Brittney Griner.Photo:AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
The WNBA star’s high school coach, members of her AAU basketball team and other family members were all in attendance to watch her and the Phoenix Mercury take on the Dallas Wings, according toESPN. The Wings, though, came out on top, 84-79.The eight-time WNBA All-Star said she knew there was “a lot of support” in the audience during the game.
From left: Arike Ogunbowale and Brittney Griner.Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty
Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty
“It was good seeing everybody and just being back in Texas,” Griner said. “I miss being here. When I came out and they announced my name, the love meant a lot to me.”
After her pre-game warmups, her high school’s current girl’s basketball squadwaitedin the tunnel to surprise her with hugs to welcome her back. Baylor’s current women’s basketball team — where Griner won the NCAA championship in 2012 — was also in the crowd, cheering along.
“It was amazing to have [the Baylor team] here,” Griner said after the game. “I was really, really, really, really, really happy to see the Baylor team. That meant a lot having them here.”
Brittney Griner.Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The one-time WNBA champion’s life and career suddenly came to a halt in February 2022 when she was imprisoned in Russia on charges U.S. officials heavily disputed. She was finally released in a prisoner exchange between the two countries last December andmade her emotional return to the court last month.Griner’s Mercury squad is off to a 1-4 record to start the season. They’ll play in Dallas again on Friday.“This game meant a lot,” Griner told ESPN. “I really wanted to get this [win]. We’ve got another shot at them in another day.”
Brittney Griner.Doug Pensinger/Getty
Doug Pensinger/Getty
Griner’s enthusiastic welcome home also renewed hope the former NCAA Champion and her alma mater could repair their damaged relationship. ESPN reportsGriner and her former Baylor coach Kim Mulkey—now with LSU— had a falling out after she graduated, resulting in her jersey never being retired despite being the school’s best player in program history.Nicki Collen, Baylor’s new coach, said it’s now “the goal” to present Griner with the honor.“We’re opening a new arena,” Collen said. “There’s no doubt that I want to see her jersey in the rafters."
source: people.com
