Brittney Griner arrives in Texas after prisoner swap with Russia | USA TODAY

WNBA player Brittney Griner was charged with possessing cannabis oil in Russia and was exchanged with Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

RELATED: Watch the moment Brittney Griner was exchanged for Viktor Bout

Brittney Griner arrived in the United States. It was the first time in almost 10 months the Phoenix Mercury star could say that. The two-time Olympic gold medalist landed early Friday at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas. She was released into U.S. custody a day earlier after spending that time in Russian prison for allegedly trying to bring vape cartridges filled with cannabis oil into the country on Feb. 17.

Following a trial legal experts classified as a "sham," Griner was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony. The eight-time WNBA All-Star was transferred from her pre-trial detention facility to the penal colony last month after her appeal was denied.

One day after her emotional and dramatic release following a prisoner exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout, here is what we know about Griner and the deal that brought her home.

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34 comments

    1. @Jason AlbaCannabis is used for a lot of medical conditions and is not something that is really prescribed. It has better benefits than cocaine or heroin and it is not nearly as harmful. I am pro-marijuana now because of the medical benefits.

    2. @MorbidOne88 Wow someone is a prejudiced bigot. Hating on a group of people for their religion. Is this Kanye?

    3. @Ethan Weeter it’s also used as a recreational drug and its againt the law in Russia and many other countries. Of course it’s less harmful than cocaine or herion. Have we lost all common sense.

    4. @Packers2Superbowl I didn’t say it wasn’t. Why not take drugs that are not illegal for anxiety (xanax). Another pothead claiming all the wonderful medical benefits of THC.

    1. @DaddysTired all the marines had to do to get out was come out as trans or lesbian or some other bullshit woke demographic

  1. Potato head gives a speech on gun control…and then releases a dangerous arns dealer 12 hours later. That’s comical.

  2. Democrats: GUN CONTROL!!!

    Also Democrats: Releases the world’s most notorious arms dealer.

    🤡🤡🤡

  3. She doesn’t need to be in my state she needs to be in jail and Paul should be in Texas on his way home to his family.

  4. The US marine they left behind in Russian jail is probably wishing he was black and gay right now. Sorry Marc Fogel, but the American-hating basket ball player is more important 🤷‍♀️

  5. So Bidet preaches about gun control yet he trades an arms dealer for a sports ball guy? What a clown. 🤦‍♂️

  6. Now charge her w her interstate drug trafficking. W concentrates!! She committed multiple felonies and this is how she’s treated!!!
    This is not right.

  7. I’m ashamed of my government. I am not even really mad at her but I don’t think we should have stuck our neck out over a gram of wax that an Olympian brought into a country where it’s an illegal substance. We have other people who should have been extradited; including Paul Whelan.

  8. How many Africans lost their lives because of this man? Our very devout Joe offer prayers for them while considering the trade?

  9. I didn’t want her to rot in Russia jail, but she is an admitted felon, and now she should be charged for her multiple felonies. Interstate drug trafficking, min $100k fine. Per state line including airspace, plus now a registered felon. Plus the weight on her shoulders of how she’s disrespected our flag, and the arms dealer/murderer that is now on the street because of her choices.

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