CNN
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After being imprisoned in Russia for practically 10 months, WNBA star Brittney Griner’s protected return to the US on Friday was marked by a cease at a Texas navy medical facility for a routine analysis, the US State Division mentioned.
Griner arrived at Brooke Military Medical Middle in San Antonio, Texas, early Friday – the subsequent leg of a journey again on American soil following what the US authorities described as wrongful detainment that had usually left her household and family members with little info or comfort.
“We are actually centered on making certain that Brittney and her household’s well-being are prioritized and that each one obtainable help could be supplied to them by way of an acceptable method,” US State Division principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel mentioned at a information briefing Friday.
Officers haven’t specified for a way lengthy Griner shall be on the medical heart, however the basketball star was “in good spirits” and “extremely gracious” following her launch, Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson John Kirby advised CNN.
Griner, who was arrested at a Moscow airport in February on drug prices and later sentenced to 9 years in jail, was launched as a part of a prisoner trade between the US and Russia for infamous convicted arms seller Viktor Bout.
The swap, which took months to barter and has drawn combined response within the US for not additionally together with fellow detainee Paul Whelan, occurred at an airport tarmac in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Shortly after the swap was efficiently accomplished, US officers linked Griner to her household. That decision “was as shifting because it was unforgettable” to listen to Griner communicate on the telephone along with her spouse, Cherelle, who was current for an Oval Workplace assembly, Secretary of State Tony Blinken mentioned.
“Their energy, their resilience, has been nothing however in need of inspiring,” Blinken mentioned.
Texas Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee advised CNN Griner was in a position to name her father from the aircraft.
“All of them need to see her and may even need to see her again right here at dwelling, however I do know that was a cheerful telephone reunion to listen to his daughter’s voice,” she mentioned.
Jackson Lee – who represents the 18th Congressional District of Texas together with Griner’s hometown of Houston – mentioned features of the two-time Olympian’s present welfare “must be reviewed.”
“We hear that she has spoken to her members of the family right here, she sounded good, wanting ahead to seeing them, and we additionally know that she walked on her personal capabilities each when it comes to the swap after which when she landed in San Antonio.”
In a press release, Griner’s household thanked President Joe Biden and the administration, together with former New Mexico Gov. Invoice Richardson, whose Richardson Middle labored on behalf of the household to assist guarantee Griner’s launch and is making an attempt to comply with swimsuit for Whelan.
“We sincerely thanks all for the sort phrases, ideas and prayers – together with Paul and the Whelan household who’ve been beneficiant with their help for Brittney and our household throughout what we all know is a heartbreaking time,” the assertion mentioned.
“We pray for Paul and for the swift and protected return of all wrongfully-detained People.”
Whereas many are celebrating Griner’s return dwelling – seen as a diplomatic win between two of the world’s largest nations at fierce odds over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – the destiny of Whelan’s launch stays unclear.
Whelan – a US, Irish, British and Canadian citizen – is at the moment imprisoned in a Russian penal colony after he was arrested in December 2018 on espionage prices, which he has denied. He was sentenced to 16 years in jail. He, like Griner, had been declared wrongfully detained by US officers.
The US tried to steer Russia to swap each Griner and Whelan for arms seller Bout, however Russian officers wouldn’t budge on the matter, with Russia saying each of the People’ instances had been dealt with in another way primarily based on the costs every of them confronted.
In an interview with CNN, Whelan expressed his disappointment in how the negotiations went.
“It is a precarious scenario that must be resolved rapidly,” Whelan advised CNN in a telephone interview. “I’d hope that (Biden) and his administration would do every thing they might to get me dwelling, whatever the worth they could must pay at this level.”
Biden insisted that his administration continues its efforts to carry Whelan dwelling.
“This was not a alternative of which American to carry dwelling,” Biden mentioned Thursday. “Sadly, for completely illegitimate causes, Russia is treating Paul’s case in another way than Brittney’s. And whereas we now have not but succeeded in securing Paul’s launch, we’re not giving up. We’ll by no means hand over.”
Paul Whelan’s sister, Elizabeth Whelan, advised CNN’s Erin Burnett on Friday that the general public dialogue surrounding a possible swap has “been very troublesome for my household to listen to,” including she believes her brother is being “mentioned as if his solely worth was what we must hand over for him.”
Requested about her household’s discussions with the US authorities relating to her brother’s imprisonment, Elizabeth Whelan mentioned, “I believe we’ve made it fairly clear – that so far as I’m involved, no less than – my brother is value extra, has a higher worth than any Russian legal.”
CNN speaks to Paul Whelan in unique telephone name from Russian jail
Griner’s detention and subsequent return dwelling has as soon as once more spotlighted the pay disparity ladies athletes face within the US – which has pushed WNBA gamers to go abroad to earn extra throughout their off-seasons, together with nations resembling Russia.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert advised CNN Friday night that though efforts have been ongoing to extend the pay, there’s nonetheless a protracted solution to go.
“For too lengthy ladies sports activities have been undervalued, under-invested in,” mentioned Engelbert, who famous that lower than 1% of all company sponsorship funding goes to ladies’s sports activities.
Engelbert additionally identified that the WNBA is a reasonably younger sports activities league, which was established in 1996. Nonetheless, she added the group is engaged on a three-to-five-year plan to drive up gamers’ pay.
“We’re chipping away as we begin to develop and construct actual momentum,” she mentioned.
And as these modifications are slowly underway, Engelbert mentioned she believes gamers will proceed to play abroad, particularly as a result of the typical tenure within the WNBA is about 5 years.
“We’re by no means going to preclude them from making more cash in leagues outdoors the US throughout our offseason. What we wish is them to come back and play on the highest stage as soon as they’re again right here at dwelling.”
Angel McCoughtry, a pal of Griner’s who additionally performed within the Olympics and WNBA, performed for a Russian membership as nicely throughout her offseason and acknowledged that she earned extra there. However she additionally mentioned she wouldn’t return contemplating how Griner was handled.
“Russia was a spot that paid us some huge cash for our expertise, greater than being right here in our personal nation,” McCoughtry advised CNN on Friday. “It’s unhappy to say I’m rich not due to the WNBA, however my years abroad. I’d make my WNBA wage in a single month abroad – my complete wage”
McCoughtry mentioned it’s attainable for WNBA gamers to earn extra in the event that they obtain the extent of promotion their male counterparts do.
“In the event you promote the ladies identical to the boys, individuals will watch,” McCoughtry mentioned. “As soon as we get the model partnerships behind us and selling us and folks know who we’re, they’ll come to look at. It would develop.”