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Timeline of Brittney Griner's detention in Russia (4:16)

T.J.Quinn gave a detailed account of the events leading up to the release of the woman from a Russian prison. There is a time and a place for this.

11:21 AM ET

On Friday, after her release from a Russian prison last week and her return to the United States, she said she was "grateful" to be back in the country.

It feels great to be back home. In her first public statement since her release, she posted to social media. The last 10 months have been filled with many battles. It was the love from so many of you that kept me going. I would like to thank everyone for their assistance.

Is that correct? I intend to play basketball for the Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say thank you to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me.

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She has been staying in a hotel at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio with her wife, Cherelle, to decide on her future.

The Mercury general manager, team president and teammate surprised her on the tarmac in San Antonio, according to a source.

Russian authorities said she was carrying cannabis oil when she was arrested at a Moscow airport.

The U.S. State Department had accused the Russian government of wrongly detaining the man.

After months of strained negotiations, and an extraordinary revelation by the President Joe Biden's administration that it had made a " substantial proposal'' to get home the two Americans, the case was resolved last week.

According to Lindsay Kagawa Colas, the agent who works for the US Embassy in Moscow, Griner will work to raise awareness for other Americans who have been wrongly imprisoned in other countries.

She said that President Biden brought her home and that he was committed to bringing all Americans home as well. I will do everything I can to help you. Everyone that played a part in bringing me home is encouraged to continue their work. Every family has a right to be together.

Colas said that the big man picked up a basketball for the first time in over a year and dunked it.

On May 19 the Mercury will travel to Los Angeles to play the Los Angeles Sparks.

The AP contributed.