Brittney Griner is headed again to the Phoenix Mercury.
Griner, who was a free agent, re-signed with the Mercury on a one-year contract in response to an individual accustomed to the deal. The particular person spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity on Saturday as a result of no announcement has been made.
The 32-year-old Griner had stated she would return to Phoenix in a social media put up in December, after she returned house from her 10-month ordeal in Russia that included time in a Russian jail. Griner had been arrested at an airport simply exterior of Moscow on drug possession prices a yr in the past and was introduced house in a dramatic high-level prisoner trade in December.
The 6-foot-9 middle final performed for the Mercury in 2021 and helped the group attain the WNBA Finals. She averaged 20.5 factors and 9.5 rebounds that season.
The web site “Her Hoops Stats” was the primary to report Griner’s signing.
Griner, who was drafted No. 1 in 2013 by the Mercury, was listed Saturday on Phoenix’s roster on the WNBA web site.
Since returning house from Russia, Griner has been out of the general public highlight, apart from appearances on the Tremendous Bowl, the Phoenix Open and an MLK Day occasion in Phoenix, the place she lives.
She skipped a USA Basketball coaching camp earlier this month, however the group made it clear she may take on a regular basis she wanted to resolve if she wished to play for the U.S. once more.
The WNBA has stated it would handle getting Griner particular journey lodging, equivalent to constitution flights, after she signed.
“We’re very cognizant of BG’s distinctive state of affairs,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert advised the AP earlier this month. “We’ve been planning and we’ve been pondering it by means of with safety specialists, BG’s aspect, our aspect. We’ll discover the appropriate time to touch upon it when she indicators with a group.”
Earlier Saturday, the Mercury signed Diana Taurasi to a multiyear contract. The WNBA’s all-time main scorer has solely performed with the Mercury since being drafted No. 1 by the group in 2004.