Basketball star Brittney Griner has returned to the United States after a prisoner swap between the US and Russia.
Griner landed at the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, early Friday morning.
Her return followed the White House’s announcement of the prisoner swap on Thursday morning.
She was visiting the country during the WNBA offseason to play for a Russian professional team.
Her arrest took on even greater significance when, a week after she was detained, Russia invaded Ukraine.
In August, Griner was convicted in a Russian court and sentenced to nine years in prison.
She started serving her sentence in November.
She missed the entirety of the 2022 season.
It’s common forWNBA players to play abroadin the offseason to supplement their salaries.
Griner’s release has also focused attention on Paul Whelan, who remains detained in Russia.
