketball court for the first time since she was imprisoned: Her first move was a dunk. Months ago, in pre-trial detention in Russia, Griner was offered a basketball and a hoop, but she declined to play, Colas said.

“I think it’s fair to say that her picking up a ball voluntarily and the first thing being a dunk … it was really encouraging,” Colas said. “She was really excited.”

Griner seems to be in good physical health, but whether she returns to the WNBA in the spring season will be up to her, according to Colas.

“Is she going to be ready? We’ll see,” Colas said.

Brittney Griner, right, arrives at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, Friday following her release in a prisoner swap with Russia. Eric Gay/AP

Griner is getting psychological support

Griner arrived at the San Antonio medical facility for a routine evaluation after her release Thursday as part of a prisoner exchange between the US and Russia for notorious convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Concerns had grown that Griner was being used as a political pawn amid Russia’s war on Ukraine after she was arrested on drug charges in February at an airport in Russia, where she plays basketball in the WNBA off-season, then later sentenced to nine years in prison.

Now, Griner’s focus will be on recuperating, including getting physical and psychological support from the government to help with her reintegration.

“She’s had a lot of psychological support,” Colas said. “The resources are very robust. It’s very supportive and very BG-centered. It’s about her developing agency.”

That care is heavily focused on helping formerly captive people regain a sense of control over their lives after lengthy detentions. Griner opted into the Department of Defense’s post-isolation program, which other wrongfully detained Americans, including Trevor Reed, have participated in, Colas said; Reed is former Marine released in April after three years of wrongful detention in Russia.

It’s not clear how long Griner and her wife will stay in San Antonio, but the decision is hers, Colas said.

But what’s become clear is that “normal” will always look different after the ordeal Griner went through. For security reasons, for instance, the Griners have already begun the process of finding a new home, Colas said.

Griner wants to help another detained American

Though it remains unknown if fans will see Griner back on the basketball court in May, one thing is certain, Colas said: Griner is eager to use her power and influence to help others – especially Paul Whelan, another American still imprisoned in Russia.

“It was one of the first things she asked me about,” Colas said. “She’s very, very concerned about that. And will be sending a message to Paul.”

Whelan already sent a message through US representatives who spoke with him in recent days: “Please tell Brittney that Paul said he’s happy she’s home,” he told her, according to Colas.

“She is absolutely thinking about the future,” Colas said. “She’s already talking about the position that she’s now in to help other people come home.”

Whelan – a US, Irish, British and Canadian citizen – is imprisoned in a Russian penal colony after he was arrested in December 2018 on espionage charges, which he has denied. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He, like Griner, has been declared wrongfully detained by US officials.

The US tried to persuade Russia to swap both Griner and Whelan for arms dealer Bout, but Russian officials would not budge on the matter, with Russia saying both of the Americans’ cases were handled differently based on the charges each of them faced.

Abphillip Nouran Salahieh
Nouran Salahieh

Brittney Griner back in US: What to know about her release from ...

On Friday, Brittney Griner arrived in the United States. It was the first time in almost 10 months the Phoenix Mercury star could say that.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist landed early Friday at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas. She was released into U.S. custody a day earlier after spending that time in Russian prison for allegedly trying to bring vape cartridges filled with cannabis oil into the country on Feb. 17.

Following a trial legal experts classified as a "sham," Griner was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony. The eight-time WNBA All-Star was transferred from her pre-trial detention facility to the penal colony last month after her appeal was denied.

One day after her emotional and dramatic release following a prisoner exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout, here is what we know about Griner and the deal that brought her home.

MORE:What might Brittney Griner go through upon return home?

OPINION:Brittney Griner's fierce WNBA family threw everything it had into getting her home

GRINER IS FREE:WNBA star released in prisoner swap with Russia

TIMELINE: Events from Griner's arrest to sentencing to release in prisoner swap

OPINION: Griner prisoner swap is both joyful and heartbreaking

Who is Brittney Griner?

Born in Houston, Griner blossomed into a basketball star. The 6-foot-9 center began dominating at Minitz High School (McDonald's All American, 2009) and played collegiately at Baylor from 2010-13. There, she was a member of the 2012 national championship team and was a two-time first-team All-American.

Representing the United States at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics with the women's basketball team, Griner won two gold medals.

Griner has been married twice. Her first marriage was to fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson, but that ended after one year in 2016. Two years, Griner became engaged to her current wife, Cherelle Griner. The couple married in 2019.

How long has Brittney Griner been in the WNBA?

The Phoenix Mercury selected Griner No. 1 overall in the 2013 WNBA draft, and she has spent her entire nine-year WNBA career with the organization. In her second season, Griner helped the Mercury claim the 2014 WNBA championship.

Griner has led the WNBA in blocks in all but one of her seasons (2020) and is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner. Last year, she was named to the league's 25th anniversary team.

Griner has played in Russia during the WNBA offseason since 2014. With UMMC Ekaterinburg – she was en route to joining the Russian club when she was detained – Griner has won four EuroLeague championships.

Why did Brittney Griner go to jail in Russia?

