US basketball player Brittney Griner, who was released from Russian prison, has announced that she wants to play for her team in the American professional league WNBA again in 2023.

The Olympic champion, who returned a week ago, wrote on Instagram: "I want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play for Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA this season." The 32-year-old said she was happy to be able to thank everyone who supported her in this way. The new season begins for Phoenix on May 19 with the game at the Los Angeles Sparks, two days later the first home game against Chicago Sky follows.

In her post, Griner thanked US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, her wife Cherelle Griner and her legal team in Russia, among others. Griner was released last week as part of a prisoner swap between Russia and the United States in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor But. She was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport in early February 2022 and later sentenced to nine years in prison for illegal drug possession and attempted smuggling.

"It feels so good to be home," Griner wrote, describing the past ten months as an ongoing struggle. She had to give everything to keep her faith. The love of many helped her. "From the bottom of my heart I want to thank you all for your help," Griner wrote. She wants to spend the upcoming holidays at home with her family.