Texas-born basketball star Brittney Griner was freed in a prisoner swap between the US and Russia

Texas-born basketball star Britney Griner come home.

At the center of a global geopolitical maelstrom, Griner, 32, was released from a Russian prison on Thursday, December 8 in a dramatic, high-stakes prisoner swap between the US and Russian governments. She was portion a sentence of more than nine years in prison in Russia for illegal possession of cannabis.

President Joe Biden announced the trade during a press conference Thursday morning from the Oval Office. “She’s safe, she’s on a plane, she’s on her way home,” Biden said from the White House, accompanied by Griner’s wife, Cherelleand administrative officials.

Cherelle Griner smiled and said, “The family is whole.”

In exchange for Griner, the United States agreed to release convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, arguably the world’s most notorious illegal arms dealer, known as the “Merchant of Death”, who is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence. Bout was known to have used Soviet aircraft to deliver weapons all over the world.

According to the Associated Press, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the exchange, saying in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that the exchange took place in Abu-Dhabi and that the two parties were heading to their homes. respective.

Notably, detained American Paul Whelan, also requested by the United States in the deal, was not part of the deal.

Griner, an eight-time all-star center with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was found guilty of drug possession in a Russian court on August 4 after police said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in his luggage. at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow in February.

The basketball star tearfully begged a judge for clemency on August 4 in Khimki, Russia. The court, however, found that Griner deliberately introduced cannabis-infused vape cartridges into Russia, which is illegal there.

On October 25, a Russian court rejected the American basketball star’s request call end his imprisonment for drug possession.

His arrest in February came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, just days before Russia sent troops to Ukraine. At the time, Griner was returning to Russia, where she played in the American League offseason.

The Biden administration then offered to send Bout in exchange for Griner and Whelan. This agreement was also canceled by Russia at the time.

Houston-born, six-foot-nine Griner was the highest-ranked basketball player in the nation and chose to stay in the state and play for the Baylor Lady Bears, where she became one of the most great stars of college basketball. Famous for her unstoppable post presence, defensive skills, shot blocking and offensive dominance, she was drafted by the professional franchise Phoenix Mercury. She then led the American team to Olympic gold medals at the Rio and Tokyo Games.

Griner is one of 11 women to have won an NCAA championship, a WNBA championship, an Olympic gold medal and a FIBA ​​World Cup gold medal.

His arrest and conviction were marked by political, ethnic and sexual overtones and highlighted human rights issues and the plight of American prisoners held in Russia. The Russian invasion of Ukraine forced a delay in negotiations and offered little optimism for months.

But now, after 10 months of ordeal, Griner is free.