\n<\/p>\n
Griner had been playing in the Russian Premier League when she was arrested at a Moscow airport in February 2022. She pleaded guilty to the charges, was sentenced to nine years in prison and sent to a penal colony.<\/p>\n
Her release was granted after the US government struck a deal with Russia in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.<\/p>\n
“My whole heart just fell out of my body,” added Griner, reflecting on her bags being searched at the airport.<\/p>\n
“Just this overpowering feeling of like an elevator dropped from underneath my feet. I’m just like, ‘my life is over right here’.”<\/p>\n
She added: “I wanted to take my life more than once in the first weeks. I felt like leaving here so badly.”<\/p>\n
The Phoenix Mercury player has since vowed<\/a> she would no longer play overseas unless it was with the United States national team.<\/p>\n She also said she was ordered to write a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin during her ordeal.<\/p>\n “They made me write this letter. It was in Russian,” she said. <\/p>\n “I had to ask for forgiveness and thanks from their so-called great leader. I didn’t want to do it, but at the same time I wanted to come home.”<\/p>\n Griner, who is a two-time Olympic gold medallist, made her competitive return<\/a> playing for Phoenix Mercury against the Los Angeles Sparks in May 2023.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n