Brittney Griner was released from Russian imprisonment last week after the U.S. exchanged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for her freedom.
Stephen A. Smith weighed in on the developments.
“Very very happy for Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle,” said Smith on First Take. “Everybody associated with basketball knows how much Brittney Griner has meant to the game. As an American citizen, we are happy to see her home although we would be remiss to neglect the importance of Paul Whelan coming home.”
The WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist landed in San Antonio early Friday morning. She will sleep soundly in her bed tonight. She is yet to speak to the public since her release.
Joe Biden released a statement about Griner’s homecoming.
“I’m glad to be able to say that Brittney is in good spirits. She — she’s relieved to finally be heading home. And the fact remains that she’s lost months of her life, experienced a needless trauma, and she deserves space, privacy, and time with her loved ones to recover and heal from her time being wrongfully detained,” he said.
“Brittney is an incomparable athlete, a two-time Olympic Gold medalist for Team USA. She endured mistreatment and a show — at a show trial in Russia with characteristic grit and incredible dignity. She represents the best America — the best about America — just across the board, everything about her.”
