Brittney Griner took a moment to collect herself in the restroom before stepping onto the medal stand to celebrate. As the opening notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner” rang out, tears filled her eyes while she stood proudly with her third Olympic gold medal around her neck.
“This gold medal is going to hold a special place amongst the two others I was fortunate to win,” Griner stated.
In her first international competition since her nearly 10-month detention in Russia, Griner played a key role in leading the United States to its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal. After her release through a prisoner swap, Griner received letters of support from fans worldwide and felt deeply honored to return to basketball. She had expected to feel emotional on the podium if the U.S. triumphed, but the intensity of her feelings caught her off guard as she wiped away tears.
“My country fought for me to get back, and I was able to bring home gold for my country,” Griner expressed. “There’s just no greater feeling being here on the highest stage that you can be on.”
During the Olympics, Griner contributed an average of 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds from the bench, scoring four points in a nail-biting final where the U.S. clinched victory over France by just one point. Regardless of her minutes on the court, she maintained high energy and enthusiasm, supporting her teammates during timeouts and in-game moments.
“When you think of someone that’s a warrior, that’s a trooper, that’s going to be there no matter what and is going to be consistent and a true professional, it’s BG,” said A’ja Wilson, the Olympic MVP. “She showed that tonight. She shows that always.”
Griner’s return to everyday life has appeared seamless. After coming back in December 2022, she attended significant events like the Met Gala and the Super Bowl, and she participated in 31 games during the 2023 WNBA season, averaging 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. She also published a book about her experiences in a Russian penal colony.
However, U.S. head coach Cheryl Reeve continuously checked in on Griner. Although she was set to join the Olympic qualifier games in Belgium earlier this year, Reeve acknowledged that Griner may have needed more time.
“More than what she thought,” Reeve noted.
For Griner, boarding the international flight was significant, as her longtime teammate Diana Taurasi pointed out. The first train ride abroad felt challenging, given that her last train experience was a prison train.
“While BG presents her very best version outwardly, you know that inside there’s a lot going on,” Reeve said. “And she is thankful to be here.”
Reeve emphasized Griner’s gratitude, stating, “She is so thankful to be here.”
Griner credited therapy for aiding her transition back to the court and expressed appreciation for her teammates’ support during the Olympics, which took place in cities like Lille and Paris.
After overcoming a formidable French team backed by a passionate home crowd, Griner shared a heartfelt moment with her wife, Cherelle. She intends to celebrate the victory by capturing a photo of their newborn son with the gold medal before returning to her commitments.
The Phoenix Mercury will resume play following the WNBA Olympic break with games on August 16 and 17.