Brittney Griner re-signs with the Phoenix Mercury, returning to the WNBA after her release from Russian prison

NBC News has confirmed that basketball star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner has re-signed to the Phoenix Mercury to a one-year deal.

An official statement announcing the signing is expected on Tuesday, according to a source close to Grenier.

The Mercury athlete played her entire WNBA career, which began in 2013. She missed the entire 2022 season while imprisoned in Russia for nearly 10 months, according to WNBA.com.

Griner has previously said that she intends to play in the 2023 season. This move raises any doubts about the team.

Grainer was released from a Russian penal colony in December after the Biden administration negotiated her release in exchange for arms dealer Victor Bout.

She was arrested in February 2022 at a Moscow airport claiming she arrived in the country with e-cigarette packets containing cannabis oil in her luggage, according to Russian authorities. Grenier pleaded guilty at her trial in July but said she had no criminal intent. She said the packages, which were prescribed to her for chronic pain, were unintentionally packed while she was quickly preparing for her flight.

In her first comments after her release in the prisoner exchange, Greiner wrote on Instagram that being in Russian custody for nearly 10 months had been an emotional battle.

“I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that kept me going.” Greiner Books. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you everyone for your help.”