Renowned as a double-gold laureate, Brittney Griner stands poised for her imminent return to the U.S.A. Basketball Women's National Team fold. The declaration surfaced courtesy of the U.S. Basketball contingent, unveiled in a Thursday proclamation. It discloses her imminent involvement in the Olympic preparatory convocation, coupled with her scheduled appearance in a duo of exhibition matches.
The Activity Has Been Selected
This decision marks a significant move towards solidifying her spot on the team for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. After being detained in Russia for the majority of last year, the Phoenix Mercury star is now determined to pursue her third gold medal.
The official X profile of the U.S.A. Basketball Women's National Team recently disseminated an announcement concerning the November 2023 USABWNT roster. The declaration unveiled that a total of 16 athletes, encompassing seven illustrious Olympians, have garnered selection for participation in the forthcoming training camp in Atlanta, scheduled from November 7th to 9th.
Taking Part In The Olympic Games
Alongside the post, a photo was included featuring images of six players, as well as the complete roster. The roster consists of 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.
Griner stated that she would not engage in playing basketball abroad after her release in December 2022, unless she is participating in the Olympics as a representative of her country. Her only purpose for departing American territory would be to serve as a representative of the United States, provided she obtained a position on the national team.
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Overtaken By Colleagues
Upon joining the senior national team in 2014, Griner debuted for Team U.S.A. and went on to participate in the Olympic tournaments held in Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro, as well as two World Cups, where she represented the United States with pride.
In the FIBA 2022 World Cup, Griner's position as a center was taken over by her teammates Brionna Jones and Shakira Austin while she was detained in a Russian prison. Throughout her confinement, her teammates refrained from wearing Griner's No. 15 jersey, anticipating her eventual return and reclaiming of the number.
The Presence Of An Illicit Substance
On February 17, 2022, Griner was detained and sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison on drug smuggling charges. In an alleged encounter with authorities, illicit vape cartridges containing hash oil, a substance prohibited within the nation's borders, were purportedly discovered concealed within her baggage. Nevertheless, on the 8th of December, she secured her freedom through a one-to-one exchange with Viktor Bout, an internationally renowned arms dealer, and was promptly repatriated to the United States.
After her liberation, she divulged her intent to pen a fresh autobiography, concurrently orchestrating her resurgence within the realm of the WNBA during the All-Star Game held in July. Within the course of the game, her athletic prowess shone as she amassed an impressive tally of 18 points and executed two remarkable dunks, thus steering her team to a resounding 143-127 triumph.