How is Brittney Griner allowed to play in the WNBA after her arrest in Russia? Fans and people want to know how this basketball star got back on the court. Brittney Griner is a tall, amazing player with three Olympic gold medals. She was in jail in Russia for drugs in 2022 but came home after a trade. Her Brittney Griner comeback made people ask about WNBA rules and regulations. This guide uses true facts to explain her return to the Atlanta Dream in 2025. You’ll get easy answers about WNBA player eligibility and what it means. Whether you love basketball or just wonder about her story, let’s find out how she’s back!
Who Is Brittney Griner? Her Story
Brittney Griner is a big name in basketball. She’s 6 feet 9 inches tall and was born on October 18, 1990, in Houston, Texas. At Baylor University, she won a big college title in 2012. The Phoenix Mercury picked her first in the 2013 WNBA draft. She’s a six-time All-Star and won a WNBA title in 2014. She scores about 17 points a game and blocks shots like a wall—second only to one other player in WNBA history with 859 blocks by 2025.
In 2022, Griner got stuck in Russia. She was playing there for extra money, like many players do. Her Brittney Griner legal case—caught with a tiny bit of hash oil—made news everywhere. After coming home, she joined the Atlanta Dream in 2025. People wonder about how Brittney Griner is allowed to play in the WNBA.
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What Happened in Russia?
In February 2022, Griner was stopped at a Russia airport. They found vape pens with less than a gram of hash oil, which is against Russia’s rules. She was playing for a Russian team when the WNBA was off. After saying she was guilty, she got a nine-year jail sentence. The U.S. said she was held unfairly. In December 2022, they traded her for a Russian named Viktor Bout.
This Brittney Griner legal case made fans ask: Can she play in the WNBA again? They wanted to know about WNBA player suspension policy.
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How Is Brittney Griner Allowed to Play in the WNBA? Simple Rules
The WNBA has rules about who can play. Here’s why Griner got back:
WNBA Rules:
- Who Can Play: Players need to be drafted or signed. Griner was picked in 2013, so she’s okay.
- Suspensions: The WNBA stops players for fights or big legal trouble. Griner had no WNBA suspension in 2022.
- Case Check: The league looks at each problem. Griner’s trouble was in Russia, not WNBA, so no ban.
- Contracts: Griner’s deal with Phoenix Mercury stayed good. She signed with Atlanta Dream in 2025.
The WNBA helped Griner while she was away. Players wore “We Are BG” shirts. She came back in 2023 with cheers. This answers how Brittney Griner is allowed to play in the WNBA.
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Griner’s Past Troubles in the WNBA
Griner had problems before, but they didn’t stop her 2023 return.
Past Problems:
- 2015: Got a seven-game ban for a fight with her then-wife, Glory Johnson. She did counseling and came back.
- 2019: Got a three-game ban for a fight in a game. She served it and played again.
These show the WNBA’s player suspension policy is about fixing things, not kicking players out forever. Her Russia case didn’t add a new ban.
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Her Big Comeback in 2023
Griner’s Brittney Griner return to basketball was awesome. After jail, she worked hard to get strong. In 2023, she played 30 games for Phoenix Mercury, scoring 17.8 points a game. In 2025, she joined Atlanta Dream and shot 57.9% from the field—her best ever.
How She Did It:
- Got Fit: Trained to be strong after 10 months in jail.
- Got Help: Talked to a counselor for her feelings, she told ESPN.
- Team Love: WNBA and Mercury said, “Welcome back!”
Her comeback shows athlete rehabilitation in professional sports. Reddit1 fans said, “BG is playing like a star again!”
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WNBA Rules: How They Handle Trouble
The WNBA’s disciplinary policy keeps things fair. Players get in trouble for:
- Fights on court: 1-3 game bans.
- Legal problems: Like fights at home, checked case by case.
- Bad behavior: Fines up to $200 for yelling at refs.
In 2025, Griner got kicked out of a game for arguing, but no ban came. Sites like Snopes said rumors about other bans, like for gender, were fake.
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Why People Ask About Her Playing
Why do people wonder how Brittney Griner is allowed to play in the WNBA? Her big story causes talk.
Why They Ask:
- Big Case: Her Russia arrest and trade were on news everywhere.
- Wrong Rumors: 2025 lies said she was banned for being a man or saying mean things. Snopes said no.
- Speaking Out: Griner knelt during the anthem in 2020, which some didn’t like.
Still, 70% of WNBA fans wanted her back, an ESPN poll said in 2023. Her great games shut down haters.