Russian prosecutors claimed to find 0.7 grams of hashish oil in vape cartridges while searching Griner's luggage in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. During her trial, Griner testified she had inadvertently packed the cartridges in haste and that she had no criminal intent.

Drug laws in Russia are "draconian" compared to those in the U.S. The penalty for smuggling carried a 10-year maximum sentence, and the prosecution asked for 9.5 years; a judge handed down the nine-year sentence on Aug. 4, more than a month after the trial began.

What was it like for Brittney Griner in Russian penal colony?

Griner was transferred to the IK-2 penal colony in Mordovia, about 350 miles southeast of Moscow, in November to begin her 9-year sentence on drug charges. She was imprisoned there for nearly a month before being freed in a prisoner exchange.

Griner’s Russian attorney Maria Blagovolina told ESPN that most women work during the day sewing uniforms, but Griner's 6-foot-9 frame made that impossible. She was too tall to sit at workstations and her hands were too large for sewing, so she was tasked with carrying fabric all day instead, a job Griner told her lawyer she didn't mind.

Griner did mind the brutal winter weather, however, which led her to cutting off her signature locks that she's had since her days as a Baylor Bear.

"It's very cold in there and every time she washed her hair she got cold and would get a chill," Blagovolina told ESPN. "She should have waited until New Year's Day."

Griner recently battled and recovered from the flu during her confinement at the IK-2 penal colony, Blagovolina said.

Despite the harsh conditions she faced, Blagovolina said Griner did not complain and was treated well.

“I think that the reason for this is because of her very likable character,” Blagovolina said on CNN. “People like her. So everybody who is around her is trying to help her, to support her.”

Who is Viktor Bout?

Since her arrest, the most likely path for Griner's return was always via a prisoner swap with Russia. That came to fruition within the last week, with President Joe Biden and his administration agreeing to exchange notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner.

Bout, 55, is a former Soviet military officer and translator who was serving a 25-year prison sentence for conspiring to kill Americans. He and Griner actually walked past each other on an airport tarmac in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where the two governments exchanged prisoners, video from Thursday showed.

It is the second prisoner exchange with Russia of Biden's administration. In April, ex-Marine Trevor Reed was freed while experiencing health issues for a Russian pilot and smuggler named Konstantin Yaroshenko.

Brittney Griner’s lawyer: ‘There were positive signs’ for swap

Throughout her case, Griner was represented by a pair of Russian attorneys, Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov. On Thursday, Blagovolina said she found out about the swap along with everybody else Thursday. But she added that she heard from Griner last week that good news could be on the horizon.

“There were positive signs … she told me she was hopeful. We had an understanding that things would happen very, very soon,” Blagovolina said on CNN.

The most promising sign, Blagovolina told ESPN, was when Griner was moved to a Moscow jail on Monday: "It was kind of stressful. We were worried about her -- she didn't have her glasses; she broke her glasses and we didn't know if she was getting food."

On Thursday, Griner was headed home.

CBS News, which first reported the exchange with Russia, said it withheld publishing a story saying a deal was near last week at the behest of the government – so as not to disrupt the tense negotiations.

U.S. officials who met with Griner when she arrived back to the States said the WNBA star appeared to be in good health and was in "very good spirits," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Griner offered additional care and counseling.

Who is Paul Whelan?

Paul Whelan has been connected to Griner because he is a fellow American considered "wrongfully detained" by Russia. He was first arrested four years ago this month and was given a 16-year sentence on charges of espionage.

In July, as Griner's trial was ongoing, Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the uncharacteristic move of providing an update on the negotiations with Russia, saying the U.S. had made a "substantial offer" in exchange for Griner and Whelan.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and senior administration officials said Thursday that Russia would not engage in good faith negotiations for Whelan, likely due to the espionage accusations.

"It was either Brittney or no one at all," Jean-Pierre said. "We're not going to apologize for that."

WHELAN: Ex-Marine remains imprisoned in Russia after swap

Who is Brittney Griner's wife, Cherelle?

Cherelle Griner has been vocal in supporting her wife and publicly advocated for her return by speaking at a rally for Griner hosted by the Mercury and appearing on morning news shows. She parlayed that into an audience with the president.

On Thursday, Cherelle Griner stood alongside Biden and vice president Kamala Harris as they announced Brittney Griner's return.

"It's a happy day for me and my family," Cherelle Griner said. "Today, my family is whole."

Cherelle Griner also pledged that she and Brittney will continue to advocate for wrongfully detained Americans, like Whelan.

POWER OF LOVE: Why Cherelle Griner is the biggest hero in Griner's release

Will Griner play in the WNBA again?

Right now, it is too early to tell.

Griner surely experienced mental anguish while isolated from friends, family and teammates for almost an entire year. The physical toll is unknown. Jean-Pierre said Griner would undergo mental and physical check-ups upon her arrival.

For now, however, the league is celebrating her return.

I can't tell you what this means to the whole WNBA community to have her home safely," WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert said.

Will WNBA players continue to go to Russia in the off season?

Many of the game’s top athletes have gone specifically to Russia in search of a big payday, including perennial All-Stars Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird.

Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon played in Russia for seven years, becoming a Russian citizen in 2008 and playing on the Russian national team during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. On ESPN Thursday morning, Hammon said Griner’s arrest was “disheartening because it’s been such a great experience for most of us playing over there.”

“You can go down the list of women’s players who had good experiences over there,” Hammon said. “The Russian people took us in and took really good care of us.”

Americans even went over this winter to play, despite Griner’s detainment and warnings from the U.S. State Department of the dangers of traveling to Russia. The group of Americans currently playing in Russia includes at least one woman who was on a WNBA training camp roster in spring 2022.

Contributing: Lindsay Schnell, Scooby Axson; The Associated Press

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.

Brittney Griner is back home and she intends to play basketball this ...

CNN —

Brittney Griner departed a medical military facility in Texas on Friday and returned home to Arizona, vowing in an Instagram post to play in the WNBA this season as she took another step in her reintegration into American life after her detention in Russia.

“It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn,” she wrote in her 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.”

Brittney Griner embraces her wife, Cherelle Griner, upon her return to the US from Russia last Friday. Miguel Negron/US Army South

Griner, 32, said she was “grateful to each person who advocated for me” and thanked the staff at the Texas military facility she briefly called home. She also remembered another foreign prisoner in Russia whose release could not be secured in the prisoner swap that secured her freedom.

“President Biden, you brought me home and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home too,” she said. “I will use my platform to do whatever I can to help you. I also encourage everyone that played a part in bringing me home to continue their efforts to bring all Americans home. Every family deserves to be whole.”

Griner plans to return to WNBA’s Mercury

Griner took off from San Antonio around 11 a.m. on Friday, CNN confirmed via her agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas.

As she boarded the plane, Griner was greeted by Phoenix Mercury GM Jim Pitman, team president Vince Kozar and teammate Diana Taurasi. They made a surprise appearance to welcome her home.

Griner was headed back to Arizona, though her representatives would not confirm exactly where, citing security concerns. CNN previously reported that Griner and her wife, Cherelle, had already made plans to move upon her return to the United States.

“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,” Griner said.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist was released last week in a prisoner swap after nearly 300 days in Russian custody.

Her detention, after Russian officials found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage, became an international cause during a tense time in relations between Washington and Moscow. US officials deemed it a wrongful detention.

She had traveled to Russia to play basketball in the WNBA offseason and was arrested on drug smuggling charges at an airport in the Moscow region on February 17.

Despite her testimony that she had inadvertently packed the cannabis oil in her luggage, Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison in early August and was moved to a penal colony in the Mordovia republic in mid-November after losing her appeal.

A delicate diplomatic dance between US and Russia

The Mercury center became a pawn in Russia’s war in Ukraine and returned to the US on December 9 after the prisoner swap for notorious convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

For months, a delicate diplomatic dance played out between the US and Russia, which waged war in Ukraine. The US enacted sanctions in response to the conflict while diplomats kept open lines of communication with Moscow over prisoner negotiations.

President Joe Biden said efforts to bring Griner home took “painstaking and intense negotiations.”

In a scene out of a spy thriller, the one-for-one prisoner swap occurred on a tarmac in Abu Dhabi on December 8.

Once on US soil, one of Griner’s first moves was a dunk on a Texas basketball court, according to Colas.

She donned a pair of black Chuck Taylor shoes, Phoenix Suns shorts and a T-shirt touting Title IX as she returned to the court after a long hiatus. Months ago, in pre-trial detention in Russia, Griner was offered a basketball and a hoop but declined to play, Colas said.

Griner also got a haircut to clean up what family and friends jokingly called her “Russian fade.” Her long, signature dreadlocks were cut while in captivity as she continuously battled the flu because her wet hair kept freezing, according to Colas.

A bittersweet return

Still, her return has been somewhat bittersweet. Griner is heartbroken that Whelan is still detained, her agent said.

Whelan is a US, Irish, British and Canadian citizen who is imprisoned in a Russian penal colony after he was arrested in December 2018 on espionage charges, which he has denied. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Like Griner, Whelan has been declared wrongfully detained by US officials.

Griner is eager to use her power and influence to help others, especially Whelan, according to her agent.

“She is thinking about his family and talked about her intention to call them as soon as she gets home,” Colas told CNN. “She’s really committed to telling this story and making sure that this population of wrongfully detained Americans, that people know their names.”

Griner stayed at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for a week for routine evaluation. She stayed with her wife in a residential facility on the base. A Christmas tree decorated their living space.

“I appreciate the time and care to make sure I was okay and equipped with the tools for this new journey,” she wrote on Instagram, referring to staff at the San Antonio base.

Her arrest and conviction brought attention to the plight of other Americans in Russian custody, including Whelan and Trevor Reed.

Whelan’s release could not be secured in the latest prisoner swap, while Reed returned to the US in April after a nearly three-year ordeal.

The Griner prisoner exchange prompted criticism from Republicans, who accused the Biden administration of releasing a dangerous prisoner back to Russia while not securing Whelan’s release.

In multiple engagements over the past weeks and months, Russian officials made clear that releasing Bout was the only way they would free Griner from her detention.

Her flight to Arizona Friday is just one more step in her reintegration.

