WNBA's Brittney Griner on Playing for Team USA: 'It Means Everything to Me Honestly'

The significance of representing the United States on the court isn't lost on Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner as she attempts to win a third gold medal in the Summer Olympics.

"It means everything to me honestly," she said to the Associated Press' Doug Feinberg. "For me to now have the honor to wear it again and potentially win gold is icing on the cake for everything."

This time two years ago, Griner remained wrongfully detained in Russia following her February 2022 arrest. She was in custody until that December, returning to the United States as part of a prisoner exchange.

The nine-time WNBA All-Star detailed her ordeal in a May interview with Robin Roberts for Good Morning America. She said she "felt less than a human" given her prison conditions, which included a blood-stained mattress and toothpaste that was so old the prisoners had used it to kill black mold.

Griner also told ESPN's T.J. Quinn the mental cost of her unlawful detainment continued to linger as she struggled to sleep at night for roughly a year after her release.

The 6'9" center didn't miss a beat upon returning to the court in 2023, though, and she remains as effective as ever. Through 15 games, she's averaging 18.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks for the Mercury.

Leading up to the Summer Games, Griner said to NBC News' Rohan Nadkarni and Liz Kreutz she's "happy" and "in a great place."

"I'm representing my country, the country that fought for me to come back," she said. "I'm gonna represent it well."

Team USA will open the Olympics on July 29 against Japan.