DAVIS, Calif. — Nearly two years after her release from a Russian prison, WNBA star Brittney Griner recounted her harrowing experience during an appearance at UC Davis.
Speaking with Chancellor Gary May at the Mondavi Center, Griner opened up about her 10-month detention in Russia in 2022 — a saga that captivated the world.
Griner was arrested in February 2022 at a Moscow airport after a small amount of medical marijuana was found in her luggage.
She pleaded guilty and was ultimately sentenced to time in a Russian penal colony.
Reflecting on her time there, Griner described the grueling routines.
“Go to breakfast, go to work. And you’re at work until the sun goes down. And it’s hard work, it’s not easy work at all,” she said. “It definitely was horrible.”
Throughout her detention, campaigns from fellow athletes and supporters helped keep her case in the spotlight.
In December 2022, after months of negotiations, the United States arranged a prisoner exchange, swapping Griner for Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S.
Returning to the WNBA was a deeply emotional experience for Griner, who said she wrestled with feelings of guilt.
“I felt like I let down the basketball community because we all are a reflection of our sport, our school, our job,” she said.
But despite the ordeal, Griner has found strength.
“When life gets tough, I can look back on it and get through whatever I’m going through cause I’ve been through the worst. I’ve literally been through the worst,” she said.
The event at UC Davis was also a part of the promotional tour for her latest book, "Coming Home."
WATCH ALSO:
