Brittney Griner’s wife shares first social media post since WNBA star’s release from Russian jail

Brittney Griner‘s wife, Cherelle, has opened up on the pair ‘starting their journey to heal’ in her first social media post since the WNBA star’s release from a Russian prison camp on Friday. 

Four days ago, Griner landed back in San Antonio, Texas, after a swap-for-swap to free Russian prisoner and arms dealer Viktor Bout had been agreed. Before his release, Bout had spent 11 years behind bars in the US. 

Griner was arrested in Moscow in February for illegally possessing cannabis oil. Negotiations for the center’s release took place in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday with the help of the country’s president, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.

Brittney Griner’s wife, Cherelle, took to Instagram to thank all of those who were involved in helping secure the WNBA star’s release from a Russian penal colony last week 

Brittney Griner’s seen back on US soil after landing in San Antonio, Texas, on Friday. The center was arrested in Moscow in February for possessing cannabis oil, an illegal drug in Russia

Cherelle (left) and Brittney (right) initially met at Baylor University, where the athlete played college basketball, before becoming a couple

Cherelle Griner has now shared a collage of photos on Instagram, thanking all people involved in helping with her wife’s return home, as they now start to recover from the trauma deal with over the last 10 months. 

‘Yesterday my heart was made whole thanks to the collective efforts of MANY! I’m humbled by their hearts. To care for another, a stranger to some, a friend to some— is humanity in its purest form,’ she wrote.  

‘As BG and I start our journey to heal our minds, bodies, and spirits— I wanted to personally say thank you to some of the hands; seen and unseen, that helped make it possible for me to see my wife again!’

The pair tied the knot in 2019 after Brittney proposed to Cherelle. Pictured in October 2021

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CBS News’ Gayle King (left) revealed that Cherelle (right) was on ‘cloud nine’ after learning that Brittney would be coming home 

In her Instagram post, Cherelle thanked Arizona Congressman Greg Stanton, who called for the government to immediately release Brittney Griner in June

The couple first met while both studying at Baylor University in Texas. They didn’t date until a few years after Brittney split from her now ex-wife Glory Johnson in 2016. The pair tied the knot in 2019 after Brittney proposed to Cherelle. 

The athlete’s wife thanked a long list of names, including friends, politicians, celebrities, businessmen, athletes and human rights advocates who contributed to Griner’s freedom. 

DailyMail.com also previously covered the moment when U.S. President Joe Biden tells Cherelle the WNBA star is finally coming home before the pair hug inside the Oval Office.

On Friday, the Biden administration announced Griner’s release while having Cherelle at the White House

‘I appreciate each and every one of you! Let’s continue to use our hands, voices, platforms, and resources to bring Paul and all Americans home,’ her Instagram post further read, referring to the release of American spy Paul Whelan, who’s serving still serving a 16-year prison sentence in Russia. ‘All families deserve to be whole!’

Since her wife’s release, Cherelle told CBS News’ Gayle King of her reaction when she learnt her significant other was coming home.   

‘She’s still on cloud nine,’ King said. ‘She said, ”Gayle … I’m smiling so much, my face hurts.”’

The U.S. is ‘still negotiating’ for Whelan’s release in a separate talks, after Kremlin officials stood firm on only releasing Griner for Bout.