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In a powerful and emotional turn of events, WNBA star Brittney Griner stood up proudly for the national anthem. And placed her hand over her heart before her team's game against the Los Angeles Sparks. This is the first time in years she has chosen to do so.

This act carried deep significance, considering the life-altering experiences Griner had endured in a Russian prison and her subsequent rescue by the US government.

After the game, Griner explained, "You have the right to protest, the right peak out, question, challenge and do all these things. What I went through and everything, it just means a little bit more to me now. So, I want to be able to stand. I was literally in a cage and could not stand the way I wanted to.”

“Just being able to hear my national anthem, see my flag, I definitely want to stand. Now everybody that will not stand or not come out, I totally support them 100%. That’s our right, as an American in this great country,” she emphasized.

WNBA star book due out in 2024

Scheduled to be published in the spring of 2024, Griner's memoir promises to shed light on her time in a Russian prison. And she will also describe her renewed appreciation for being an American. 

The book will recount the tumultuous events of 2022 that not only reshaped her life but also captivated the world's attention. 

Griner's arrest at the Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow on February 17, followed by her detention, trial, and 10-year-prison sentence in Russia, will be described in vivid detail.

At the heart of the memoir is the story of the global #WeAreBG movement which fought for the superstar to be released. 

The US government, in a prisoner exchange, eventually freed her after her conviction by a Russian court for possessing a small amount of marijuana. She was sentenced to ten years of hard labor and was locked up for 10 months in a Russian prison.

Griner's decision to play basketball in Russia for seven seasons was motivated by the issue of pay equity for women athletes in the United States. Griner played basketball in Russia for seven previous seasons. And she returned for an eighth just before Russia invaded the Ukraine.

Griner is filled with gratitude

The book will also delve into the behind-the-scenes efforts by the highest levels of government to bring her back home. And detail Griner's personal journey of resilience. And discuss the impact of the near ten-month ordeal on her mental and emotional well-being.

Griner's previous book, "In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court," was published in 2015.

Readers can expect a raw and intimate account of Griner's harrowing experience of wrongful detainment, her struggle to navigate the complex Russian legal system, and the day-to-day reality of living in a foreign prison. 

Griner expressed her gratitude for being rescued and brought home. She highlighted the outpouring of support from people across the world and emphasized her intention to raise awareness about other Americans wrongfully detained abroad. 

“By writing this book, I also hope to raise awareness surrounding other Americans wrongfully detained abroad such as Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Emad Shargi, Airan Berry, Shahab Dalili, Luke Denman, Eyvin Hernandez, Majd Kamalmaz, Jerrel Kenemore, Kai Li, Siamak Namazi, Austin Tice, Mark Swidan and Morad Tahbaz,” she added.