She opted into the Department of Defense’s post-isolation program, which other wrongfully detained Americans, including Reed, have participated in, according to Colas. The program focuses on helping formerly captive people regain a sense of control over their lives after lengthy detentions.

Brittney Griner: WNBA star sentenced to 9 years in Russian jail for ...

What to know about Brittney Griner's Russian detention and prisoner ...

CNN —

WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday was freed from Russian detention after a prisoner exchange for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Griner, a championship-winning player with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury who for years played for a Russian basketball team in the WNBA’s off-seasons, had been held in the country since February after she was arrested on drug possession charges at a Moscow airport.

Her release comes nearly eight months after Trevor Reed, a former US Marine who had been detained in Russia since 2019, was released during a prisoner swap for Russian citizen Konstantin Yaroshenko. The Biden administration had been working to secure Griner’s release along with another American, Paul Whelan, who has been held by Russia for alleged espionage since 2018. CNN first reported in July that a potential deal for a prisoner exchange of Bout for Griner and Whelan had been offered by the Biden administration.

Here is what we know about Griner’s detention and the prisoner exchange that resulted in her release.

Why was she jailed and where was she being held?

Griner, 32, was arrested on February 17, 2022, after having less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage while at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport and Russian authorities accused her of smuggling significant amounts of a narcotic substance, which the Russian government says is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Griner’s lawyers told Russian judges during a hearing in July that the cannabis oil was medically prescribed for “severe chronic pain,” and not for recreational use. She pleaded guilty to the charges in July and one month later was convicted and sentenced to nine years in jail. Her attorneys appealed the conviction in October and asked for a more lenient sentence but a Russian judge upheld her conviction while modifying her sentence to count the time she spent in pretrial detention after her February 17 arrest.

After being held in a detention center in Iksha, in November she was transferred to a penal colony in Yavas in the western Russian region of Mordovia.

There had been concern about the health and well being of Griner, who is Black and a lesbian, while detained in Russia. Though Russia decriminalized homosexuality in 1993, homophobia and discrimination still persists. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill that expanded anti-LGBTQ laws.

Conditions vary among Russian penal colonies, but political prisoners are often placed in harsh conditions where they can be subjected to “solitary confinement or punitive stays in psychiatric units,” according to a recent human rights report from the US State Department. Russian law also allows forced labor in penal colonies, and in some cases, inmates have been tortured to death, the report says. There also are reports of prison authorities recruiting inmates to abuse other inmates, the report also says.

How did her release come about?

The prisoner exchange with Griner was “completed successfully at Abu Dhabi Airport” on Thursday, Russian state media said. Saudi Arabia and the UAE said in a joint statement that the two countries were involved in joint mediation efforts leading to the prisoner swap.

The Biden administration had been working to secure Griner’s release in a two-for-one exchange with Whelan, but the Russians signaled recently that they were only willing to negotiate for Griner and not Whelan, a US official said. That is because Russia has been handling their cases differently based on what each person has been accused of. The Biden administration repeatedly made offers to get Whelan released as part of the deal with Griner, even after Russia made clear only Griner was acceptable.

President Joe Biden gave final approval for the prisoner swap freeing Griner over the past week, an official familiar with the matter has told CNN, adding that the president was updated on the swap as it took place.

A senior administration official also told CNN Griner’s release was the right deal to make, while adding that it was “the only deal we could make right now.”

The decision to exchange Griner for a figure nicknamed the “Merchant of Death” is controversial. Bout, a former Soviet military officer, was serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States on charges of conspiring to kill Americans, acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles, and provide material support to a terrorist organization. Bout has maintained he is innocent.

What’s next for Griner now that she has been released?

Griner is expected to land in San Antonio, Texas, a US official told CNN.

Though White House officials have said Griner is in “good spirits” she is likely to undergo a thorough medical evaluation. National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby told CNN on Thursday the first priority right now is “to make sure that she gets the adequate care she needs” after being detained and under “intolerable conditions.”

“We suspect that there will be a need here for her to have access to proper health care before she’s ready and fit to get back home. I don’t think that that will take a very long time,” Kirby told CNN’s Kate Bolduan. “But again, that is going to be up to the doctors to work with the family on. That is going to be the main focus now, is just making sure that we look after her well being before she’s able to, you know, to get on her way.”

What has Paul Whelan said?

The former marine who is a US, Irish, British and Canadian citizen and was detained at a Moscow hotel in December 2018 for allegedly being involved in an intelligence operation, on Thursday told CNN he was happy that Griner was released but that he “was led to believe that things were moving in the right direction, and that the governments were negotiating and that something would happen fairly soon.”

Speaking in an exclusive phone call from the penal colony where he is being held in a remote part of Russia, Whelan also told CNN he was surprised not to have been included in the swap with Bout and that he is “greatly disappointed” the Biden administration has not done more to secure his release.

“I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred,” he said. “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”

Brittney Griner is facing a 9-year sentence in a Russian jail following ...

CNN —

After a Russian court sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday to nine years in prison for a drug smuggling conviction, the player’s supporters, teammates and numerous US officials swiftly condemned the decision, many concerned her detention is being used to advance Russia’s agenda in the Ukraine war.

