WNBA star Brittney Griner chose not to travel with the Phoenix Mercury this week as the team plays a short road trip in the midwest.
Griner’s two-game break is meant to focus on her mental health.
“The Mercury fully support Brittney and we will continue to work together on a timeline for her return,” the team said in a statement on July 29.
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Griner had been the subject of geopolitical issues after she was detained in Russia for drug smuggling and possession of drugs when she was found with hashish oil in vape canisters in her luggage in February 2022. The U.S. State Department reclassified Griner as being “wrongfully detained” in May of 2022, and she was ultimately released from custody in December 2022 through a one-for-one prisoner swap for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Griner returned to the WNBA this season after her nine-month detainment and is averaging 18.2 points and 6.7 rebounds through 20 games. She was also named a WNBA All-Star starter.
However, Griner’s Mercury have struggled this season with a 6-18 record, just one loss away from being tied for the worst record in the league. The team has dealt with injuries and the absence of star point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, who is on maternity leave.
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But there have also been off-court issues related to Griner’s return including a run-in at a Dallas airport in June with right-wing social media personality Alex Stein. The WNBA described Stein as a “provocateur,” and police reports say that Stein attempted to push his way through security personnel to get to Griner.
WNBA players travel commercially for the most part, save for a few exceptions like last year’s WNBA Finals. The league is reportedly working with Griner for alternative ways of travel due to her case.
