After spending a horrifyingly long time in a Russian prison, WNBA star Brittney Griner returned home in December.
The former WNBA champion was held in Russian captivity for nearly 300 days after Russian customs found vape cartridges containing hashish oil. She was initially sentenced to nine years in prison, but fortunately, she was able to return to the United States after a prisoner swap.
The sports world was overjoyed to have Griner back on domestic soil, and on Thursday, the six-time WNBA All-Star addressed the media for the first time since her return during a press conference in Phoenix.
Griner was asked if her desire to play overseas during the WNBA offseason is more of a need than a want. Griner played for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in China in 2014 and for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia from 2014 until 2022.
Here is what Griner said about her future with international basketball:
“I’m never going overseas to play again unless I’m representing my country at the Olympics. If I make that team, that would be the only time I would leave the U.S. soil and that’s just to represent the U.S.A.”
“I can say for me, I’m never going overseas to play again unless I’m representing my country at the Olympics.”
Brittney Griner addresses the pay gap and why WNBA players travel overseas to play. pic.twitter.com/9Ot2ppd8NW
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 27, 2023
The center has won four gold medals representing her country, including two in the Olympics (2016 and 2020) and two more in the World Cup (2014 and 2018). She is one of 11 players with an Olympic gold medal, a FIBA World Cup gold medal, a WNBA title, and an NCAA title.
She has also won four Euroleague championships as well as three Russian National League championships. Griner, however, added that WNBA players are “missing everything” when they are away from their families.
She then spoke about the wage gap, which is one reason why so many WNBA players spend their offseasons overseas:
“The whole reason a lot of us go over is the pay gap. A lot of us go over there to make an income and support our families and support ourselves. So I don’t knock any player that wants to go overseas and make a little bit of extra money. I’m hoping that our league continues to grow … I hope you continue to cover our league, bring exposure to us. I hope a lot of these companies start to invest in our craft.”
Griner credited the media attention and coverage as one of the reasons she was able to return to the United States. But that is not the only reason why continued coverage will help this sport tremendously.
As women’s basketball continues to grow in popularity, the WNBA has an opportunity over the next few years to increase guaranteed salaries and earn more of the revenue share so players no longer feel the need to spend their offseasons playing overseas.