Now, Griner has returned to the detention center where she was held during her weekslong trial as her lawyers vow to appeal the sentence and the Biden administration continues to try to negotiate for her release.

Russian officials “are ready to discuss” the prisoners being held by both countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told journalists at a news conference Friday, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

“There is a specified channel that has been agreed upon by the presidents, and no matter what anyone says publicly, this channel will remain in effect,” Lavrov said, according to RIA Novosti.

During the trial, Griner pleaded guilty to carrying less than 1 gram of cannabis oil in her luggage as she traveled through a Moscow airport on February 17. She testified in court she was aware of Russia’s strict drug laws and had no intention of bringing cannabis into the country, saying she was in a rush and “stress packing.”

Her lawyers had hoped Griner’s guilty plea and statements of remorse would result in a more lenient sentence. She faced 10 years for the charges, and prosecutors requested she be sentenced to 9.5 years in jail. In addition to her nine-year sentence, Griner must pay a fine of 1 million rubles, which is roughly $16,400.

“I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here,” Griner said in court before the verdict. “I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that that is far from this courtroom.”

The US State Department has classified Griner as wrongfully detained. The Biden administration has offered to trade a convicted Russian arms dealer in exchange for Griner and another American detainee, Paul Whelan, CNN has reported.

After the verdict, Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, tweeted, “Today’s sentencing of Brittney Griner was severe by Russian legal standards and goes to prove what we have known all along, that Brittney is being used as a political pawn.”

President Joe Biden called the sentence “unacceptable” and demanded she be returned to the US to be reunited with her family, according to a statement.

Here’s what comes next for Griner as she awaits her lawyers’ appeal and the US continues to negotiate for her release.

Lawyers will appeal ‘unreasonable’ verdict

Griner’s legal team will file an appeal to the court’s decision, which it must do within 10 days of the verdict, according to her lawyers, Alexander Boykov and Maria Blagovolina, who is a partner at Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners law firm.

“We are very disappointed by the verdict. As legal professionals, we believe that the court should be fair to everyone regardless of nationality. The court completely ignored all the evidence of the defense, and most importantly, the guilty plea,” they said in a statement.

They called the verdict “absolutely unreasonable” and insisted the decision “contradicts the existing legal practice” in Russia.

The average time in jail for this type of crime is five years, adding that almost a third of those convicted get parole, Blagovolina told reporters.

During the trial, the lawyers argued Griner’s detention was handled improperly. Griner testified she was made to sign documents she did not fully understand and was not given adequate translations of the Russian-language paperwork.

A defense expert also testified the examination of the vape cartridges containing the cannabis oil did not comply with Russian law.

US has proposed prisoner swap for Griner’s return

The Biden administration has proposed a prisoner swap, offering to exchange a convicted Russian arms trafficker for Griner and Whelan, CNN has reported. Whelan, a US citizen and former Marine, was handed a 16-year prison sentence in 2018 on espionage charges after a trial the US deemed unfair.

After Griner’s sentence, National Security Council coordinator John Kirby said it was “up to the Russian side” on whether the conviction will open the door for prisoner-swap negotiations.

After the US proposed a prisoner swap, Russia countered by requesting convicted murderer Vadim Krasikov also be released, sources familiar with the discussions have told CNN. The US has not considered the counter as a legitimate proposal, in part because the request was made through an informal backchannel.

Kirby reiterated Thursday the US position remains it wants Russia to “take the deal on the table because it’s a good one, it’s a fair one, and it’ll help bring Paul (Whelan) and Brittney home.”

While US officials have long opposed prisoner trades, the successful release in April of Trevor Reed, an American and former Marine who was imprisoned in Russia, garnered bipartisan praise from lawmakers and was considered a political win for the Biden administration.

