Brittney Griner.Photo:Christian Petersen/Getty
Christian Petersen/Getty
Britney Grineris a WNBA All-Star once again!
The Phoenix Mercury center, 32, was named a starter on Sunday for the WNBA’s upcoming All-Star game on July 15 in Las Vegas.
The All-Star selection marks the ninth time in Griner’s career that she’s received the honor, and thefirst since she returned to the basketball courtfollowing her10-month detainmentin a Russian prison last year.
“I think all of us are really inspired in what she’s doing and the way she’s kind of handling herself,” said Breanna Stewart, who was also named to the WNBA All-Star lineup. “So it’s another moment to just continue to celebrate her and watch her do her thing on the court.”
Griner has averaged 19.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game throughout her first nine games back this season. The two-time WNBA scoring champion returned to the court on May 20 after missing all of last season while she was detained in Russia.
Brittney Griner.Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty
The Texas native said before the season that it was “a surreal feeling being back in" her Mercury jersey and practicing again in the team’s arena.
Brittney Griner.Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty
Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty
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Griner reportedly denied offers of getting a basketball delivered to her while she was detained last year. Soon after her arrival back in the United States last December following a prisoner swap with Russia, Griner vowed to return to playing basketball competitively again in 2023.
Brittney Griner.Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images
Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images
“I didn’t think that it would come this quickly,” she said before the season officially kicked off last month. “I was prepared for the long haul, but it’s so nice being here, being up here doing media again, wearing this jersey.”
Griner missed three games with a hip injury earlier this month, but returned to the floor Saturday with 11 points and six rebounds in a Mercury loss to the Seattle Storm.
While Griner has notched her ninth All-Star season in 10 full WNBA seasons throughout her career, this year has been a rough start overall for the Mercury. The team is 2-10 and in last place overall, marking the worst start in franchise history. The Mercury fired their head coach, Vanessa Nygaard,on Sunday, and named assistant coach Nikki Blue the team’s interim head coach.
source: people.com
