Olympic basketball star Brittney Griner is ready to fight for the country that fought for her

Brittney Griner is willing to risk her life for the United States 2024 Olympic Games to Paris to try to repay the country that saved her from the depths of Russian prisons.

THE Phoenix Mercury The star’s life was thrown into chaos when she was arrested in Russia in 2022 on drug charges and spent 10 months behind bars in various prisons.

But the UNITED STATES The government refused to abandon the WNBA Ace, who was sent to prison for nine years for drug trafficking, when vaping cartridges were found in her luggage at Moscow airport.

She was held until December 2022, she was released when the US government exchanged a prisoner they had for her, and she was taken home to resume her WNBA career and life.

So the chance to win a third gold medal at the Olympics in France could be a special opportunity for her, in a spiritual sense, to give something back to the United States and realize that she is truly free to Vladimir Poutinethe political influence of.

“BG is locked and ready to go,” Griner told NBC News Friday. “I’m happy, I’m in a great place. I’m representing my country.

“The country that fought for my return. I will represent it well.”

Griner She added that the Olympics would “mean 100% more” to her than previous ones because of the experiences she has had since February 2022.

Griner’s WNBA stats

Griner She already has two Olympic gold medals under her belt, so no one can question the 33-year-old’s experience, but what about her talent and performance?

That remains true. In 2024, she is averaging 18.3 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game, making her one of the deadliest players in the WNBA and professional basketball.