Longtime women’s basketball star Brittney Griner is not taking living in America for granted after her freedom was taken from her overseas.
© Provided by Total Pro Sports
Before her stint in a Russian prison, Brittney Griner had been outspoken about being on the court during the National Anthem, saying, “I’m not going to be out there for the National Anthem. If the (WNBA) continues to want to play it, that’s fine. It will be all season long; I’ll not be out there.”
She added: “I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season.”
That was during a 2020 interview, and things have certainly changed since then.
Griner, who recently got her 2024 regular started after recovering from an injury, was arrested in Russia for the majority of 2022 after she was found to have cannabis in her backpack while at an airport.
Griner was sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison on charges of smuggling drugs into the country. She spent most of 2022 imprisoned before Joe Biden and his team were able to work a trade that sent Viktor Bout, the so-called Merchant of Death, back to Russia.
Now that she has been back for over a year, Griner says the national anthem “definitely hit different.”
The Mercury superstar says she no longer takes what she has in America for granted.
“I’m grateful to be here, that’s for sure. I’m not going to take a day for granted,” Griner said via NY Post. “Hearing the national anthem, it definitely hit different,” Griner said. “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. … Being here today … it means a lot.”
Brittney Griner To Represent America After Being Named to Third USA Basketball Olympic Roster
© Provided by Total Pro Sports
USA Basketball has announced the official women’s roster for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, and Brittney Griner is set to be on it.
The Olympics are a patriotic event, so this will be the first time we will see her during the Anthem after being released from a Russian prison.
The post Brittney Griner Reveals She Has Changed Her Opinion On The American National Anthem After Her Stint In Russian Prison originally published on Total Pro Sports.
News
LeBron James faces backlash for ‘snapping’ at young fan after Olympics win, what’s going on
LeBron James has received backlash after he pointed in the face of a young kid who was asking for a picture following Team USA’s basketball Olympic gold medal LeBron James has been slammed for his interaction with a young fan (Image:…
Dave Portnoy banking on Caitlin Clark to win him $10m from ambitious wager
Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy once again places a massive wager, picking Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever to win the WNBA title this October. Dave Portnoy has consistenly backed Caitlin Clark during her rookie year (Image: Getty Images) Barstool’s Dave Portnoy has launched…
Taylor Swift Blocks Kanye West From No. 1 Debut as ‘Tortured Poets’ Tops ‘Vultures 2’
Taylor Swift’s ‘TTPD’ scores a 14th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with Kanye West’s ‘Vultures 2’ coming in at No. 2 Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department has earned its 14th week at No. 1 on the Billboard…
Shocking News: Just as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Romance Heats Up, Donna Kelce Revealed that Travis and Ex-Girlfriend Kayla Nicole are Expecting
In a surprising turn of events, the blossoming romance between pop superstar Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce has taken a dramatic twist. Just as the couple’s relationship appears to be heating up, it has been confirmed that Kelce…
Steph Curry ‘night night’ celebration explained as USA hero delivers iconic Olympics image
Stephen Curry produced an iconic moment in the final seconds of Team USA’s gold medal victory over France, draining a deep 3-pointer before celebrating with his signature ‘night night’ move Steph Curry performed his good night celebration as Team USA…
PHOTOS: Brittney Griner’s Wife Absolutely Stunned In Her Private “Dump” At The Paris Olympics
Cherelle Griner had the time of her life at the Paris Olympics as she cheered on her wife. Cherelle Griner (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Two years after serving time in Russian custody, Brittney Griner won her third Olympic medal as she helped…
End of content
No more pages to load