Brittney Griner in 2016.Photo:ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty
ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty
Brittney Grinermay be returning to the U.S.A. Basketball Women’s National Team.
The Phoenix Mercury star’s pursuit of her third gold medal follows herdetainment in Russiafor most of last year.
The U.S.A. Basketball Women’s National Team shared theannouncementon its official X (formerly known as Twitter) account. “The November 2023 🇺🇸 #USABWNT roster is here! 16 athletes, including seven Olympians, will participate in the Nov. 7-9 training camp in Atlanta," the statement read.
“I’m never going overseas to play again unless I’m representing my country at the Olympics,“Griner responded. “If I make that team, that would be the only time I would leave the U.S. soil, and that’s just to represent the USA.”
Brittney Griner in 2021.Jean Catuffe/Getty
Jean Catuffe/Getty
Griner first played for Team U.S.A. in 2014 on the senior national team. She continued to represent the U.S. at the Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro Olympic tournaments, as well as two World Cups.
Brittney Griner in 2020.Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty
Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty
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Griner’s detainment began onFeb. 17, 2022, when she was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison on drug smuggling charges after officialsallegedly foundvape cartridges containing hash oil, an illegal substance in the country, in her luggage. She wasreleased in a one-for-one prisoner swap for international arms dealer Viktor Bouton Dec. 8 and returned to the U.S. a day later.
Since her release, she announced she is writinga new memoir, and returned to the WNBA during theAll-Star Game in July. She threw down two dunks and scored 18 points during the game, leading her team to a 143-127 victory.
source: people.com
