WNBA star Brittney Griner has been freed from a Russian prison

President Biden announced that WNBA star Brittney Griner has been freed from a Russian prison and is on her way home.

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Biden spoke with Griner from the Oval Office and said she was in good spirits, but was experiencing "trauma" and would need time to heal.

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Russia's Foreign Ministry confirmed that Griner was swapped at the Abu Dhabi airport for convicted Russian arms trader Viktor Bout.

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The U.S. government has long resisted prisoner swaps out of concern that it could encourage the imprisonment of more Americans abroad, but felt a "moral obligation" to bring Griner home.

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The exchange did not include former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who remains imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges that the U.S. says are false. Biden said Thursday that they will never give up on trying to secure his release.

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Griner's detention had been a top priority for Biden and his administration - In July, she sent him a handwritten letter, saying "I'm terrified I might be here forever."

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Grinder is a seven-time WNBA All-Star, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the first openly gay athlete signed to an endorsement contract

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