Brittney Griner honored to be wearing a USA Basketball jersey - ESPN

PHOENIX — There were times Brittney Griner thought she would never wear a USA Basketball jersey again.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist was sitting in a Russian prison in 2022, sentenced to nine years in jail for drug possession and smuggling. Playing for her country again was a far-fetched idea at that point. Ten months later, she was free after a high-profile prisoner exchange.

Now, 19 months later, she's suiting up for the U.S. in the Paris Games — her first trip to play overseas since returning from Russia.

Griner, wearing her No. 15 USA jersey before the team played at the All-Star Game on Saturday, said she gets chills now just putting it on.

«It means everything to me honestly,» Griner told The Associated Press in an interview. «For me to now have the honor to wear it again and potentially win gold is icing on the cake for everything.»

Griner had gone to Russia to play basketball and supplement her WNBA income. She had done it for years. No more. The 33-year-old said she will only play in America unless USA Basketball asks her to play. Griner has dedicated a lot of time representing playing with the U.S. team and feels 100% safe when she's with them.

«It's different, we are so protected by the staff around us,» she said. «It's different, it's way different. The level of comfortability and security we have right now makes it a lot easier.»

It's been a busy few weeks for Griner, as her wife, Cherelle, gave birth to their son Bash on July 8. Griner said it was tough saying goodbye to him for a few weeks.

«We got some really cool photos before I left,» she said. «He doesn't know anything right now, but one day it will be cool for him to have that footage. There's so much footage.»

She'll have her USA Basketball