Brittney Griner is finally coming home to the United States after being wrongfully detained in Russia for nine months.
News broke on Thursday morning that the WNBA star was on her way back after the U.S. brokered a prisoner swap with Russia, with international arms dealer Viktor Bout being sent in exchange. It’s a huge, huge relief given the recent news that she was being sent to penal colony.
The outpouring of gratitude from athletes — so many from the WNBA and NBA, — and so many others poured in on Twitter after the news broke.
Here’s a roundup of those tweets:
The best news to start our day with: finally, our sister BG is coming home!!
So grateful for all those who tirelessly worked to make this happen. Welcome home, Brittney!!!!
— Chiney Ogwumike (@chiney) December 8, 2022
Thank You 🙏🏾
— James Wade (@coachjameswade) December 8, 2022
Thank you to all the government officials involved in securing her release 🙌🏽 what an unbelievable feelings https://t.co/iJFpE1uZ3V
— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) December 8, 2022
— Laura Harper (@CoachLHarper) December 8, 2022
Brittney Griner 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽. Thank god
— Kim McNeill (@ecucoachkim) December 8, 2022
God’s grace is SUFFICIENT! @brittneygriner is home! I love you BG!
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) December 8, 2022
Helll yea!!!! BG is free!! ❤️❤️❤️
— Chelsea Gray (@cgray209) December 8, 2022
BG IS FINALLY FREE 🥺❤️
— Aisha Sheppard (@____blessed2) December 8, 2022
BG! We love you! We love you so much. We are so thrilled you are coming back to American soil!!!!
— Arielle (Ari) Chambers (@ariivory) December 8, 2022
BG 🥹🙏🏽 God is so good
— A'ja Wilson (@_ajawilson22) December 8, 2022
Brittney Griner is HOME!!!! Praying for her still! GREAT NEWS!!
— Joy Smith (@CoachJoy21) December 8, 2022
so happy for BG 🥹🫶🏾 just in time for the holidays
— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) December 8, 2022
BG is FREE!!! 294 days and she is coming home!!! 😭🤍🙏🏻❤️
— Breanna Stewart (@breannastewart) December 8, 2022
Yes BG is free! God is an awesome wonder ✨🙏🏾🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/uj752Okg0A
— Chasity Melvin (@chasitymelvin) December 8, 2022
To GOD be the glory❤️🙏🏾 @brittneygriner
— Swin Cash (@SwinCash) December 8, 2022
— Chris Paul (@CP3) December 8, 2022
!!!!!! https://t.co/zFJ1DMxp5t
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) December 8, 2022
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 https://t.co/msirtdSDUh
— Quentin Richardson (@QRich) December 8, 2022
BG home!!! 🙏🏾🖤
— Nolan Smith (@NdotSmitty) December 8, 2022