Later that month, Griner said she intends to return to the Phoenix Mercury for the 2023 season. Griner landed at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas on Dec. After a 10-month detainment in Russia and getting sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges, Brittney Griner was allowed to return to the United States when the Joe Biden administration negotiated a one-for-one prisoner swap involving convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout on Dec.