Brittney Griner Re-Signs With Phoenix Mercury: 'So Good To Be Back With The Family'

Brittney Griner is headed back to the WNBA and her team, the Phoenix Mercury!

In a recent social media post, Griner, 32, shared her excitement over re-signing with the Mercury for the upcoming season.

Griner shared a video montage of her time with the Mercury on Instagram captioned, "So Good to be back with the Family! @phoenixmercury ??" Many of Griner's fans took to the comments to share their excitement over the news.

Phoenix Mercury wrote, "our heartbeat ?," and actress Kristin Davis added, "Thrilling !!! You are a true warrior spirit! Thank you for the inspiration ♥️♥️♥️♥️." Griner's wife, Cherelle also left a comment, "?????"

Many other fans also left comments of support and congratulations. "??Never been to a WNBA game but I’m going to one this season!!! ?? won’tHEdoit!! So excited for you ????," wrote one fan. Another added, "YAAAAAY ? (you are one of my biggest inspirations in life and I'm so glad you are back doing what you love!!!) ?"

The Phoenix Mercury also shared the news on their Instagram page captioned, "The news you’ve all been waiting for! BG will be back in a Phoenix Mercury jersey this season ?."

Griner left the comment, "Let’s get it! ?can’t wait to see the X-Factor ?! Love this city!" The Phoenix Suns showed their support by commenting, "LET’S GO! ?"

Fans also left their thoughts on the big news. "Yyyesssssss finally thank God u back safe and sound now enjoy the beautiful game that I love BG ❤️❤️❤️," one person wrote. Another added, "Yeah we can't wait either , winning throughout ??. Am so happy ??."

"It's a great day for all of us to announce that Brittney Griner has officially signed to play for the Mercury in 2023," Jim Pitman, general manager said in a statement, according to ESPN. "We missed BG every day that she was gone and, while basketball was not our primary concern, her presence on the floor, in our locker room, around our organization, and within our community was greatly missed."

The statement went on to explain that the organization will continue to support Griner. "We will continue to use the resources of our organization to support her, on and off the floor, and we are thrilled for her that she gets to return to basketball, which she loves so dearly. This is a special signing and today is a special day for all of us."

Griner returned home in early December from being detained for 10 months in Russia. She was arrested in February 2022 after Russian authorities said she had vape canisters with cannabis oil on her. After months of negotiations and a prisoner swap, Griner was finally able to come home in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

"I do not think any of us will forget where we were on Dec. 8 when we heard BG was coming home or on Dec. 15 when she announced she intended not only to play basketball in 2023 but that it would be for the Mercury," team president Vice Kozar said in a statement. "And I know none of us will ever forget what it will feel like to welcome her back onto her home floor on May 21."

Griner thanked everyone for their support about a week after she returned home. "It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help," her caption began.

After thanking everyone who had a part in her return and showing her gratitude, she concluded the caption, "I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon."

The last game that Griner played was in 2021 when she led the Mercury on a run to the WNBA Finals but the team ended up losing to the Chicago Sky. Due to being detained in Russia, she didn't play in the 2022 season at all. And now, just a few months after returning home, she's able to announce that she has officially re-signed with the Mercury and is gearing up for the start of the 2023 WNBA season.