Griner, a Houston native, is expected to land at a San Antonio airport late Thursday evening or early Friday morning, according to media reports.
Moments before WNBA star and Houston, Texas, native Brittney Griner is anticipated to land in San Antonio after being released from a Russian prison following detainment nearly 10 months ago, Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted a plea to discharge another American held by the Kremlin, ignoring Griner’s newfound freedom.
Griner was freed Thursday morning after being detained in February at a Russian airport when customs officials said they found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage. In exchange for Griner’s safe return, the White House released Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was serving a 25-year prison sentence in the U.S.
The release of the Phoenix Mercury center sparked controversy over President Joe Biden’s decision to exchange Bout while Russian authorities still detain former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who was arrested in 2018 while traveling to Russia for a wedding and sentenced in Russian court in 2020 on espionage charges.
