Brittney Griner Reveals Emotions of Hearing National Anthem in WNBA Return

The forward described a different feeling hearing “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to Friday’s preseason game.

On Friday, Brittney Griner played in her first WNBA game for the Mercury since returning to the United States after being held in a Russian prison for most of last year. Although the veteran forward enjoyed a solid performance, the highlight for her may have come before tipoff.

Griner explained that she felt many emotions while hearing the national anthem before the preseason game in a way that she didn’t feel prior to her experience in Russia.

“Hearing the national anthem, it definitely hit different,” Griner said, via CNN. “It’s like when you go for the Olympics, you’re sitting there, about to get gold put on your neck, the flags are going up and the anthem is playing, it just hits different. … Being here today … it means a lot.”

In December, Griner was released from a Russian prison after being detained for 10 months for allegedly carrying cannabis oil in an airport. She had been sentenced to nine years in prison prior to being part of a prisoner swap to get her back to the United States.

Griner missed the entirety of the 2022 WNBA season. While she has said she won’t play overseas anymore, she will remain a part of the Olympic team, as she’s done twice before.

The Mercury are slated to open the regular season against the Sparks in Los Angeles on Friday night.