In an upcoming ABC special with Robin Roberts, WNBA star Brittney Griner will share her harrowing experience as a prisoner in Russia for the first time. The interview, set to air on May 1 as part of a special edition of 20/20, marks Griner’s first in-depth discussion about her ten-month ordeal starting from her arrest in February 2022 for possessing vape cartridges with cannabis oil at a Moscow airport.
Previously, Griner had answered questions about her detention but had not agreed to a comprehensive interview until now. In an exclusive trailer shared with PEOPLE, Griner emotionally recounts her time in the Russian prison, shedding tears as she describes the conditions and her mental struggles behind bars.
The interview will cover Griner’s arrest, her nine-year prison sentence, her experiences in prison, and her eventual release in December 2022. Griner candidly shares the emotional toll of her imprisonment, revealing moments of suicidal thoughts and the dehumanizing conditions she endured, including a lack of basic necessities like soap and toilet paper.
Griner, a decorated athlete with two Olympic gold medals, was released in a prisoner swap in December 2022 and resumed her WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury in May 2023. Her forthcoming memoir, “Coming Home,” expected to release in Spring 2024, will further detail her challenging journey from imprisonment to freedom.
