Brittney Griner Working to Join USA Team for Paris Olympics Following Her Russian Detainment

The U.S.A. Basketball Women’s National Team announced the 16 players who are in contention to join the team for 2024 Paris Olympics

Brittney Griner may be returning to the U.S.A. Basketball Women’s National Team.

On Thursday, the U.S. Basketball team announced the two-time gold medalist will be joining the Olympic training camp and two exhibitions, thereby taking the next step to cement her position on the team for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The Phoenix Mercury star’s pursuit of her third gold medal follows her detainment in Russia for most of last year.

The U.S.A. Basketball Women's National Team shared the announcement on its official X (formerly known as Twitter) account. “The November 2023 🇺🇸 #USABWNT roster is here! 16 athletes, including seven Olympians, will participate in the Nov. 7-9 training camp in Atlanta," the statement read.

The photo alongside the post included images of six players as well as the complete roster, which includes Griner, Ariel Atkins, Aliyah Boston, Kahleah Copper, Allisha Gray, Dearica Hamby, Natasha Howard, Rhyne Howard, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney, Angel McCoughtry, Arike Ogunbowale, Kelsey Plum, Azurá Stevens, Diana Taurasi and Jackie Young.

Following her December 2022 release, the Olympian was asked if she would ever play basketball overseas again.

"I'm never going overseas to play again unless I'm representing my country at the Olympics," Griner responded. "If I make that team, that would be the only time I would leave the U.S. soil, and that's just to represent the USA.”

Related: A Timeline of Brittney Griner's Detainment in Russia

Griner first played for Team U.S.A. in 2014 on the senior national team. She continued to represent the U.S. at the Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro Olympic tournaments, as well as two World Cups.

During the FIBA 2022 World Cup, the center’s position was filled by teammates Brionna Jones and Shakira Austin while she remained in the Russian prison. During her detainment, her teammates did not wear Griner’s No. 15 jersey in anticipation she would soon reclaim the number. 

Related: NBA Stars LeBron James, Steph Curry, Dwyane Wade Cheer Brittney Griner's Release: 'It's a Great Day'

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Griner's detainment began on Feb. 17, 2022, when she was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison on drug smuggling charges after officials allegedly found vape cartridges containing hash oil, an illegal substance in the country, in her luggage. She was released in a one-for-one prisoner swap for international arms dealer Viktor Bout on Dec. 8 and returned to the U.S. a day later.

Since her release, she announced she is writing a new memoir, and returned to the WNBA during the All-Star Game in July. She threw down two dunks and scored 18 points during the game, leading her team to a 143-127 victory.

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