Elena Rybakina Viktor Hovland Phoenix Mercury Brittney Griner Corey Conners Cathy Engelbert Russia Italy Usa Boston Florida Los Angeles Saudi Arabia county Hill NBA Elena Rybakina Viktor Hovland Phoenix Mercury Brittney Griner Corey Conners Cathy Engelbert Russia Italy Usa Boston Florida Los Angeles Saudi Arabia county Hill

’A day of joy’: Brittney Griner makes WNBA season debut after being jailed in Russia

arabnews.com

LOS ANGELES, USA: Brittney Griner stood for the national anthem before her first regular-season WNBA game since being jailed in Russia.

Griner was outspoken for social justice in 2020 and didn’t take the court during the pregame anthem. But nearly a year behind bars in Russia changed her. “I was literally in a cage and could not stand the way I wanted to,” she said. “Just being able to hear my national anthem and see my flag, I definitely want to stand.” Griner had 18 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots Friday night for the Phoenix Mercury in a 94-71 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. “Not good enough, didn’t get the dub,” said Griner, who nevertheless couldn’t be down in defeat. “I appreciate everything a little bit more, all of the small moments, like, ‘Oh, I’m so tired I don’t want to go to practice today,’ that has changed, honestly,” she said. “Tomorrow is not guaranteed, you don’t know what it’s going to look like.

I feel a lot older somehow, too.” The 32-year-old center’s immediate goal is to play an entire game by the All-Star break in mid-July.

She played 25 minutes Friday. “I hope to be exactly where I want to be,” Griner said. “Just getting back to how I was before all this happened.” Griner made an immediate impact against the Sparks.

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