Brittney Griner talking to reporters

Brittney Griner (Diannie Chavez/The Republic-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Brittney Griner has come a long way.

The former wrongfully detained Russian prisoner has a new lease on life and a new perspective.

She spent most of 2022 locked up in Russia after getting arrested at an airport on drug charges. She was only released after the United States Government agreed to a prisoner swap that saw arms dealer Viktor Bout go the other way.

She was extremely emotional after helping Team USA beat France in a 67-66 win, marking an eighth-straight gold for the American women’s basketball team. It was a notable moment when cameras caught her holding back the tears during the national anthem.

The longtime WNBA star previously expressed some disdain toward the national anthem, but things certainly changed for her after the Russia incident.

One thing you will not be seeing her do is kneeling or protesting the national anthem before WNBA games in 2025.“It means everything to me, honestly,” Griner said, per the Associated Press.

“For me to now have the honor to wear it again and potentially win gold is icing on the cake for everything.”

“It always meant everything to me,” Griner said, via andscape.com. “My dad fought for our country. He is a Marine… So, it’s always been something that we’ve always cherished, but now even more so. My country really saved my life and I’m able to represent them again and it just means so much more.”

In 2024, Griner made it clear how the Anthem hits much differently for her now.

“Hearing the national anthem, it definitely hit different,” Griner said last season.

“It’s like when you go for the Olympics, you’re sitting there, about to get gold put on your neck, the flags are going up, and the anthem is playing, it just hits different.”

Brittney Griner Ends 11-Year Career With The Phoenix Mercury

Brittney Griner on the bench

Brittney Griner (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Brittney Griner is no longer on the Mercury roster.

She signed with the Atlanta Dream, marking the end of her 11-year career with the Phoenix Mercury.

Griner announced in a video posted to Instagram that she would sign a one-year deal with Atlanta.

The 6-foot-9 Griner had spent her entire career with Phoenix since getting drafted No. 1 in 2013.

Griner averaged 17.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks this past season with Phoenix.