WNBA’s Brittney Griner Campaigns To Bring Detained Americans Home

May 12, 2023 

The Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner is dedicating herself to help bring Americans detained abroad home as part of a collaboration with her team and the Bring Our Families Home (BOFH) campaign. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and eight-time WNBA All-Star made the announcement during her first public remarks since her 10-month detainment in a Russian penal colony. 

“I’m trying to help out in any way I can,” shared Griner at a press conference on April 27. "Every chance I get, wearing a shirt, saying their names, any interview I have – and you’ll see the theme throughout the season – that’s just bringing awareness to everybody that doesn’t have the platform and the followers and the exposure.” 

Griner was detained at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow in February 2022 after a game overseas and convicted of narcotics possession and trafficking for vaping cartridges found in her luggage. She said she was prescribed medical cannabis in the United States for a chronic injury and never intended to break the law. Eventually President Biden was able to negotiate a one-for-one prisoner exchange in December 2022.

BOFH was formed in 2022 by family members of American hostages and wrongful detainees held overseas. According to the organization, there are over 54 innocent Americans being held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. The campaign urges the White House to take immediate and decisive action to bring them home and provide resources for detainees’ families. 

Griner and Phoenix Mercury have pledged resources and its platform to help raise awareness on the issue. Throughout the season, BOFH family members will be invited to games while the team publicizes their circumstances through social media and public service announcements. In addition, fans will be able to write letters to Americans held captive.

During the press conference, Griner expressed the ordeal she had endured and the decision to never again go overseas for a game. "Just digging deep, honestly, you're going to be faced with adversities throughout your life. This was a pretty big one. I just kind of relied on my hard work to get through it," she explained. 

Together, they will tell the stories of wrongfully imprisoned Americans abroad through a campaign that kicked off in late April with the unveiling of a mural on the west side of Footprint Center, the team’s home arena in downtown Phoenix. The mural features the face of Griner and more than a dozen detained individuals, some of whom have been held captive for more than a decade. The 30-foot-wide painting features a QR code that directs people to BOFH’s website where they can support its efforts.

Later this season, fans will also be able to visit a dedicated hub on PhoenixMercury.com to learn more about each individual and how to get involved in the cause. The hub will continue to be populated throughout the 2023 season with news and updates on the coalition’s efforts.

At every regular season home game, the Mercury will host a letter-writing station at Footprint Center for fans to draft hand-written notes of hope and encouragement to those detained and calls for action to elected officials to bring individuals home.

“Brittney Griner’s wrongful detention educated our organization, fan base and the Valley about the plight of hostages around the world and their families here at home. We learned that, outside personal safety, the biggest fear is being forgotten and we know those currently being held do not automatically have the same public platform or receive the same media attention Brittney’s case did. While we can’t fix that on our own, we intend to be a part of the solution, using the platform that we have to bring attention to these individuals throughout the 2023 WNBA season and beyond,” said Pheonix Mercury President Vince Kozar.

BOFH’s logo will be prominently displayed on Phoenix’s court and the team will sport T-shirts with the names of wrongfully detained Americans. Since her return, Griner has already made statements and used her social platforms to make public appeals for the release of Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, David Lin, Shahab Dalili and other Americans who are wrongfully detained. 

"We’re not going to stop bringing awareness to everyone that’s left behind right now," Griner said. "To everyone who is wrongly detained across the world, stay strong, don't give up, keep fighting. Find a routine and keep to it as best you can. Find the little things. Keep pushing, as we're not going to stop fighting."

Sources: USA Today, Phoenix Mercury

Header Image: Lorie Shaull