Guess Who Stood For The National Anthem?

Guess who stood for the national anthem? Starting in 2020, WNBA start Brittney Griner said she and her teammates would protest the national anthem. Previously, "During a game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks, the two teams walked off the court while the National Anthem played. Interestingly enough, Griner mentioned that this will not be the last time she would walk off the court."

But 10-months in a Russian prison later, and the Biden administration swapped her for a notorious international arms trafficker, the "Merchant of Death" Viktor Bout last December...

Fast-forward to her return to freedom in the United States and her first competitive game since her release, in a preseason Phoenix Mercury against the Los Angeles Sparks game, which took place Friday...

What a difference facing down a 9-year prison sentence in Russia makes: 

Prior to the tip, Griner and her teammates stood for the national anthem, and the No. 1 pick of the 2013 WNBA Draft received a loud ovation from the home crowd as she was introduced. 

"Hearing the national anthem, it definitely hit different," Griner said. "It’s like when you go for the Olympics, you’re sitting there, about to get gold put on your neck, the flags are going up, and the anthem is playing, it just hits different.

"Being here today ... it means a lot."

Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard had this to say about Griner's return to the court: "We looked at each other, and we just had chills."

And further: "We were here last year for all of it. I’m getting emotional about it now. Just to see her back out there — it’s an absolute miracle. It was amazing. It’s giving me chills again." 

Apparently Griner "loves" the national anthem now... but no more fight for social justice? We guess not.