Brittney Griner Says She Felt ‘Depressed’ Over Public Pressure That She Should Return to Russia an​d Wasn’t Worthy of Representing America

Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner believes that she’s “blessed” to be part of Team USA and to represent the United States in the u​pcoming Paris Olympics.

The nine-time All-Star will be traveling to Europe for the first time since her harrowing detainment saga in Russia back in 2022. Griner ​has now put this traumatic experience behind her, and she’s ready to leave U.S. soil, trusting that everything will be all right.

According to Griner, this has a lot to do with the current state of her mental health. In a recent interview, th​e 6-foot-9 center opened up about how important counseling has been for her throughout this ordeal.

“Just having really good people around me, people that understand me, know me and see the signs tha​t I might be wavering,” Griner said, via Marc J. Spears of Andscape. “And  not being scared to seek counseling.

“I think more people should do it. It’s a resource that is there for us. I feel like everyone should have some​one to talk to. Sometimes it hard to talk to family members and friends because sometimes you feel like there is a bias there.”

Griner has already moved on from her scarring 10-month detention in Russia. However, she revealed that she still receives counseling.

“When you have a counselor, there is no bias,” she said. “They are there for you to make sure that you’re great. I still use it to this day. Even though I’m in a good place, I still use it.”

It takes a powerful human being not only to live through that horrific spell inside a Russian prison but also to be able to move past the agony of that experience.