Brittney Griner is planning to make her return to the court in May when the 2023 WNBA regular season tips off.
Griner’s announcement comes eight days after it was reported that she was heading home to the United States following nearly 10 months of detainment in Russia. President Joe Biden and his administration completed a one-for-one prisoner swap to bring “BG” home, sending Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout back in the deal.
The 32-year-old Griner was arrested in February at a Moscow airport and convicted on drug possession charges. In early May, the U.S. government declared that she was being wrongfully detained.
Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison in August after she pleaded guilty to the charges in July. It was reported that a guilty plea would likely be a requirement of any prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia.
The seven-time All-Star center was the first overall pick out of Baylor in the 2013 WNBA Draft and has spent her entire career with the Mercury. Griner’s last contest came on October 17, 2021, in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, when Phoenix lost to the Chicago Sky, 80-74, despite Griner’s game-high 28 points.
The 2023 campaign begins on May 19, as eight teams — including the Mercury — will be in action. Phoenix will travel to face the Los Angeles Sparks at 10 p.m. ET, perhaps with Griner taking the season-opening jump ball.
