Phoenix Mercury confirm Brittney Griner’s return to WNBA

Brittney Griner will be back in the WNBA this season, once again playing with the Phoenix Mercury. Griner, who was a free agent, re-signed with the team Tuesday.

The 32-year-old Griner had said she would return to Phoenix in a social media post in December, after she returned home from her 10-month detainment in Russia. Griner was arrested on drug possession charges a year ago and was brought home in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange in December.

“We missed BG every day that she was gone and, while basketball was not our primary concern, her presence on the floor, in our locker room, around our organization, and within our community was greatly missed,” Mercury GM Jim Pitman said. “We will continue to use the resources of our organization to support her, on and off the floor, and we are thrilled for her that she gets to return to basketball, which she loves so dearly. This is a special signing and today is a special day for all of us.”

The 6ft 9in center last played for the Mercury in 2021 and helped the team reach the WNBA finals. She averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds that season.

Griner, who was drafted No 1 in 2013 by the Mercury, with whom she won the WNBA title in 2014. ESPN reported that the one-year deal is worth $165,100.

Since returning home from Russia, Griner has been out of the public spotlight, with the exception of appearances at the Super Bowl, the Phoenix Open and an MLK Day event in Phoenix, where she lives.

“I do not think any of us will forget where we were on 8 December when we heard BG was coming home, or on 15 December when she announced she intended not only to play basketball in 2023 but that it would be for the Mercury,” Mercury president of business operations Vince Kozar said.

“And I