Brittney Griner is back in the United States after 10 months detained in Russia, but she is looking quite different from the last time we saw her. The White House and the Kremlin agreed to a prisoner swap setting her free in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Hours after President Joe Biden’s press conference alongside Griner’s wife, Cherelle, footage emerged of the moment Griner and Bout walked past each other on an airport tarmac in the United Arab Emirates and boarded flights back to their country.
One thing that had changed was the 6-foot-9 Phoenix Mercury center’s signature dreadlocks were gone.
Many assumed she may have been forced to cut her hair due to prison rules, but the two-time Olympic gold medalist actually chose to cut her hair short due to the freezing temps.
As ESPN’s TJ Quinn first reported, Griner would get a chill every time she washed her locks. Her Russian attorney, Maria Blagovolina, added that Griner was attempting to make life easier for herself as she had no clue how long she would be there before a trade would happen.
“She should have waited until New Year’s Day,” Blagovolina said.
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Griner had been growing her hair at an early age.
Griner landed in San Antonio, Texas, where she was set to receive a medical evaluation at the Brooke Army Medical Center. Her wife was meant to meet her in the Lone Star state following her visit to the White House.
