Brittney Griner, a 32-year-old American was imprisoned and arrested in Russia for nearly ten months before being released and returning to the WNBA in May.
The two-time gold medalist in basketball in the Olympics did not play for the Phoenix Mercury against the Chicago Sky on July 30. She won’t also be included in the lineup for their upcoming game against the Indiana Fever on Tuesday, August 1.
Griner has taken a sabbatical from playing to concentrate on her mental health, according to the Phoenix Mercury.
“The Mercury fully support Brittney and we will continue to work together on a timeline for her return,” the team said in a statement.
The basketball star has participated in 20 of 24 games since joining the WNBA again. The 32-year-old Griner was imprisoned in a Russian prison from February to December of last year for over 10 months on drug-related charges after customs officers discovered cartridges containing less than a gram of hash oil that was medically authorized.
In games this season, Griner has averaged 18.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. Her efforts were recognized with her eleventh WNBA All-Star selection last month.