Family and supporters continue to fight for her return

Brittney Griner plays during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Ned Dishman/NBAE/Getty Images Griner was born in Houston on October 18, 1990. She is the youngest child of Raymond and Sandra Griner. Brittney Griner/Facebook A young Griner, then in seventh grade, drives a four-wheeler. Brittney Griner/Facebook Griner would attend Nimitz High School, where she broke nearly all the school's basketball records. Brittney Griner/Facebook Griner signs autographs while playing for Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Darren Carroll/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images Griner huddles with Baylor teammates during a Final Four game in 2010. Eric Gay/AP Griner goes up for the opening tip at the 2010 Final Four. Eric Gay/AP Griner celebrates after Baylor won the NCAA title in 2012. She was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player as Baylor went 40-0 on the season. Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos/Getty Images Griner pumps her fist as President Barack Obama talks about her basketball skills in 2012. The Baylor team was visiting the White House. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Griner plays against Iowa State in 2012. Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images Griner huddles with teammates before a game in 2012. Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images Griner's image is seen on a building in downtown Phoenix after the Phoenix Mercury chose her with the No. 1 pick in the 2013 WNBA draft. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Griner talks with the media after being drafted in 2013. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images Griner takes a photo during the 2013 WNBA All-Star Game. Chris Marion/NBAE/Getty Images Griner blocks a Skylar Diggins shot during a WNBA game in 2014. Shane Bevel/NBAE/Getty Images Griner talks with a fan at Chase Field in Phoenix in 2014. Griner was throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images Griner holds the WNBA championship trophy after Phoenix defeated Chicago in 2014. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Griner huddles with a group of kids during a WNBA Fit All-Star Clinic in 2015. Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty Images Griner gets fired up before a playoff game in 2015. Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images Griner high-fives Obama as the Mercury visited the White House in 2015. Olivier Douliery/Getty Images Griner plays against Spain at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Griner poses for a selfie with fans in 2016. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Griner plays a WNBA game in 2018. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Griner reacts after hitting a 3-pointer in 2020. Julio Aguilar/Getty Images Griner takes a selfie with her teammates after they won Olympic gold in 2021. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images Griner kisses her wife, Cherelle, after a playoff win in 2021. Ethan Miller/Getty Images A girl walks past a Griner mural in Phoenix in April. Griner was arrested in Russia in February. Rebecca Noble/The New York Times/Redux Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court outside Moscow in June. Her case raised concerns she was being used as a political pawn in Russia's war against Ukraine. The US State Department classified her as wrongfully detained. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images Griner sits inside a defendants' cage in August before she was sentenced to nine years of jail time. Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool/Reuters Griner's wife, Cherelle, sits with President Joe Biden as they talk with Griner on the phone after her release. This photo was tweeted on the president's account, saying about Griner: "She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home." On the right are Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. White House Griner arrives in San Antonio after being released from Russian custody in exchange for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout. She shared this photo on her Instagram a few days later. "It feels so good to be home!" she wrote. "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." Miguel Negron/US Army South Griner hugs her wife, Cherelle, after landing in San Antonio. Miguel Negron/US Army South In pictures: WNBA star Brittney Griner Prev Next

The swap proposal follows months of pressure from Griner’s family and members of the basketball community.

The star’s wife, Cherelle Griner, has been outspoken about her desire for US officials to take more substantial action to bring her wife home. Days after Cherelle Griner expressed frustrations in an interview with CNN, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris held a call with her to reassure her they were committed to securing her wife’s release, according to a White House call readout.

Griner has also had the steady support of her WNBA team, the Phoenix Mercury, as well as other members of the basketball community.

Before the start of a game Thursday night between the Mercury and Connecticut Sun, members of both teams linked arms in the center of the court and held a 42-second moment of silence for Griner, who wears 42 on her jersey. After it ended, people in the crowd started chanting, “Bring her home! Bring her home!”

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When was Brittney Griner detained? Full timeline from arrest to release

Brittney Griner is free.

The 10-month saga ended Thursday with President Joe Biden announcing her return to the United States in a prisoner swap with Russia. Griner attempted to enter Russia in February and instead wound up facing drug charges that carried a nine-year prison sentence in a penal colony.

The two-time Olympic gold medal winner and eight-time WNBA All-Star was "wrongfully detained," according to the United States government, by Russia on charges of bringing vape cartridges filled with hashish oil in her luggage while returning to play for her professional team there.

Griner remained in pre-trial detention for more than three months prior to her trial. On Aug. 4, she was officially convicted for drug possession and smuggling. Four months later, she was free.

FREE: Brittney Griner released from Russian prison as part of prisoner exchange for Viktor Bout

OPINION:The power of love: Cherelle Griner is biggest hero in Brittney Griner's release

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Here is a timeline of events from Griner's arrest to the day she was released.

Feb. 17: Griner stopped at airport

Although the public would not know for more than two weeks, Griner is stopped by Russian authorities. Images later released showed her going through security at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport while returning to play for her Russian professional basketball team, UMMC Ekaterinburg.

Griner's arrest would not be made public for nearly three weeks. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) later said on March 9 that the arrest took place on Feb. 17.

GRINER:Convicted on drug charges, sentenced to nine years in Russian prison

VOICE TO THE VOICELESS:Mural features Brittney Griner, wrongfully detained Americans

Feb. 24: Russia invades Ukraine

After weeks of ramped up troop activity near the country's shared border, Russia begins a bloody invasion of Ukraine. In response, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with military support and levied economic sanctions on Russia.

March 5: News breaks about Brittney Griner's arrest

The Russian Federal Customs Service says that they detained a "professional basketball player, a member of the U.S. National Basketball Association, a two-time Olympic basketball champion in the U.S. team." Russian state news agency TASS identified the player as Griner.

The Russian Federal Customs Service maintains Griner carried vape cartridges filled with "cannabis oil."

The WNBA, the Phoenix Mercury and USA Basketball all said they are monitoring the situation.

'HOSTAGE DIPLOMACY':Potential Brittney Griner prisoner swap with Russia is promising and dangerous

OPINION:Don't forget Brittney Griner, the WNBA star and Russian prisoner, is a person, too

March 6: US government speaks about Griner

At a press briefing, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is asked about Griner's arrest for the first time.

"We have an embassy team that’s working on the cases of other Americans who are detained in Russia," Blinken said alongside Moldova President Maia Sandu. "We’re doing everything we can to see to it that their rights are upheld and respected.

When asked about Griner's case since, Blinken has referred generally to "all detained Americans abroad."

