Brittney Griner Celebrates First Birthday at Home Since Release From Russian Prison

Brittney Griner’s Celebration of Life

Yesterday marked a special day in the life of WNBA star Brittney Griner. It was her first birthday celebration at home with her loved ones since her release from a Russian prison.

Turning 33, Brittney’s wife, Cherelle Griner, made sure to make the day memorable. Cherelle shared an Instagram reel featuring heartwarming moments shared between the couple, set to the song “Happy Birthday (I Love You)” by Ruby Amanfu.

In a heartfelt message, Cherelle expressed her love, “Happy birthday my love! God has blessed me with your presence. I couldn’t ask for a better partner to journey through life. Celebrating you is effortless, and loving you is a privilege. Here’s to another year of joy and happiness!”

This celebration holds even greater significance as Brittney spent her previous birthday confined in a Russian penal colony.

After being detained at an airport near Moscow during a basketball trip, Brittney faced charges of drug possession and smuggling of vape cartridges with hashish oil. She spent nine months in a Russian prison and an additional month in a penal colony. Brittney accepted responsibility for having the cartridges but claimed it was unintentional, as she had packed them without realizing. Official documents supported her claim, as the cannabis oil was prescribed to her legally by her American doctor for pain management.

In December, Brittney was finally released from Russian custody thanks to a historic prisoner swap negotiated by President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Upon Brittney’s release, Cherelle took to Instagram to express her gratitude and awe, “Yesterday, my heart was filled with joy and gratitude thanks to the collective efforts of many. I am humbled by their compassion and kindness towards someone they may not even know. This is the essence of true humanity – to care for others unconditionally.