It's been a long road home for Mercury center Brittney Griner.
Incarcerated in Russia for nearly 10 months on drug smuggling charges, Griner was freed in a prisoner swap on Dec. 8. Much of the basketball world united around campaigning for her return, and she was greeted with an ovation before her first game against the Sparks on Friday night in Los Angeles.
Sunday afternoon, she returned home to Phoenix’s Footprint Center, where an equally thunderous welcome awaited her. It had been 585 days since Griner last played at home in the 2021 WNBA Finals against the Sky, per ESPN.
Brittney Griner was introduced before her first home game in 585 days.
— ESPN (@espn) May 21, 2023
What a moment. pic.twitter.com/WWTgWmgBjm
Playing against Chicago, Griner immediately made her presence known. Just 15 seconds in, Griner hit a short turnaround jumper that represented the Mercury's first home basket of the season.
Brittney Griner scores the first bucket of the 2023 season at home 🙌
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 21, 2023
(via @PhoenixMercury)
pic.twitter.com/yoeTZh6Gbm
The seven-time All-Star ended her first home half of 2023 with nine points, five rebounds and an assist despite the Sky taking a 41–35 lead.