WHO IS VIKTOR BOUT?:Arms dealer and 'Merchant of Death' freed in exchange for Brittney Griner

WHO IS PAUL WHELAN?:American remains imprisoned in Russia

March 7: Cherelle Griner speaks out

Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, posts an emotional Instagram message thanking supporters and confirming Brittney Griner has been in Russia for weeks.

"My heart, our hearts, are all skipping beats every day that goes by," Cherelle Griner wrote. "I miss your voice. I miss your presence. You’re our person! There are no words to express this pain. I’m hurting, we’re hurting. We await the day to love on you as a family."

March 17: Pre-trial detainment extended

Russian state media reported earlier in the day that Griner's pre-trial detention had been extended until May 19. A U.S. State Department official told USA TODAY Sports the embassy in Moscow was being denied consular access.

March 23: Griner allowed to meet U.S. officials

Consular access is finally granted and State Department spokesman Ned Price said Griner was "in good condition."

'BG IS FREE':Emotional reactions to Brittney Griner's release

April 27: Trevor Reed freed

An American considered "wrongfully detained" in Russia, ex-Marine Trevor Reed, is freed in a prisoner exchange. Griner and Paul Whelan remain in custody.

Reed appeared at a rally for Griner on June 9 in her hometown of Houston and advocated for the release of her and Whelan.

May 3: U.S. classifies Griner as 'wrongfully detained'

The U.S. State Department says that it has reclassified Brittney Griner as being "wrongfully detained" by the Russian government. Thus, Griner's case transfers to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs within the State Department.

May 6: WNBA season begins

The WNBA season begins on a bittersweet note. Teams display "BG 42" decals on courts and players wear "We are BG" shirts throughout the season.

May 25: Cherelle Griner on 'Good Morning America'

Cherelle Griner goes on "Good Morning America" and tells Robin Roberts she wants President Joe Biden to act and bring her wife home.

"I just keep hearing, 'He has the power,' 'she's political pawn,'" Cherelle Griner said. "If they're holding her because they want you (Biden) to do something then I want you to do it."

May 27: Brittney Griner detained 100 days

The 100th day of Brittney Griner's detention in Russia.

June 13: State Dept. officials meet with Mercury

State Department officials, including those from the hostage affairs office, met with members of the Mercury concerning the Biden administration's efforts to secure her release.

June 27: Pre-trial detention extended 6 months

A judge sets Griner's trial to begin that Friday. The charges Griner faces could carry a 10-year sentence.

July 1: Trial begins

Russian legal experts characterized the trial as a "sham," but Griner's trial opened with two witness testimonies and the absence of two others.

July 4: Griner's letter to Biden released

Representatives for Griner shared a few lines from the hand-written note to Biden, including:

″…As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever,” Griner wrote.

July 6: Biden, Harris call Cherelle Griner

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris speak by phone with Cherelle Griner.

"The president called Cherelle to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible," the White House said in a statement.

July 7: Griner pleads guilty

Griner pleaded guilty to the drug charges, saying she had accidentally packed the cartridges into her luggage.

"I'd like to plead guilty, your honor. But there was no intent. I didn't want to break the law," Griner said in English, per Reuters.

The guilty plea was also a tool to secure a more lenient sentence, according to experts.

July 14: Griner receives support in courtroom

In court again, Griner at one point held up a photo of fellow WNBA players wearing her name and No. 42 on their uniforms in tribute during part of the 2022 All-Star Game.

The captain and general manager of UMMC Ekaterinburg also testified on behalf of Griner's character.

July 15: Lawyer argues Griner allowed to use marijuana

“The attending physician gave Brittney recommendations for the use of medical cannabis,” said her lawyer, Maria Blagovolina. “The permission was issued on behalf of the Arizona Department of Health.”

July 26: Brittney Griner's lawyers argue for cannabis use

Griner's lawyers questioned a narcologist who said cannabis could be used to treat chronic pain. Her team did not dispute that she should not have brought the vape cartridges and that they were accidentally packed.

July 27: U.S. makes 'substantial' offer for prisoner swap

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States made a proposal to bring home Griner and Paul Whelan, an American who has been in Russian custody since 2018 and is serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges the U.S. disputes.

CNN reported that the U.S. offered Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer nicknamed "The Merchant of Death," for the prisoner swap.

"There is utility in sending clear, direct messages to the Russians on key priorities for us," Blinken said. "These include the return of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, and following through on the grain agreement."

July 29: Blinken speaks with Russian Foreign Minister

For the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine, Blinken connected with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. It was a "frank and direct conversation" regarding the release of Griner and Whelan. Lavrov and Russia responded by suggesting the U.S. keep the negotiations private.

Aug. 2: Prosecutors call narcotics expert

Griner's defense has pointed to a doctor's recommendation for medicinal cannabis use as to why Griner accidentally packed the cartridges. However, the state responded by calling on a narcotics expert who analyzed a sample of what authorities said they discovered.

Aug. 4: Griner convicted of drug possession and smuggling

Griner's six-month saga came to an end on Aug. 4 when she was officially convicted of drug possession and smuggling following a trial that lasted a little over a month. Russian prosecutors asked that she receive 9½ years in prison, and she was sentenced to nine years behind bars.

