Photo: Instagram/Brittney Griner Brittney Griner 's highly anticipated return to the WNBA on Friday was met with a heartwarming standing ovation from the Los Angeles crowd. It was her first regular-season game since October 2021, and despite being a road opponent, the fans recognized and appreciated her presence. The Phoenix Mercury , Griner's team, commenced their season in Los Angeles against the Sparks, signifying her comeback after missing the preseason matches. During an interview with the ESPN broadcast after the first quarter, Griner expressed her focus on the game, stating, "You come to work, you gotta put everything aside." Her words reflected her determination to perform on the court despite the personal challenges she had faced recently. Photo: Instagram/Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury is being defended by Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks in her first game back. In February 2022, Griner was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport for c...