Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury.Photo:Christian Petersen/Getty
Christian Petersen/Getty
On the first anniversary of her release from Russia,Brittney Grineris spreading the love — and asking others to remember those who haven’t yet come home for Christmas.
In a heartfelt message to her fans and followerson Instagram, the 33-year-old WNBA star and her wifeCherelle Grineroffered a message of thankfulness but said “the work is not done” in bringing home Americans around the world who are wrongfully detained.
They continued, “This past year has been a whirlwind and we are grateful for all of your support. Even as we celebrate this season, and as our family celebrates today, we must not forget that our work is not done. There are Americans still wrongly detained in countries around the world including Paul and Evan in Russia and several Americans held in Venezuela.”
The couple concluded, “As you gather with loved ones and take part in your family’s traditions, please tell them how much you love them and also please take a moment to think about and share a story, send a letter or call a representative about one of the many Americans being held away from their families this holiday season. Wishing you and your family a joyous holiday together.”
In the year since her return to the U.S., the athlete has continued her career on the court while being mindful of her experience behind bars in Russia.
“I’m never going overseas to play again unless I’m representing my country at the Olympics,“Griner responded. “If I make that team, that would be the only time I would leave the U.S. soil, and that’s just to represent the USA.”
Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury shoots a free throw.Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images
Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images
Griner first played for Team U.S.A. in 2014 on the senior national team. She continued to represent the U.S. at the Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro Olympic tournaments, as well as two World Cups.
Off the court, Griner announced last April that she was working on a “raw, emotional” memoir with publishing company Alfred A. Knopf recounting her 10 months in Russia.
The athlete will detail the “tumultuous events of 2022 that both reshaped her life and captured the world’s attention” when she was arrested at an airport near Moscow in Feb. 2022, according to a press release for the project, which is scheduled for a spring 2024 release.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The book will include previously-unheard details about Griner’s “stark” living conditions and the “terrifying aspects” of day-to-day life in a foreign prison.
The release promises that Griner’s “intimate and moving” memoir will explore how the global #WeAreBG movement supported her during her detainment and why she was even playing in Russia to begin with — pay inequity.
source: people.com
