Brittney Griner (Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images)
Longtime women’s basketball star Brittney Griner is not taking living in America for granted after her freedom was taken from her while in Russia.

Before her stint in a Russian prison, Griner had been outspoken about being on the court during the National Anthem, saying, “I’m not going to be out there for the National Anthem. If the (WNBA) continues to want to play it, that’s fine. It will be all season long; I’ll not be out there.”

“I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season,” Griner said in 2020. “I think we should take that much of a stand.

“I don’t mean that in any disrespect to our country. My dad was in Vietnam and a law officer for 30 years. I wanted to be a cop before basketball. I do have pride for my country.”

Things changed drastically for her after Griner was arrested in Russia for the majority of 2022 after she was found to have cannabis in her backpack while at an airport.

Brittany Griner was sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison on charges of smuggling drugs into the country. She spent most of 2022 imprisoned before Joe Biden and his team were able to work a trade that sent Viktor Bout, the so-called Merchant of Death, back to Russia.

Among the things she had to go through was cutting her hair due to the freezing temperatures. Her dreadlocks would freeze when wet, and she needed to cut them to avoid getting chilled.

Brittney Griner Now Looks At The National Anthem Differently

Brittney Griner (Image Via Getty Images)
These days, Griner says the national anthem “definitely hit different.”

Griner changed her stance and made it clear she no longer takes what she has in America for granted.

“I’m grateful to be here, that’s for sure. I’m not going to take a day for granted,” Griner said via NY Post.

Hearing the national anthem, it definitely hit different,” Griner said. “It’s like when you go for the Olympics, you’re sitting there, about to get gold put on your neck, the flags are going up, and the anthem is playing, it just hits different. … Being here today … it means a lot.”

Last year, Griner couldn’t hold back the flood of emotions when the American national anthem played during the Olympic medal ceremony.

This victory wasn’t just another medal but the eighth consecutive Olympic gold for the American women. But for Griner, the moment was personal.