It’s been over a 12 months since Brittney Griner boarded a airplane headed dwelling from Russia. The WNBA participant spent almost ten months locked up after a Russian courtroom sentenced her to 9 years in jail for tried drug smuggling. Now, Griner is opening up in an upcoming ABC particular about what she felt throughout her imprisonment.
Brittney Griner Sheds Tears Recalling Time In Russia
As talked about, Griner just lately sat with ‘Good Morning America’ host Robin Roberts and detailed her expertise at size for the primary time.
The complete interview received’t be out till subsequent month. Nevertheless, in a particular preview by PEOPLE, Brittney Griner turned visibly emotional whereas recalling her ideas of self-harm on the time. She described a second the place she had entry to a knife and nearly thought-about utilizing it on herself.
“I used to be simply so scared about every little thing,” Griner mentioned in tears, recalling her sentencing.
See what else she shared under.
What Else Did Brittney Reveal?
As talked about, Griner was finally sentenced to just about a decade in a penal colony. This occurred in Aug., nearly six months after Russian officers detained her at a Moscow airport in Feb. 2022. On the time, they’d found vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her baggage.
She had pled responsible to the costs in July 2022 however denied that she meant to interrupt the legislation and admitted to creating “an sincere mistake.” She seemingly maintained this stance in her forthcoming ABC Particular.
Talking to Robin Roberts, Griner described the second airport officers requested her to undergo her bag. When she felt the cartridge, Brittney Griner says her first thought was, “My life is over proper right here.”
The professional-athlete advised Roberts that she had by no means introduced hashish into the nation earlier than. Earlier than her arrest, Brittney had traveled to Russia to play ball there in the course of the American low season.
Her return dwelling got here in Dec. 2022 when the U.S. and Russia facilitated a prisoner swap — Griner for Russian arms seller Viktor Bout.
RELATED: Brittney Griner Breaks Her Silence & Pens A Prolonged, Emotional Message After Imprisonment
Watch the total interview preview under.
Over A Yr Later, Brittney & Her Spouse Have Began New Chapters
Since her return dwelling, Brittney Griner and her spouse Cherelle have written extra constructive chapters of their story.
In Feb. 2023, a 12 months after her detainment, she re-signed with the WNBA Phoenix Mercury group on a $165,000 one-year contract. On the high of this month, she signed with the group once more, per CNN.
Extra excellent news? The couple introduced earlier this month that they have been anticipating their first little one collectively. The infant is due in July.
Griner is already a guardian of twins along with her ex-wife, Glory Johnson. They welcomed the kids in 2015 earlier than ending their union the next 12 months.
In the meantime, Cherelle has added a few firsts to her roster. In addition to being a first-time mom, she formally turned a lawyer in April 2023, per PEOPLE.
Brittney’s ABC ’20/20′ particular premieres on Might 1. Her memoir concerning the expertise will hit the stands on Might 7.
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