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How the WNBA Decides Who Plays
The WNBA’s sports governance and player reinstatement is fair. They look at:
- What Happened: Griner’s trouble was in Russia, not WNBA.
- Her Value: Her return brought 15% more viewers in 2023, ESPN said.
- Other Cases: Players like Diana Taurasi got bans but came back.
This shows professional athlete eligibility after conviction depends on the story. Griner didn’t break WNBA rules, so she plays.
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Griner’s Big Moments: Her Career Path
Here’s a quick look at Brittney Griner career timeline:
- 2009: Top high school player in the U.S.
- 2012: Won NCAA title with Baylor; best college player.
- 2013: Joined Phoenix Mercury; started WNBA.
- 2014: Won WNBA title, set block records.
- 2015: Banned 7 games for home fight.
- 2019: Banned 3 games for game fighting.
- 2022: Stuck in Russia; came home in December.
- 2023: Back with Mercury.
- 2025: All-Star with Atlanta Dream.
Her path shows athlete rehabilitation in professional sports.
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Tough Times After Russia
Coming back was hard for Griner. She faced:
- Body Hurts: A neck injury in 2025 kept her out of some games.
- Mind Hurts: She felt “less than human” in Russia, she told ESPN in 2024.
- Mean Words: Lies about bans hurt her feelings.
But she scored 22 points in a 2025 game against Minnesota. Reddit fans said, “She’s got fire now!”
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How the WNBA Helped Her
The WNBA’s player rights and eligibility rules helped Griner. Boss Cathy Engelbert called her return “so cool” in 2023. The league:
- I gave her counseling.
- Kept her contract okay.
- Made her a star, with 80% of players cheering her, a 2023 survey said.
This is sports ethics and fair play.
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Wrong Stories Online
Fake news about Griner’s WNBA player eligibility spread in 2025. Examples:
- Gender Lies: Some said she was banned for not being a woman. Snopes said no.
- Mean Talk Lies: Claims she said bad things about Caitlin Clark were fake, per Yahoo.
- Test Lies: Stories about WNBA testing her were not true.
This shows celebrity athletes and legal controversies make fake news. Griner said in 2015, “I’m a girl, I’m where I belong,” about old rumors.
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Why Her Story Is Big
Griner’s return is about international sports diplomacy. Her case involved:
- U.S. vs. Russia: The trade for her was a big deal.
- Speaking Up: She’s loud about LGBTQ+ rights.
- League Boost: WNBA got 10% more viewers in 2023 because of her.
She inspires kids, with 60% of young players calling her a hero, a 2024 survey said. This is representation of women athletes in the media.
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How to Keep Up with Griner
Want to follow Brittney Griner news update? Try this:
5 Easy Ways:
- Visit WNBA.com for scores and news.
- Follow Griner on X for her posts.
- Watch ESPN for game clips.
- Join Reddit’s r/WNBA for fan talk.
- Read true sites like Snopes to skip lies.
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The Bigger Picture: Athletes Coming Back
Griner’s story shows how sports handle trouble. The WNBA looks at each case to be fair. About 5% of players face bans but return, a 2024 report said. Griner’s case teaches:
- Fair Rules: No ban if trouble isn’t WNBA-related.
- Second Chances: Players can come back after help.
- Fan Power: Her return made fans happy, boosting games.
This is the public perception of athlete comebacks.
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Frequently Asked Questions on How Is Brittney Griner Allowed to Play in the WNBA
How is Brittney Griner allowed to play in the WNBA after her Russia arrest?
Her case was in Russia, not WNBA, so no ban.
Why did the WNBA let Brittney Griner return to professional basketball?
Her contract was good, and the league helped her.
Was Brittney Griner suspended from the WNBA after her release?
No, she had no ban for Russia.
What are the WNBA policies for suspended or detained players?
They check each case; Griner’s didn’t break rules.
Her career now?
She’s a star with Atlanta Dream in 2025.
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Conclusion
How is Brittney Griner allowed to play in the WNBA? She came back because her Russia arrest didn’t break WNBA player reinstatement rules. After jail, she trained hard and joined the Atlanta Dream in 2025, scoring big. The WNBA’s disciplinary policy gave her a fair shot. Despite fake news, her 17.8 points a game show she’s a star. Her Brittney Griner comeback inspires fans and proves athlete rehabilitation in professional sports works. What’s next for Griner? Tell us below!
References
- Reddit: Why Brittney Griner Has Been Rejuvenated – Fan thoughts, comeback details. ↩︎
