Brittney Griner's Honest Take On Playing Overseas For First Time Since Imprisonment

WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was recently questioned about her decision to join the Team USA women's basketball team and embark on the journey to the 2024 Olympics.

Griner's been in the public eye for the past few seasons, with news and sports outlets highlighting her arrest in Russia. The 6-foot-9 center was arrested in 2022 after being caught with marijuana-infused vape cartridges. She was detained for nearly 10 months despite pleading guilty to a nine-year charge.

She was ultimately released in December 2022 when the United States had a prisoner exchange, sending Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner.

Griner spoke about her decision to leave the country this summer, sharing her thoughts on her overseas career.

"I'm excited, actually to go. My overseas career didn't really end the way I wanted it to. This is kind of a way for me to kind of do that on my own terms," Griner said.

Griner was in Russia to play for the professional women's basketball club team, UMMC Ekaterinburg. She played with the team from 2015-2022.

The talented center will now head to Paris, France, for the Summer Olympics, representing the United States of America.

It seems the WNBA veteran is ready to move on from her previous issues and end her overseas career on her own terms.

The 33-year-old has averaged 18.3 points and 6.4 rebounds through the Mercury's 13-12 season.

She'll play in her first game with Team USA against Team Germany on July 23 at 3 p.m. ET. Griner and the Team USA squad will begin their Olympic run following the WNBA All-Star game on July 20 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

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