After her imprisonment in Russia, Brittney Griner is heading to Paris with a new perspective. Two years ago, Griner was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison for drug possession but was freed in a high-profile exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout. Reflecting on her return, Griner expressed deep gratitude for wearing the Team USA jersey again.
“It means everything to me honestly,” Griner said. “The honor to wear it again and potentially win gold is icing on the cake.”
Previously, Griner had suggested that the WNBA should stop playing the national anthem and had knelt during it amid 2020’s social unrest. However, after her ordeal in Russia, her appreciation for the anthem has changed.
“It hits different when you’re about to get gold put on your neck and the anthem is playing,” she said after returning to the U.S.
Griner also addressed criticism for kneeling, saying she was “blown away” by accusations of being un-American, emphasizing her father’s military service and her belief in the right to protest.
Brittney Griner on playing for Team USA after kneeling during anthem, Russian imprisonment: 'Means everything' https://t.co/kSmTo6C3ED
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 22, 2024
