Brittney Griner, a WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was released from Russian detention in December as part of a prisoner swap that involved Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Griner — who for years had played in the offseason for a pro basketball team in Russia — was arrested in February 2022 at an airport in the Moscow region. Despite her testimony that she had inadvertently packed the cannabis oil that was found in her luggage, she was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Griner's arrest sparked diplomatic drama between the United States and the Kremlin that played out alongside Russia's war in Ukraine. At the same time that the United States enacted crippling sanctions in response to the Ukraine war, US diplomats kept open lines of communication with Moscow to try to secure Griner's release.

Griner is an eight-time WNBA All-Star who has spent her entire WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury. Before she turned pro, she was a star player at Baylor University.

Griner was born in Houston on October 18, 1990. She is the youngest child of Raymond and Sandra Griner.
Griner was born in Houston on October 18, 1990. She is the youngest child of Raymond and Sandra Griner.
Brittney Griner/Facebook
A young Griner, then in seventh grade, drives a four-wheeler.
A young Griner, then in seventh grade, drives a four-wheeler.
Brittney Griner/Facebook
Griner would attend Nimitz High School, where she broke nearly all the school's basketball records.
Griner would attend Nimitz High School, where she broke nearly all the school's basketball records.
Brittney Griner/Facebook
Griner signs autographs while playing for Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Griner signs autographs while playing for Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Darren Carroll/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Griner huddles with Baylor teammates during a Final Four game in 2010.
Griner huddles with Baylor teammates during a Final Four game in 2010.
Eric Gay/AP
Griner goes up for the opening tip at the 2010 Final Four.
Griner goes up for the opening tip at the 2010 Final Four.
Eric Gay/AP
Griner celebrates after Baylor won the NCAA title in 2012. She was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player as Baylor went 40-0 on the season.
Griner celebrates after Baylor won the NCAA title in 2012. She was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player as Baylor went 40-0 on the season.
Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos/Getty Images
Griner pumps her fist as President Barack Obama talks about her basketball skills in 2012. The Baylor team was visiting the White House.
Griner pumps her fist as President Barack Obama talks about her basketball skills in 2012. The Baylor team was visiting the White House.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Griner plays against Iowa State in 2012.
Griner plays against Iowa State in 2012.
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Griner huddles with teammates before a game in 2012.
Griner huddles with teammates before a game in 2012.
Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Griner's image is seen on a building in downtown Phoenix after the Phoenix Mercury chose her with the No. 1 pick in the 2013 WNBA draft.
Griner's image is seen on a building in downtown Phoenix after the Phoenix Mercury chose her with the No. 1 pick in the 2013 WNBA draft.
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Griner talks with the media after being drafted in 2013.
Griner talks with the media after being drafted in 2013.
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images
Griner takes a photo during the 2013 WNBA All-Star Game.
Griner takes a photo during the 2013 WNBA All-Star Game.
Chris Marion/NBAE/Getty Images
Griner blocks a Skylar Diggins shot during a WNBA game in 2014.
Griner blocks a Skylar Diggins shot during a WNBA game in 2014.
Shane Bevel/NBAE/Getty Images
Griner talks with a fan at Chase Field in Phoenix in 2014. Griner was throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Griner talks with a fan at Chase Field in Phoenix in 2014. Griner was throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images
Griner holds the WNBA championship trophy after Phoenix defeated Chicago in 2014.
Griner holds the WNBA championship trophy after Phoenix defeated Chicago in 2014.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Griner huddles with a group of kids during a WNBA Fit All-Star Clinic in 2015.
Griner huddles with a group of kids during a WNBA Fit All-Star Clinic in 2015.
Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty Images
Griner gets fired up before a playoff game in 2015.
Griner gets fired up before a playoff game in 2015.
Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images
Griner high-fives Obama as the Mercury visited the White House in 2015.
Griner high-fives Obama as the Mercury visited the White House in 2015.
Olivier Douliery/Getty Images
Griner plays against Spain at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Griner plays against Spain at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Griner poses for a selfie with fans in 2016.
Griner poses for a selfie with fans in 2016.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Griner plays a WNBA game in 2018.
Griner plays a WNBA game in 2018.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Griner reacts after hitting a 3-pointer in 2020.
Griner reacts after hitting a 3-pointer in 2020.
Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
Griner takes a selfie with her teammates after they won Olympic gold in 2021.
Griner takes a selfie with her teammates after they won Olympic gold in 2021.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Griner kisses her wife, Cherelle, after a playoff win in 2021.
Griner kisses her wife, Cherelle, after a playoff win in 2021.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
A girl walks past a Griner mural in Phoenix in April 2022. Griner had been arrested in Russia a couple of months earlier.
A girl walks past a Griner mural in Phoenix in April 2022. Griner had been arrested in Russia a couple of months earlier.
Rebecca Noble/The New York Times/Redux
Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court outside Moscow in June 2022. Her case raised concerns she was being used as a political pawn in Russia's war against Ukraine. The US State Department classified her as wrongfully detained.
Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court outside Moscow in June 2022. Her case raised concerns she was being used as a political pawn in Russia's war against Ukraine. The US State Department classified her as wrongfully detained.
Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images
Griner sits inside a defendants' cage in August 2022 before she was sentenced to nine years of jail time.
Griner sits inside a defendants' cage in August 2022 before she was sentenced to nine years of jail time.
Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool/Reuters
Griner's wife, Cherelle, sits with President Joe Biden as they talk with Griner on the phone after her release in December 2022. This photo was tweeted on the president's account, saying about Griner: "She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home." On the right are Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Griner's wife, Cherelle, sits with President Joe Biden as they talk with Griner on the phone after her release in December 2022. This photo was tweeted on the president's account, saying about Griner: "She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home." On the right are Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
White House
Griner arrives in San Antonio after <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F12%2F09%2Fus%2Fbrittney-griner-release-us-arrival-friday%2Findex.html" target="_blank">being released from Russian custody</a> in exchange for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout. She shared this photo on her Instagram a few days later. "It feels so good to be home!" she wrote. "The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help."
Griner arrives in San Antonio after being released from Russian custody in exchange for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout. She shared this photo on her Instagram a few days later. "It feels so good to be home!" she wrote. "The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help."
Miguel Negron/US Army South
Griner hugs her wife, Cherelle, after landing in San Antonio.
Griner hugs her wife, Cherelle, after landing in San Antonio.
Miguel Negron/US Army South
Griner makes a <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fvideos%2Fus%2F2023%2F02%2F26%2Fbrittney-griner-naacp-image-awards-speech-russia-ukraine-prisoners-cp-orig-kj.cnn" target="_blank">surprise appearance</a> at the NAACP Image Awards in February 2023. She received a standing ovation as she took the stage.
Griner makes a surprise appearance at the NAACP Image Awards in February 2023. She received a standing ovation as she took the stage.
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Griner speaks during a news conference in Phoenix in April 2023. She said <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2023%2F04%2F27%2Fsport%2Fbrittney-griner-press-conference-phoenix-mercury-spt-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank">she'll "never go overseas" again</a> unless it's for the Olympics.
Griner speaks during a news conference in Phoenix in April 2023. She said she'll "never go overseas" again unless it's for the Olympics.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images
Griner is introduced before a WNBA preseason game in May 2023. It was <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2023%2F05%2F13%2Fsport%2Fbrittney-griner-return-phoenix-mercury-spt-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank">her first competitive game</a> since being released from Russian custody.
Griner is introduced before a WNBA preseason game in May 2023. It was her first competitive game since being released from Russian custody.
Matt York/AP