Griner: "I didn't think I would play ball or ever wear this jersey again"

ANTWERP (Belgium) - When Brittney Griner steps out with USA at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 it will be the kind of comeback to put a smile on everybody's face.

Well, perhaps excluding those opponents who have the unenviable task of somehow guarding the towering and super talented center at the event. 

But even they might be forgiven for affording themselves an athlete to athlete endorsement and massive respect for Griner showing the resilience required to get back onto the floor after her well documented time away from the international scene.

"THERE WAS A LOT OF TIME A WHILE AGO, WHEN I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD PLAY BALL OR EVEN WEAR THIS JERSEY AGAIN. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE WAS" - Griner

It's barely three years since she was on top of the world - clutching a gold medal in Tokyo - the second of her career. And through the subsequent pain and struggles that followed, Griner is now ready to come full circle and get back onto the top podium step this year with USA in Paris. 

First up, it's the stopping post of Antwerp, where already qualified, USA will use the competition to re-integrate Griner into the fold. For the player herself, it's something she has admitted that she thought might never happen again.

"There was a lot of times a while ago, when I didn't think I would play ball or ever wear this jersey again.I didn't know what the future was," stated the 33-year-old. 

"So me having an opportunity to play USA ball when invited to camp - I was like' I am there'. That was just a no-brainer."

Being away from USA duty has also given Griner the opportunity to reflect on just what it means to represent her country and to get back to wearing the jersey.

She added: "When I was growing up I didn't know I was going to play ball. I actually wanted to follow in my dad's footsteps as he was a big idol to me as a marine and also in law enforcement.

"So, I honestly thought about enlisting after school, but once I started playing basketball I thought this could be another way of doing something for my country - with USA basketball.

"It's only fitting and it's only right that I come back and play USA ball.

"It's just a different feeling when you're playing with USA, in an Olympics and representing the whole country when everyone is tuning in."

All eyes will be on Griner as one of the leading names coming back to the FIBA global stage at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024. And, it will be intriguing to see whether she fits seamlessly back into things.

One aspect that fans can follow and in fact something that Griner wants them to check out is a marked evolution in her game play since she appeared at Tokyo 2020. The center has been using the time gained back from not playing club basketball overseas any more to focus even more intently on her own skills.

"There's been some seasons where I would take like one three, but since the last season ended it has become routine in my work outs and in my development," smiled Griner.

"That's as well as putting the ball on the ground and being more face to the basket instead of back to the basket.

"Those aspects are what I have been working on and so I can be held a lot more accountable," she concluded.

Certainly there will be a huge amount of attention on Griner and USA when they start their campaign in front of a huge crowd against Belgium on Thursday February 8.

FIBA