Brittney Griner was given a hero’s welcome by fans in Phoenix as she returned for her first WNBA home game in 585 days – five months since her release from a Russian penal colony
- Griner’s return to Phoenix will include halftime and postgame concerts
- She made her WNBA return against the Los Angeles Sparks a few nights ago
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Mercury star Brittney Griner returned to make her home debut in Phoenix for the first time in 585 days following her highly publicized detention in Russia that caused her to miss all of last season.
Griner stood for a moment while clapping before making an X in the air as his name was announced, to the sounds of ‘I’m coming home’ blaring over loudspeakers in the background.
The fans in attendance gave him a standing ovation as the lights of countless phone lights could be seen illuminating the arena.
The Mercury play the Chicago Sky in the first game of the season on home court, on a day that also featured concerts from Wyclef Jean during the pregame and post-game.
Griner made her WNBA debut in the team’s previous game against the Los Angeles Sparks, in what she called ‘a day of joy.’
Brittney Griner made her home debut in Phoenix after missing all of last season in Russia
His Phoenix Suns squad plays against the Chicago Sky on Sunday afternoon
The homecoming came shortly after her WNBA return against the Los Angels Sparks
‘I was literally in a cage and couldn’t cope the way I wanted to,’ she said. ‘Just hearing my national anthem and seeing my flag, I really want to stand up.’
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 was nonetheless undefeated.
‘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,’ he said.
‘Tomorrow is not guaranteed, you never know what it will look like. I feel older too somehow.’
The 32-year-old center’s immediate goal is to play a full game before the All-Star break in mid-July. He played 25 minutes on Friday.
‘Hopefully it’s exactly where I want it to be,’ Griner said. ‘Just going back to how I was before all this happened.’
Griner made an immediate impact against the Sparks. He passed to Moriah Jefferson, who hit a 3-pointer for Phoenix’s first basket. Griner grabbed several rebounds and scored twice to help the Mercury take an early lead.
