Brittney Griner: ‘Extraordinary Courage, Dignity In The Face Of Enormous Adversity’
Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 06:12PM NYSJ Sports-Entertainment Business News Service
December 8, 2022: AP Sports: Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday in a high-profile prisoner exchange, as the U.S. released notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout but failed to win freedom for another American, Paul Whelan, who has been jailed for nearly four years.
“She’s safe, she’s on a plane, she’s on her way home,” President Joe Biden said from the White House, where he was accompanied by Griner’s wife, Cherelle, and administration officials. (Full story here.)
• Cherelle Griner, at a White House briefing:
“Today, my family is whole but as you all are aware, there are so many other families who are not whole.
“BG and I will remain committed to the work of getting every American home, including Paul, whose family is in our hearts today as we celebrate BG being home.”
• WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert via the league:
“There has not been a day over the past ten months where we all haven’t had Brittney Griner on our minds and in our hearts and that has now turned into a collective wave of joy and relief knowing that she will soon be reunited with her family, the WNBA player community, and her friends.
“BG has shown extraordinary courage and dignity in the face of enormous adversity. The WNBA is grateful beyond measure to the Biden Administration, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and all those who played a role in bringing BG home today.
“Our hope is that Paul Whelan and every wrongfully detained American will be returned home safely and as soon as possible.”
• NBA commissioner Adam Silver via the league:
“Brittney has had to endure an unimaginable situation and we’re thrilled that she is on her way home to her family and friends. We thank the members of the NBA and WNBA community who never wavered in their efforts to raise awareness of Brittney's unjust circumstances.”
• The WNBA players’ union, the WNBPA, via the union:
“We, as a union, have not been whole since Feb. 17, 2022. But, today, our [membership] is complete.
“We express our deepest appreciation for anyone and everyone who supported our campaign, and thank the Biden administration for its continued efforts over the past ten months to bring BG home.
“Whether you signed the petition, posted on social media, wrote a letter, wore a shirt, told your friends to advocate, or called our community to action — what you did made a difference.”
• WNBA Phoenix Mercury (Griner’s team) via the team:
“No more days. She’s coming home.
“Miraculously, mercifully, the count of days detained has ended at 294, and our friend, our sister is headed back home where she belongs.
“The emotions for our organization, just like for our fans and so many across the world, are those of joyous celebration, deep gratitude, grief for the time lost, and sincere hope for all families still awaiting the return of a loved one.
“BG’s strength in this process, her unwavering belief that resolution would come, and the hope she displayed every day is what kept all of us believing this day would come.”
• Lindsay Colas, Griner’s agent, via the WNBA:
“Throughout this ordeal, BG has carried herself with courage, grace and grit; and President Biden made us a promise, and then kept his word and did what was necessary to bring her home.
“We are forever grateful for his follow-through on that commitment.”
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