Brittney Griner. Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Brittney Griner signs one-year deal with Mercury one year after start of Russian detainment

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 2/21/23

Last week was the one-year anniversary of Brittney Griner being arrested and detained at a Moscow airport on drug possession charges. On Tuesday, the Phoenix Mercury announced that they had officially re-signed Griner to a one-year contract for the upcoming 2023 season.

According to an ESPN report, the deal is for $165,100.

The 2023 campaign begins on May 19, with the Mercury facing the Los Angeles Sparks at 10 p.m. ET on the road. Phoenix will play its home opener on May 21 against the Chicago Sky.

The news you’ve all been waiting for! BG will be back in a Phoenix Mercury jersey this season
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) February 21, 2023

The moment BG steps back on the court will be one you never forget. Footprint Center is the place to be on May 21st!

Tickets to the are available NOW!
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) February 21, 2023

Griner's nearly 10 months of detainment in Russia dominated headlines across the world for much of 2022 and coincided with the start of the country's attack on Ukraine.

United States President Joe Biden marked the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion earlier this week with a visit to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.

After Griner was arrested in February, the U.S. government declared that she was being wrongfully detained in early May. She was sentenced to nine years in prison in August, but Biden and his administration completed a one-for-one prisoner swap in December to bring "BG" home, sending Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout back in the deal.

Griner announced in mid-December that she intended to return and play with the Mercury in 2023. The seven-time All-Star has spent her entire career with Phoenix, since being selected first overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft.

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