This Friday morning, WNBA star Brittney Griner finally touched US soil, nearly 10 months after the basketball star’s detention in Russia.
As we previously reported, she made her return after being released from Russian prison on Thursday following a prisoner swap for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, tweeted this morning, “So happy to have Brittney back on U.S. soil. Welcome home BG!”
RELATED: Brittney Griner Released From Russian Prison After One-For-One Prisoner Swap Deal
What Happens Next?
The National Security Council’s John Kirby told CNN on Thursday that Griner’s first stops is expected to be “at a treatment facility where she can get the medical care that she might need following the draining 10 months in detention.
More On Her Thursday Release
President Biden first made the announcement about the big exchange yesterday. He said while at the White House, “She’s safe. She’s on a plane. She’s on her way home. After months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances, Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones and she should have been there all along. This is a day we’ve worked toward for a long time. We never stopped pushing for her release.”
TMZ also obtained video of the actual video prison swap from Russian state media outlet TASS. In the clip, Griner is seen wearing a red jacket, walking along with officials outside of private planes before coming into contact with Bout.
Also in the footage, Griner appears with her signature dreadlocks cut off. The public last seen the WNBA star at a court hearing in late October, her hair had still been long.
Griner’s wife spoke out receiving the great news. She said, “Over the last nine months you all have been so privy to one of the darkest moments of my life,” Cherelle said in a Dec. 8 statement, given from the White House. “And so today I am just standing here overwhelmed with emotions, but the most important emotion that I have right now is just sincere gratitude for President Biden and his entire administration. He just mentioned this work is not easy and it has not been.”
Press Play Below For More:
Brittney Griner arrives back in the US after a prisoner swap with the Russian 'Merchant of Death', Viktor Bout.
The WNBA star, who was serving a nine-year sentence in Russia, was flown to San Antonio, Texas.
Read more: https://t.co/ed8znUNmVo pic.twitter.com/LqKwNq8i8B
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 9, 2022
