ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Brittney Griner is back in Texas, alone, out at dinner and on the court with the Phoenix Mercury at the WNBA star’s home country six months after her release from a Russian prison.
Even before the first consecutive game against the Dallas Wings, Griner was getting cheers while eating with his teammates. Less than two hours before Wednesday night’s game, she caught up privately with members of the women’s basketball team from Baylor, the 100-mile campus where she was part of a 40-0 national championship in 2012.
Like Grenier of Houston, Mercury frontman Brianna Turner said, “We went out to eat yesterday and we walked in and everyone (yells) Brittney Griner, Brittney Griner.” “It was really exciting, the warm welcome I got and everyone came out being like good luck, so glad you’re home.”
Mercury was on the road for only the second time this chapter. It’s the first time Griner has played in her home state since he missed the entirety of last season while she was held in Russia for nearly 10 months on drug charges that ended in a prisoner exchange in December.
Griner had 24 points and four rebounds for Mercury (1-4) in the 84-79 loss – the two teams play again Friday night. The 6-foot-9 Griner is averaging 22.4 points a game this season, higher than her career average of 17.8 points a game.
When the starting lineup was introduced before the game, Griner received a standing ovation from the crowd that also included a lot of Baylor fans and players from her high school in Houston. Griner responded with applause to the crowd, then made a jumper on the first shot of the game.
“This is a joyful distraction unlike what we all went through last year,” said Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard. “In every city last year it was a BG, but not a BG like this, so I’m so grateful to have it back. We can’t forget the miracle it’s here.”
Dallas coach Latricia Tramell said the highlight of her day was giving Grenier a big hug when the Mercury came onto the court for morning shooting as the Wings finished their session.
“It was just an emotional moment for all of us,” Tramell said. “I was only honored and blessed that she is on earth safe and well. And as she told me, I went, it’s all happiness from here on.”
Griner also shared hugs with Wings players Odyssey Sims and Kalani Brown, both former Baylor players. Sims was a teammate of Griner on the undefeated national title team, while the Browns were part of the Bears national championship in 2019.
Brown used to go camping in Baylor when Griner was playing there—”BG doesn’t like me putting out that camp picture,” Brown said with a grin.
Now that Griner is back on the court, Brown said it’s important to know how much everyone has been pulling her and praying for her at a difficult time.
“I’m glad this situation didn’t dim her light, because she’s the sweetest human being. In every encounter we’ve had, I’ve never had a negative encounter,” Brown said. “I’m just like a little girl to her. But yeah, I’m so glad he didn’t change it because he could easily have. So I thank God for that.”
When current Baylor players met Griner, they presented her with a commemorative frame featuring the “BG42” patch that the Bears wore on their jerseys all past season, even after Griner was released.
Nikki Cullen, who has just finished her second season as Baylor’s head coach, said her goal is to retire Griner’s No. 42 jersey as early as next season when the school opens a new basketball arena. No one has worn this number for the Bears since Griner’s senior season in 2012-13, the last time she was on campus for a game.
“I think one of the things PJ wants is to feel really welcome at Baylor,” said Cullen. “So having the opportunity to connect the dots would be really huge for our program.”
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