“but ain’t nobody messing with my peace!”
Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner has made the decision to prioritize her mental health and will not be traveling with the team for their upcoming two games, the organization announced on Saturday.
Griner, an All-Star center, recently made her return to the WNBA after being released from a Russian prison. She had been arrested and jailed on a drug charge in Russia, which led to a prisoner swap with the United States. As part of the deal, convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout was sent back to Russia. Griner missed the entire 2022 season while imprisoned overseas. In her comeback this year, she has been averaging 18.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in 20 games.
The Mercury organization expressed their full support for Griner and stated that they will work together to determine a timeline for her return. Despite Griner’s individual success on the court, the Mercury have struggled this season with a record of 6-17 and had already made a coaching change by firing Vanessa Nygaard earlier in the season.
In addition to her mental health concerns, Griner and her teammates also faced an incident involving a “provocateur” at the Dallas airport. Furthermore, the center has been dealing with a hip issue, adding to her physical challenges.
As Phoenix embarks on away games against the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever, Griner’s absence will be felt. However, her decision to prioritize her mental well-being highlights the importance of self-care and reinforces the message that mental health should not be overlooked or neglected.
The Mercury organization and Griner will continue to work together to determine the best course of action and support her during this time. The well-being of the players should always be a top priority, and taking steps to address mental health can lead to positive outcomes both on and off the court.
We wish Brittney Griner the best as she takes the time she needs to focus on her mental health and hope to see her back on the court soon, refreshed and ready to contribute to the team’s success.
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