Britney Griner starred successful nan Phoenix Mercury's first triumph of nan caller WNBA season, arsenic nan center, who was detained successful a Russian situation labour campy for 10 months, scored 19 points successful a 90-81 triumph complete nan Minnesota Lynx.
On Thursday, nan 32-year-old was 4 points awkward of Phoenix's apical scorer of nan nighttime - defender Diane Taurasi. She besides put up 8 rebounds and 1 assist.
Griner - a seven-time All-Star - continues to supply a ratings boost for nan league, six months aft returning to US soil pursuing her imprisonment successful Russia for being successful possession of cannabis lipid astatine Moscow's Sheremetyevo airdrome successful February, 2022.
She looked successful apical shape successful Sunday's 75-69 nonaccomplishment to nan Chicago Sky by contributing 27 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. She besides was bombarded pinch emotions while being greeted warmly successful her first location crippled since nan 2021 season.
'It was really good,' Griner said afterward. 'Part of nan process of treatment is conscionable benignant of letting it out. So, yeah, I sewage choked up a small bit.'
Brittney Griner's attraction was razor crisp connected Thursday arsenic she sewage Phoenix its first triumph of nan year
The 32-year-old halfway put up 19 points successful a 90-81 triumph complete nan Minnesota Lynx connected Thursday
In Phoenix's play opener against nan LA Sparks, Griner, who was astatine this year's Met Gala and nan White House earlier successful May, scored 18 points.
She besides had six rebounds and 2 assists successful nan Mercury's 91-74 nonaccomplishment connected May 19.
The hoops prima was often outspoken for societal justness successful 2020 and didn't return nan tribunal during nan pregame anthem. But astir a twelvemonth down bars successful Russia changed her.
'I was virtually successful a cage and could not guidelines nan measurement I wanted to,' she said aft nan Mercury's first nonaccomplishment of nan play against nan Spark.
'Just being capable to perceive my nationalist anthem and spot my flag, I decidedly want to stand.'
Griner was outspoken for societal justness successful 2020 and didn't return nan tribunal during nan pregame anthem. But astir a twelvemonth down bars successful Russia changed her
Griner and her wife, Cherelle Griner, be The 2023 Met Gala successful New York City connected May 1, 2023
Before nan Mercury's first crippled of nan 2023 season, Griner hugged Vice President Kamala Harris and first man Doug Emhoff arsenic they near nan tribunal aft Harris was presented pinch a No. 49 Sparks jersey.
Earlier, Harris posed for photos successful nan Mercury's locker room.
Ahead of Thursday night's triumph against nan Lynx, Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard revealed really amazed she was pinch really Griner is dealing pinch everything aft her well-publicized ordeal.
'I conscionable proceed to beryllium impressed pinch B.G.,' Nygaard said. 'B.G. is personification that tin grip truthful galore things, clearly, that galore group could not handle.
'So, I was conscionable really happy to person her backmost connected nan tribunal and conscionable to consciousness nan emotion from each of our fans.'
English (US) · 
Indonesian (ID) · 