Brittney Griner has shown what it takes to be a fighter. Since last year, the WNBA All-Star has had to face severe turmoil from being detained by the Russian authorities. She was taken into their custody after being caught carrying vaporizer oil canisters at the Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow. The athlete was making her usual visit to Russia as she competed for the UMMC Ekaterinburg team.
After being detained in February 2022, it wasn’t until July that she got a chance to speak to the court. Even though Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges, she claimed that it was a result of hasty packing. Unfortunately, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The Phoenix Mercury star was sent to the penal colonies to serve time, a place notorious for prisoner ill-treatment. With much effort, the US Administration was able to convince Russia of a prisoner swap, sending Griner back home in exchange for Viktor Bout.
However, her battle against the world hadn’t ended there. Upon returning to American soil, appearing in front of the media was inevitable. That’s exactly when fans began questioning her identity due to her voice. Brittney Griner also had to face hecklers while traveling which led the WNBA to allow players to issue charter flights. Despite the never-ending harassment of being under constant public scrutiny, Griner still keeps herself held high.
Brittney Griner urges her peers to take a stand for their mental health
Brittney Griner made a comeback to basketball against the Los Angeles Sparks at the start of the 2023 season. The All-Star has been performing very well averaging 18.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. She was also selected as an All-Star for the ninth time in her career this year. Despite Griner’s hard efforts and Diana Taurasi‘s veteran dominance, the Mercury haven’t been their usual selves. Recently, Brittney missed a few games for mental health reasons.
Brittney Griner addressed the importance of mental health after sitting out the last three games. pic.twitter.com/JI5yEOkHUr
— ESPN (@espn) August 6, 2023
According to ESPN, she said, “I just want to shout out the Phoenix Mercury organization. From the jump, they were there for me, making sure I was good… You see [athletes] really take a moment for themselves. The more people do that and make it normal, it’s okay. Before, no one dared even say it. You were looked upon as weak or not wanting to play or compete, which is completely the opposite mindset.”
It is good to see Brittney Griner take a stand for her mental health. Not too many athletes have been able to do what she did due to fear of being called “weak”. Even NBA players have had to face mental health struggles. Back in 2020, Paul George admitted that during his time in the bubble, being away from family and loved ones took a major hit to the mind. As a result, it affected his ability to perform as well.