Chris Evert lauds basketball player Brittney Griner's dramatic turnaround from Russian prison to Paris Olympic gold with Team USA

Chris Evert lauded Brittney Griner and Team USA as they narrowly edged out hosts France 67-66 in a dramatic women's basketball final at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday, August 11. It was the USA's record 10th gold medal at the Summer Games and Griner's third.

WNBA star Griner detention at Moscow airport sent shockwaves through the basketball fraternity in February 2022. She was detained after officials allegedly found cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage. She was subsequently sentenced to nine years in prison for drug possession and smuggling in Russia.

Griner's plight unfortunately coincided with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a period that also saw increased tensions between Russia and the United States. Her ordeal was, however, brought to an end on December 8, 2022, after nearly 10 months behind bars. She was set free in a dramatic high-level prisoner swap which saw notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, nicknamed the 'Merchant of Death,' head the other way.

Now, nearly a year and a half after that harrowing incident, Griner has amazingly gone on to help the Americans to their 10th Olympic gold medal and an astonishing 61st Olympic win in a row.

American tennis legend Chris Evert, who'd been a vocal supporter of Griner throughout her ordeal, was among the first few to recognize her incredible achievement following a tough couple of years.

"👏👏👏👏So happy for her!❤️," Chris Evert exclaimed in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter).

Griner's performances throughout the Olympic competition have been second to none. She notched up four points and two rebounds in a spectacular showing off the bench in the final, and dedicated the emotional win to her wife Cherelle and her's newborn son Bash.

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“I didn’t think I would be here" - Brittney Griner's emotional reaction to winning Olympic gold

Brittney Griner at the 2024 Paris Olympics (Picture: Getty)

Returning to competitive basketball seemed like an uphill task a year ago for Brittney Griner. However, she passed through the trying time with flying colors, her Olympic triumph overshadowing a tough couple of years for her.

Overcome by emotions and the occasion during the medal ceremony, Griner was seen in tears on stage. She later draped herself in the American flag and described the win as the "icing on the cake."

“I didn’t think I would be here,” Griner said of the 2024 Paris Olympics. “And then to be here and winning gold for my country, representing when my country fought for me so hard to even be standing here. This gold medal is going to hold a special place among the other two I was fortunate to win.

“Gold is just the icing on the cake. Being in the Olympics is the icing on the cake,” Griner concluded.

The 33-year-old Phoenix Mercury star has now won three Olympic gold medals, adding to her already impressive collection of accolades.