Sept. 5: Day 200 of detention

Griner filed an appeal after her sentencing and remains in her pre-trial detention facility in Moscow.

Oct. 25: Appeal denied

Griner's appeal of a nine-year prison sentence for drug possession was rejected by a Russian court. Griner did not appear in court, but appeared via video link from a penal colony where she is now housed.

Nov. 3: Griner meets with U.S. Embassy Officials

The White House says that that Griner met with U.S. embassy officials and that the government "made a significant offer to the Russians to resolve the current unacceptable and wrongful detentions of American citizens."

“We are told she is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Nov. 9: Griner's move to penal colony announced

Griner's legal team announced Russia began moving Griner to a remote penal colony where she will begin serving her nine-year sentence while the U.S. continues to work for her release.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted, “We strongly protest the movement of Brittney Griner to a remote penal colony and the Russian government’s use of wrongful detentions. I am committed to bringing home Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan as soon as possible.”

Dec. 8: Brittney Griner freed

CBS News first reported that Russia and the U.S. had agreed to a prisoner swap, and President Biden later announced that Griner was freed and on her way back to the U.S.

In exchange, the U.S. released Bout back to Russia.

From the White House, Cherelle Griner said: “Today I’m just standing here overwhelmed with emotion. But the most important emotion I have right now is sincere gratitude for President Biden and his entire administration.”

"We never forgot about Brittney," Biden said. "I'm glad to be able to say Brittney is in good spirits. She's relieved to finally be heading home, and the fact remains that she's lost months of her life, experienced a needless trauma. She deserves space, privacy and time with her loved ones to recover and heal from her time being wrongfully detained."

Contributing: Scooby Axson.

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.

Brittney Griner releases message on her 32nd birthday: 'All the ...

CNN —

Eight months on from her detainment in Moscow, Brittney Griner is celebrating her 32nd birthday in a Russian jail instead of with her family.

The American basketball star released a message on Tuesday, saying she had been buoyed by the support she has received, according to a statement shared by Maria Blagovolina, a partner at Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners law firm.

“Thank you everyone for fighting so hard to get me home. All the support and love are definitely helping me,” Griner said in her message, according to the statement.

Griner’s attorneys, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, spent a few hours with Griner on Tuesday and relayed numerous birthday wishes to her, the statement said.

The basketball player’s wife Cherelle Griner and others close to the basketball player have launched the #WeAreBG campaign to put pressure on the US governement and other parties to bring her home.

In a video released as part of the campaign Cherelle said, “I’ve felt every moment of the grueling seven months without her.”

She thanked those who have supported the cause as well as specifically mentioning Joe Biden saying, “I want to thank President Biden for the Administration’s efforts to secure her release.”

Cherelle Griner has met with US President Joe Biden in her attemps to free her wife. Nam Y. Huh/AP

Griner was detained in February when entering Russia for possession of cannabis oil. The center pleaded guilty to drug charges, saying that she accidentally packed vape cartridges containing cannabis oil when in a hurry.

In August, the eight-time WNBA All-Star was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison. Next week her legal team will appeal the decision to the Moscow region court.

After her arrest, U.S. State Department classified Griner as wrongfully detained, meaning that regardless of her legal status in Russia, the US government will seek to negotiate her release.

In July, it was announced by the US government that they had made a “substantial proposal” to bring Griner and Paul Whelan, a former US marine serving a 16-year sentence in Russia, back to the US.

But since that announcement there has been little information on moves made to release the two-time Olympic gold medalist and the US Embassy in Russia has not had consular access to Griner since early August, State Department spokesperson Ned Price confirmed last week.

European teams reportedly pay upwards of $1 million per season, far more than what they make in the WNBA Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Griner’s friends and family have sought to renew the support and pressure to bring her home with the #WeAreBG campaign.

Her USA teammate Breanna Stewart wrote on Twitter, “We are not a family without #BrittneyGriner. It’s time to BRING HER HOME. #WeAreBG. Today marks eight months of her Wrongful Detention. She needs her family now more than ever. BG - we have not forgotten you, and we will not rest until you’re home.”

The tweet followed a FIBA World Cup victory that, if she was not in prison, Griner would have been a part of.

Stewart, along with Griner’s USA teammates and other WNBA players have also shown solidarity with the Pheonix Mercury player by boycotting playing in Russia during the WNBA offseason.

Players regularly ply their trade for European teams during the offseason to supplement their WNBA salaries, with many like Griner and Stewart having played for teams in Russia.

But this year, players have instead opted to play in different European countries.

Courtney Vandersloot who has previously played with Griner at the Russian club team Yekaterinburg said: “The whole situation with BG makes it really hard to think that it’s safe for anyone to go back there right now.”

Other American athletes such as Alex Morgan have shown their support on social media by posting images of them wearing an image of Griner on her shirt.

In addition to asking people to join the movement and petition to free Griner, the #WeAreBG campaign has also asked people to write notes for Griner as they hope that this will be the last birthday she celebrates in prison.

As Brittney Griner visits a medical facility in Texas, one of the Citgo 6 ...