After the WNBA player was freed from Russian prison on Thursday, Griner’s wife Cherelle remarked, “Today’s just a joyful day for me and my family, so I’m going to grin right now.”
Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, said that since the WNBA star was freed from Russian detention, their “family is whole” once more.
Cherelle addressed at a press conference held by Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday shortly after learning that Brittney, 32, had been release from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange for a convicted arms dealer.
The most important emotion she is currently experiencing is just sincere gratitude for President Biden also his entire administration, she said. “Over the last 9 months, you all have been so privy to one of the most unlit moments of my life, and so today I am just standing here overwhelmed with emotions,” she said.

There have been many people involved, Cherelle continued, “and I’d like to take a moment to just explicitly highlight a few,” referencing Biden’s earlier statement that it “is not easy” to bring a U.S. citizen home from overseas detention.
Cherelle then continued, “Today my family is entire, but as you all are aware, there is so many other families who aren’t whole,” including Vice President Kamala Harris and Griner’s fellow Phoenix Mercury basketball players among many others. She went on to mention Paul Whelan, another American who is still imprisoned in Russia and who was left out of the Griner-centered trade.
Cherelle continued, “Thank you all for your support. Today is just a great day for me and my family, so I’m going to grin right now. “I’m grateful,”