<p>WNBA player Brittney Griner says her time in a Russian prison has <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brittney-griner-discusses-national-anthem-stance-return-i-definitely-want-stand?intcmp=fb_fnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">changed her perspective</a> on the American flag and the national anthem: after <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2023/05/16/brittney-griner-national-anthem-flipflop-american/70221726007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promising to protest</a> the traditional pregame anthem in 2020, she said this season she is ready to stand.</p>
<p>The Phoenix Mercury star center spent nearly ten months imprisoned in Russia after she was caught in February of 2022 at Moscow&#8217;s Sheremetyevo Airport — while traveling to play basketball — with cannabis oil in vape canisters. She was returned to the United States after President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration agreed to trade convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to secure her freedom.</p>
<p>When she was finally able to return to play basketball, however, she said that the national anthem &#8220;hit different&#8221; than it had before her arrest. She explained that while she would never tell others that they should not protest in whatever way they saw fit, she was ready to stand for the anthem when it played.</p>
<p>&#8220;You have the right to protest, the right to able to speak out, question, challenge and do all these things. What I went through and everything, it just means a little bit more to me now. So I want to be able to stand. I was literally in a cage [in Russia] and could not stand the way I wanted to,&#8221; she <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/37688877/welcome-back-griner-marks-wnba-homecoming-vp-hand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained to ESPN</a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;Just being able to hear my national anthem, see my flag, I definitely want to stand. Now everybody that will not stand or not come out, I totally support them 100 percent. That&#8217;s our right, as an American in this great country.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I appreciate everything a little bit more, all of the small moments, like, ‘Oh, I’m so tired I don’t want to go to practice today,’ that has changed, honestly. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, you don’t know what it’s going to look like. I feel a lot older somehow, too,&#8221; she said.</p>
<p>Griner had opted not to stand for the anthem in 2020, saying that if the league continued to play it prior to every game, she simply would not come out to the court until it was over.</p>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

‘I Definitely Want To Stand’: Brittney Griner Sees U.S. Flag And Anthem Differently After Russian Imprisonment

CONTINUE READING

Spencer Pratt Thinks He Found The Fix For L.A.’s Homeless Disaster

Why Trump Might Not Make It To His Son Don Jr’s Wedding

Spencer Pratt Reveals His Political Role Model

WATCH: Suspected Fraudster On The Run After Fourth-Floor Balcony Escape

WATCH: The Moment Police Officer Catches Baby Thrown From Burning Home

One Of America’s Most Dangerous Rescue Missions Is Becoming A Movie

News

American Flag

Brittney Griner

National Anthem

Sports

World

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

‘I Definitely Want To Stand’: Brittney Griner Sees U.S. Flag And Anthem Differently After Russian Imprisonment