Brittney Griner scores 22 points in return after taking mental health break
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Brittney's back: Brittney Griner returned to action on Saturday after taking a break to focus on mental health issues. She scored 22 points against Seattle. (Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images)
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
PHOENIX — WNBA star Brittney Griner returned to action Saturday after skipping a road trip to address mental health issues, scoring 22 points during the Phoenix Mercury’s 97-91 loss to the Seattle Storm.
Griner, 32, returned seamlessly to action at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, assisting on the game’s first layup and scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter, The Arizona Republic reported.
She added six rebounds and four assists, according to ESPN.
Brittney Griner addressed the importance of mental health after sitting out the last three games. pic.twitter.com/JI5yEOkHUr
Last week, Griner decided to skip the Mercury’s two-game road trip to Chicago and Indianapolis, stating that she wanted to focus on her mental health.
She is playing in her first season since being detained in a Russian jail for 10 months last year.
“Anytime you take a day off or two days off, you’re going to feel it,” Griner told reporters after the game. “I’m not going to sit up here and act like a robot, I’m not. You feel it a little bit, but it’s not like having a whole season off and trying to come back.”
Griner thanked the Mercury organization for giving her the freedom to take time off if necessary.
“You can’t plan for when you might need some time,” Griner told reporters. “I just want to shout out the Phoenix Mercury organization. From the jump, they were there for me, making sure I was good, letting me know that at any moment if I needed some time off, I could do that.”
Griner has played in 21 of the Mercury’s 27 games this season, ESPN reported. She did not play on Thursday against Atlanta, but was present for the home game as teammate Diana Taurasi scored her 10,000th career point, according to the cable sports network.
Taurasi scored 42 points on Thursday, the Republic reported.
On Saturday, Griner played 24 minutes, making 10 of 15 shots from the field, according to ESPN.
Griner was facing years in a penal colony in Russia after she was there playing basketball during the WNBA offseason. Officials found cannabis oil in her luggage in February 2022.
She was imprisoned on drug charges and was convicted in court, but returned to the U.S. on Dec. 9, 2022, as part of a prisoner swap with Moscow that saw arms dealer Viktor Bout sent to Russia.
Bout, who was once known as the “Merchant of Death,” was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2012 on charges that he planned to illegally sell weapons, according to The Associated Press.
In June 2023, Griner and her Mercury teammates were confronted by a “provocateur” YouTube personality at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
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Through the years SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 04: Center Brittney Griner #42 of the Baylor Bears is pressured by Tina Charles #31 and Caroline Doty #5 of the Connecticut Huskies during the Women's Final Four Semifinals at the Alamodome on April 4, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Through the years DENVER, CO - APRIL 01: Nnemkadi Ogwumike #30 of the Stanford Cardinal looks to pass in the first half against Brittney Griner #42 of the Baylor Bears during the National Semifinal game of the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship at Pepsi Center on April 1, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Through the years DENVER, CO - APRIL 01: Nnemkadi Ogwumike #30 of the Stanford Cardinal drives for a shot attempt in the second half against the Brittney Griner #42 of the Baylor Bears during the National Semifinal game of the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship at Pepsi Center on April 1, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Through the years DENVER, CO - APRIL 01: Brittney Griner #42 of the Baylor Bears reaches for a rebound in the first half against Chiney Ogwumike #13 of the Stanford Cardinal during the National Semifinal game of the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship at Pepsi Center on April 1, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Through the years DENVER, CO - APRIL 01: Brittney Griner #42 of the Baylor Bears reaches for a rebound in the second half against Chiney Ogwumike #13 of the Stanford Cardinal during the National Semifinal game of the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship at Pepsi Center on April 1, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Through the years DENVER, CO - APRIL 03: Brittney Griner #42 of the Baylor Bears celebrates late in the second ahlf against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the National Final game of the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship at Pepsi Center on April 3, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Through the years DENVER, CO - APRIL 03: Brittney Griner #42 of the Baylor Bears celebrates after she cuts down a piece of the net after they won 80-61 against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the National Final game of the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship at Pepsi Center on April 3, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 11: College basketball player Brittney Griner poses with the Best Female Athlete Award in the press room during the 2012 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 11, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 18: 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball champion Baylor University Lady Bears 6-foot 8-inch junior center Brittney Griner pumps her fist as U.S. President Barack Obama talks about her basketball skills in the East Room of the White House July 18, 2012 in Washington, DC. The Baylor Lady Bears became the first NCAA basketball team to complete a 40-0 season by defeating Notre Dame 80-61 in the NCAA women's championship. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 25: Brittney Griner #15 of the USA Basketball Women's National team drives to the basket past the defense of Kiah Stokes #11 USA Basketball Women's Select team in the second half of the game at Galen Center on July 25, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Through the years RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 12: Brittney Griner #15 of United States stands attended for the national anthem before the women's basketball game against Canada on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Youth Arena on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Through the years RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 20: Brittney Griner #15 and head coach Geno Auriemma of the United States celebrate winning the Women's Gold Medal Game between United States and Spain on Day 15 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1 on August 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Through the years RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 20: Laura Nicholls #4 of Spain goes for the ball against Brittney Griner #15 of United States during the Women's Gold Medal Game between United States and Spain on Day 15 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1 on August 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Through the years PHOENIX, AZ - AUGUST 31: Jewell Loyd #24 of the Seattle Storm looses the ball as she drives past Brittney Griner #42 and DeWanna Bonner #24 of the Phoenix Mercury during game three of the WNBA Western Conference Finals at Talking Stick Resort Arena on August 31, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Through the years SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 27: Brittney Griner #15 of Team United States celebrates against Nigeria during a Women's Preliminary Round Group B game on day four of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 27, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Through the years SAITAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 08: Brittney Griner #15 of Team United States drives to the basket against Team Japan during the first half of the Women's Basketball final game on day sixteen of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games at Saitama Super Arena on August 08, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Bryan Snyder - Pool/Getty Images) (Bryan Snyder - Pool/Getty Images)
Through the years SAITAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 08: Brittney Griner #15 of Team United States drives to the basket against Team Japan during the first half of the Women's Basketball final game on day sixteen of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games at Saitama Super Arena on August 08, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Eric Gay - Pool/Getty Images) (Eric Gay - Pool/Getty Images)
Through the years SAITAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 06: Brittney Griner #15 of Team United States looks on against Serbia during the second half of a Women's Basketball Semifinals game on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on August 06, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Through the years SAITAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 08: Brittney Griner, Skylar Diggins, and Diana Taurasi of Team United States pose for photographs with their gold medals during the Women's Basketball medal ceremony on day sixteen of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games at Saitama Super Arena on August 08, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Through the years SAITAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Marine Fauthoux #4 of Team France goes up for a shot against Brittney Griner #15 of Team United States during the first half of a Women's Basketball Preliminary Round Group B game on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on August 02, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Charlie Neibergall - Pool/Getty Images) (Charlie Neibergall - Pool/Getty Images)
Through the years PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 31: Diamond DeShields #1 of the Chicago Sky lays up a shot ahead of Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury during the first half of the WNBA game at the Footprint Center on August 31, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Through the years PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 23: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury goes up for a jump ball against the New York Liberty during the first half of the first round WNBA playoffs at Grand Canyon University Arena on September 23, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Through the years TEMPE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 03: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball during Game Three of the 2021 WNBA semifinals at Desert Financial Arena on October 03, 2021 in Tempe, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Aces 87-60. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Through the years PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 06: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury during the first half in Game Four of the 2021 WNBA semifinals at Footprint Center on October 06, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Through the years LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 08: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury kisses her wife Cherelle Griner in the stands after the Mercury defeated the Las Vegas Aces 87-84 in Game Five of the 2021 WNBA Playoffs semifinals to win the series at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 8, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Through the years LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 08: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates with Mercury President Vince Kozar after the team defeated the Las Vegas Aces 87-84 in Game Five of the 2021 WNBA Playoffs semifinals to win the series at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 8, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Through the years LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 08: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after the team defeated the Las Vegas Aces 87-84 in Game Five of the 2021 WNBA Playoffs semifinals to win the series at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 8, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Through the years PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 13: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury puts up a shot over Azurá Stevens #30 of the Chicago Sky during the second half in Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Finals at Footprint Center on October 13, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Sky 91-86 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Through the years PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 13: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury slam dunks the ball against the Chicago Sky during the first half in Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Finals at Footprint Center on October 13, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Through the years CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 17: Courtney Vandersloot #22 of the Chicago Sky drives to the basket against Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury during Game Four of the WNBA Finals at Wintrust Arena on October 17, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
