Brittney Griner Hits Basketball Court Following Release From Russian Prison

Although it may be some time before Brittney Griner plays professionally again, she’s already scoring dunks after her release from a Russian prison. Still stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, the two-time Olympic gold medalist hit the on-base court for a workout on December 11, per ESPN. After nearly 10 months of captivity in Russia, she was spotted playing Sunday after landing in her home state of Texas days earlier.

Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, told ESPN that Griner has no current plans to return to the game. “If she wants to play, it will be for her to share. She has the holidays to rest and decide what’s next without any pressure,” Colas said of the Phoenix Mercury star, who was reportedly “doing really, really well.” Adding that there are also security concerns related to Griner’s stateside freedom, Colas noted, “She’s reintegrating into a world that has changed for her now.”

Previously, ESPN reported that Griner spent 12 of her 18-hour flight talking with the crew of her plane ride home. According to Roger Carstens, the presidential envoy for hostage affairs who helped obtain her release, Griner said, “I’ve been in prison for 10 months, listening to the Russians. I want to talk.” Carstens recalled watching Griner “making a personal connection” with every member of the flight crew. “It was really amazing,” Carstens said.