U.S., Russia prisoner swap is the latest in a long history of exchanges
Despite frosty relations, the U.S. and the former Soviet Union have swapped prisoners for decades.
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Despite frosty relations, the U.S. and the former Soviet Union have swapped prisoners for decades.
The U.S. women, who have won every gold medal in women's basketball since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, expect to field a star-packed team.
"The Mercury fully support Brittney and we will continue to work together on a timeline for her return," the team said on Saturday.
The details of Saturday's incident were not immediately clear, although far-right activist Alex Stein posted a video on Twitter that showed him accosting Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner at an airport.
Griner's return to the Mercury rekindles hope the franchise can make another run to the WNBA Finals.
"You're going to be faced with adversities in life," Griner said. "This was a pretty big one. I just relied on my hard work to get through it."
Jennifer Coolidge became a fan favorite on "The White Lotus," a role that coincided with the resurgence of her career, and has gained a massive following.
Griner will describe "her stark and surreal time living in a foreign prison and the terrifying aspects of day-to-day life in a women's penal colony," her publisher said.
Griner will be re-signing with the Phoenix Mercury for a one-year contract, a source has confirmed to CBS News.
Griner is skipping the USA Basketball training camp in Minnesota so she can be with her wife and recover from her time in jail in Russia.
The WNBA star, who returned to the U.S. last week after a prisoner swap with Russia, shared photos of herself walking off the jet and embracing her wife, Cherelle.
Her plane landed in San Antonio, Texas. Griner was freed from Russia in exchange for notorious international arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Cherelle Griner told the "CBS Mornings" co-host she got a call from the White House about a week ago saying they were "feeling optimistic."
"No more days. She's coming home," the Mercury, Griner's WNBA team, said.
Paul Whelan, a 52-year-old retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has been imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges since his arrest at the end of 2018.
"Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones and she should have been there all along," the president said.
Her attorneys said they visited Griner earlier this week at the labor camp.
Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted for possession of a small quantity of cannabis oil.
"We are told she's doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Griner has been sentenced for drug possession after vape canisters containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage.
Brittney Griner remains in a Russian prison ahead of an appeal hearing on Oct. 25.
More of Gayle King's interview with Cherelle Griner will air on "CBS Mornings" on Thursday, October 6.
The White House has urged Russia to accept its offer of a deal for the release of Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan
WNBA star Brittney Griner was found guilty of drug possession and smuggling by a Russian court on Thursday.
Russian officials said Thursday that negotiations had been taking place for a possible prisoner swap between the United States and Russia, but that a deal had not yet been reached.
