Brittney Griner speaks for the first time since her release

Brittney Griner has released her first statement since being released from a Russian penal colony in a prisoner swap for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.

The WNBA star thanked the Biden administration and said it knew the White House was “obligated” to bring home former US Marine Paul Whelan, who remains incarcerated in Russia.

‘It feels so good to be home!’ Griner wrote on Instagram. “The last 10 months have been a struggle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love of so many of you that helped me move on. From the bottom of my heart I thank everyone for their help.”

Griner steps out of a plane after being freed from Russia in a prisoner swap

Brittney Griner hugs her wife after returning to the United States from Russia via the United Arab Emirates

Griner, who had been playing professionally in Russia since 2014, was returning to the country in February when she was stopped at Moscow Airport with what authorities claimed were vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. Ultimately, Griner was convicted in August and sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony. A later appeal was rejected in October.

“President Biden, you brought me home, and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home, too,” she continued. “I will use my platform to do whatever I can to help you. I also encourage everyone who helped bring me home to continue their efforts to bring all Americans home. Every family deserves to be whole.’

The Biden administration spent months negotiating with the Kremlin to bring Griner and Whelan back from Russia, but only managed to get the WNBA star in exchange for Bout.

Last week, Griner and Bout crossed paths on a tarmac in the United Arab Emirates to finalize the trade. Dubbed the “dealer of death” by some, Bout was arrested on terrorism charges in 2008 and later convicted in the United States.

The deal drew criticism from Republicans, who complained that the White House failed to include Whelan in the deal. In response to right-wing attacks, White House officials acknowledged that prisoner swaps were costly, adding that they felt compelled to bring Griner home while they got the chance.

Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine accused of espionage and arrested in Russia, listens to his lawyers while standing in an accused’s cage during a hearing at a court in Moscow January 22, 2019. Griner said she is “confident” that the White House can bring him home, too

Brittney Griner has released her first statement since being released from a Russian penal colony in a prisoner swap for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout

“As I head home to enjoy the vacation with my family, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to the entire PISA staff and medical team at San Antonio Fort Hood Base. I appreciate the time and care taken to ensure I am safe and equipped with the tools for this new journey. I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and I look forward to saying “thank you” to those of you who have championed, written, and written about it soon personally posted for me.’

Griner also thanked a number of people, including her wife Cherelle, the White House and her agents at Wasserman.

“I am grateful to everyone who has stood up for me, especially my wife Cherelle Griner, my family, [my agents] Lindsay Kagawa Colas and Casey Wasserman and my entire team at Wasserman, [Phoenix Mercury president] Vince Kozar and Phoenix Mercury, the players of the WNBA and my entire WNBA family, Terri Jackson and the WNBPA staff, my Russian legal team Maria Blagovolina and Alex Boykov, the leaders, activists and grassroots organizations, Governor Richardson and Mickey Bergman of the Richardson Center, the Bring Our Families Home campaign, Roger Carstens and the SPEHA team, and of course a special thanks to President Biden, Vice President Harris, Secretary Blinken and the entire Biden-Harris administration.

Cherelle Griner, wife of WNBA star Brittney Griner, speaks after President Joe Biden last week announced Brittney Griner’s release as part of a prisoner swap with Russia