Almost three years after Brittney Griner returned to the United States following a nine-year sentence in a Russian penal colony, right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro reignited controversy surrounding the Brittney Griner prisoner exchange controversy. The exchange involved Griner being swapped for Viktor Bout, a notorious arms dealer, sparking debate during Shapiro’s recent broadcast of The Ben Shapiro Show.
During the show, Shapiro was challenged to identify whether the person on screen was a WNBA player or a TikTok star. When Griner’s image appeared, Shapiro commented on the prisoner swap, questioning the trade of an infamous figure like Bout to secure Griner’s release. He remarked,
“That’s a Russian, isn’t it? She’s an American,” Shapiro said. “I thought after she was left in Russia for long enough, then they would take her, but no. We traded an arms dealer to get this one out.”
Brittney Griner’s Recent Return to Play and Performance Highlights
Since her return to the WNBA, Brittney Griner has been an important player for the Atlanta Dream, who currently hold the third-best record this season. Despite her strong presence, Griner missed three games due to a neck injury. She made a notable comeback on Sunday against the Phoenix Mercury, the team where she spent the first 11 years of her career.
The game featured a tribute video honoring Griner’s past with Phoenix, which emotionally affected her during the match. In 13 minutes on the court, she contributed two points, two rebounds, an assist, and a block, helping the Dream secure a 74-66 victory and extend their winning streak to five games.
Praise from Atlanta Dream Coach Karl Smesko After Griner’s Comeback
Following the game, Atlanta Dream coach Karl Smesko expressed his approval of Griner’s performance and fitness during her return. Smesko stated,
“I thought BG was great. She was moving great. She looked really good out there. Defensively, she was excellent. She was controlling the paint. I thought really good first game back for her.”
Looking ahead, Brittney Griner and the Atlanta Dream will face the Seattle Storm on Wednesday, aiming to surpass the defending champions, the New York Liberty, in the league standings. Griner’s continued return to form remains crucial to the Dream’s postseason hopes and overall team success.