Brittney Griner is given a hero’s welcome by fans in Phoenix as she returns for first WNBA home game

Mercury star Brittney Griner returned to make her home debut in Phoenix for the first time in 585 days following her well-publicized detainment in Russia that caused her to miss all of last season.

Griner stood for a moment while clapping before making an X in the air as her name was announced, to the sounds of ‘I’m coming home’ blaring over the loudspeaker in the background.

Fans in attendance gave her a standing ovation as the glares of countless phone lights could be seen lighting up the arena.

The Mercury were playing the Chicago Sky in the first game of the season on home court, on a day that also featured concerts from Wyclef Jean during pregame and post-game. 

Griner made her WNBA return in the team’s previous game against the Los Angeles Sparks, in what she called ‘a day of joy.’

Brittney Griner made her home debut in Phoenix after missing all of last season in Russia

Her Phoenix Suns squad were playing against the Chicago Sky on Sunday afternoon

The return home came shortly after her WNBA return against the Los Angels Sparks 

‘I was literally in a cage and could not stand the way I wanted to,’ she said. ‘Just being able to hear my national anthem and see my flag, I definitely want to stand.’

Griner had 18 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots Friday night for the Phoenix Mercury in a 94-71 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.

‘Not good enough, didn’t get the dub,’ said Griner, who nevertheless couldn’t be down in defeat.

‘I appreciate everything a little bit more, all of the small moments, like, `Oh, I´m so tired I don´t want to go to practice today,’ that has changed, honestly,’ she said.

 ‘Tomorrow is not guaranteed, you don´t know what it´s going to look like. I feel a lot older somehow, too.’

The 32-year-old center’s immediate goal is to play an entire game by the All-Star break in mid-July. She played 25 minutes Friday.

‘I hope to be exactly where I want to be,’ Griner said. ‘Just getting back to how I was before all this happened.’

Griner made an immediate impact against the Sparks. She fired a pass to Moriah Jefferson, who hit a 3-pointer for Phoenix’s first basket. Griner grabbed a couple of rebounds and scored twice in helping the Mercury to an early lead.

Despite all of the good energy coming into her return to her home court, Griner and the Mercury fell defeat to the Sky 75-69.

Griner led the team with 27 points on 9-13 shooting and recorded 10 rebounds to secure a double-double. Her efforts were however not enough to stop the team from losing their second straight game to start the season.