Britney Griner to return to WNBA

After being released from a Russian penal colony in December, WNBA star Brittney Griner has signed a one-year contract to play for the Phoenix Mercury.
On Saturday, the 32-year-old free agent signed a one-year, $165,100 contract deal with ESPN, allowing her to continue her career with the only WNBA team she has played for since entering the league.
Blavity was the first to report on Brittney Griner officially setting her return to the WNBA with a one-year deal with the Phoenix Mercury.
In 2013, the Mercury selected the All-Star center as the first overall pick. The team, led by Griner, made it to the WNBA Finals in 2021 but were defeated by the Chicago Sky in the championship round.
In February 2022, the two-time Olympic gold medallist was arrested at an airport outside of Moscow after being accused of carrying vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage.
Griner was released in a prisoner swap after spending 10 months in a Russian prison. Reuters reported that the U.S. negotiated a deal with Russia in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout.
After returning to the U.S., Griner wrote in a press release, “I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to expressing my gratitude to those who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon.”
On May 19, the Mercury will start their season by playing the Los Angeles Sparks.