"I definitely stand": Brittney Griner on standing for the national anthem after refusing to do so in 2020

Brittney Griner scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Phoenix Mercury in her WNBA return. It was her first game since her 10-month detention in Russian prison. More than 10,000 fans were in attendance at Crypto.com Arena in LA for the game.

She also made headlines by standing for the national anthem before the game. Griner previously protested during the anthem in 2020, but since her imprisonment, she admitted her views have changed.

"You know, I was literally in a cage and could not stand the way I wanted to and a lot of other different situations," Griner said. "So just being able to hear my national anthem and see my flag, I definitely stand."

Griner was detained on smuggling charges after she was found with medically-prescribed hash oil. She was playing in the Russian professional league at the time.

Brittney Griner said after her comeback game with the Mercury that the imprisonment changed a lot about her. She said she finds a new gratitude for the little things and an appreciation for her country.

United States vice president Kamala Harris was in attendance for Griner’s WNBA return. The two spoke before the game.

"It was amazing," Griner said. "So it was nice to see her face-to-face, talk to her, thank her for everything as well. And then the team really enjoyed it, too."

Why did Brittney Griner protest the anthem in 2020?

Brittney Griner was one of many athletes to protest the national anthem following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Griner took a knee rather than stand for the anthem before games. She made the gesture as a protest against police brutality and social injustice.

Griner also called on the WNBA to stop playing the national anthem before games. Her teammate Brianna Turner also made the same request. The league did not agree to their suggestion.

Her Phoenix Mercury team refused to take the court during a preseason game in the 2020 bubble as an act of protest as well. This was done after the killing of Breonna Taylor and the spread of the Black Lives Matter movement.