Brittney Griner signs a ‘much-awaited’ contract with Phoenix Mercury and hits the practice court for the first time since her return from prison
Brittney Griner is set to make her return to the WNBA as she has reached an agreement with the Phoenix Mercury on a one-year contract. She even returned to the practice court after months to get some shots in.
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Brittney Griner (Getty Images)
Brittney Griner is all set to return to the basketball court and star for the Phoenix Mercury once again. It was reported last weekend that the two-time Olympic gold medalist was set to re-sign with the franchise. And on Tuesday, the deal was made official. According to ESPN, the free agent has put pen to a one-year contract worth $165,100 with the team that drafted her with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft.
The WNBA star, 32, spent nearly ten months in Russian imprisonment. Griner was detained by Russian authorities at a Moscow airport last February when cannibis-infused vape cartridges were seized from her luggage. Nevertheless, only two months after being released from a Russian prison camp, she will put her basketball talents to the test once more.
“It’s a great day for all of us to announce that Brittney Griner has officially signed to play for the Mercury in 2023,” Mercury general manager 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,” he added.
Griner last played for the franchise in the 2021 season, averaging 20.5 points and a career-high 9.5 rebounds per game. She spearheaded her team to the WNBA Finals that season before eventually losing to the Chicago Sky.
Related: Did Brittney Griner kiss Kevin Durant on Instagram Live? Know the truth behind it
Brittney Griner all smiles in her first shoot-around session on the basketball court
Phoenix Mercury made sure to share a glimpse of Brittney Griner after she hit the practice court after a long absence. And it’s safe to say the WNBA star was overjoyed. She was all smiles since she had got some work in just a few days after signing a deal with Mercury.
The WNBA team posted photos of its star on their social media channels. In one of the photos, she can be seen grinning as she prepares to shoot the ball. Another picture featuring the Mercury locker room white board was also uploaded. As she prepares to make a statement-return this upcoming season, Griner left a message there, writing, “I’M BACK MF!!”
As Brittney Griner prepares to showcase her basketball prowess once more, it will be interesting to watch how she fares in the upcoming WNBA season. Will she look like her former self on the court, or will she struggle to establish her footing? Only time will tell.
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Ritvik Malhotra
(1085 Articles Published)