Brittney Griner, a U.S. basketball player, empathized deeply with Simone Biles' withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics.Griner stated Thursday that she could feel her presence and it felt close to home. "I felt that one deeply."Griner, a year ago, left the WNBA's bubble at Bradenton, Florida for personal reasons. Griner was with the Phoenix Mercury just over half way through their season. She was also the team's top rebounder and scorer at that time. Since then, she has spoken out about her mental health as a major factor in her decision to leave during her eighth WNBA year.Griner stated Thursday that it was a difficult decision. Griner said that he has always spoken out about his experiences with depression and suicidal thoughts as a young man."I felt like my team was hurting me, but I also felt like [myself] was crushing on the inside." When you aren't your best self, injuries can occur because you aren't fully focused.Griner, a Rio de Janeiro Games gold medalist, is currently playing in her second Olympics. Team USA takes on Japan at 12:40 a.m. ET) in their second round of group play. She spoke along with other U.S. players, including A'ja Wilson from Las Vegas and Breanna Stewart from Seattle, about their support for Biles as well as the mental challenges that elite athletes face when it comes to mental health.Griner stated, "It's amazing when we can get together and talk. It feels safe." Sometimes, that's all you have to do is release it. Sometimes you just need someone to help. Sometimes you need a teammate to help you. I have done that before.Griner stated that she left the bubble and moved on to other hobbies, as well as working with a therapist.Las Vegas' Wilson won the WNBA MVP award last season. She did this just 24 days after she turned 24, and led the Aces to their WNBA Finals. In January, a statue of Wilson was unveiled at South Carolina's Colonial Life Arena.Wilson, however, wrote in March's Players Tribune about feeling like failure after Seattle beat the Aces. She also described having panic attacks the second time she saw the Aces win.She was among many WNBA players to admit that, as grateful as they were for a season in the last pandemic, the isolation of the bubble and concerns over social justice took an emotional toll. Chiney Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks forward, examined the effects of the bubble season in her documentary "144".Wilson spoke about how her past year has shaped her. Wilson stated, "I feel like [Biles] relate to me more than I probably have ever thought of." People look at us and see our achievements and think that everything is possible. Your life is perfect. This is not true. Humans are human, and we have overcome many obstacles to get to where our current position."Stewart won her second WNBA championship last season. She was also WNBA Finals MVP twice. She is a four-time NCAA champion and will be seeking her second Olympic gold medal.Stewart is open about other things, however, such as writing a piece in The Players Tribune on the sexual assault she suffered as a child.Biles was one of more than 150 gymnasts who were abused sexually by Larry Nassar. He was also a team doctor for many years. Stewart stated that it was difficult to balance competing at the highest level while processing trauma.Stewart stated, "For Simone there's a lot respect for her because of what she's been capable to do for USA Gymnastics." "We are here to make sure she is in our corner.It's not easy to ensure you are in a good mental state, especially at the Olympics. Everything is magnified. You feel more pressure and pride. It is all about wanting to represent your country and win as many medals as possible. As athletes, that is what we believe.Griner said that Biles' posts on social media about being grateful and realizing she was valued as a person, along with her ability to be a gymnast, hit home for her.Griner stated, "I have dealt with scrutiny from media or people... it sometimes can be overbearing at some times." "Having the right support system in place and the right tools is important."But basketball is my life, basketball is who I am." It's sometimes hard to be apart from this at times."
