The dramatic moment
of the high stakes prisoner swap.
Brittney Griner in the red coat,
walking towards the American plane
coming towards them.
State Department official Roger Carstens
accompanying Viktor Bout,
who was hugged by a Russian official.
This new video from Russian state
media shows
Griner leaving Russia in detention
and boarding the plane in the snow.
Her passport returned.
Griner smiles,
knowing she's heading home.
I ready for the flight?
Yes. Congratulations.
You're back in the U.S..
Griner,
his wife, Cheryl, was invited
to the White House today.
I'm just standing here
overwhelmed with emotions.
But the most important emotion
that I have right now
is just sincere gratitude
for President Biden
and his entire administration.
The release was the culmination
of many months
of negotiations with Russia.
This work is not easy.
Negotiations are always difficult.
There are never any guarantees.
But it's my job as president.
United States,
to make the hard call
to protect American citizens
everywhere in the world.
The WNBA star
who was caught with cannabis
oil entering
Russia spent
ten months in Russian detention.
But now she's spared from a brutal
nine year sentence
in a Russian penal colony.
U.S.
officials said that the trade
for notorious Russian weapons
smuggler Viktor Bout
was finalized in the past 48 hours.
Griner was moved from her prison
to Moscow
before being flown to Abu Dhabi,
where the exchange took place
on the tarmac
of a small, private airfield.
I'm glad to be able to say
that Britney is in good spirits.
She she's relieved to finally
be heading home.
The U.S.
wanted to trade boot for both Griner
and American Paul Wieland,
but Russia refused.
In an exclusive interview
from his penal
colony, Wieland told CNN he's surprised
he wasn't included.
I am greatly disappointed
that more has not been done
to secure my release.
I'm happy that
Britney is going home today
and that Trevor went home when he did.
But I don't understand why
I'm still sitting here.
My bags are packed.
I'm ready to go home.
Wieland told CNN that
the Russians see him at a higher level
than Griner.
He's been charged with espionage
and sentenced to six years.
This was not a choice
of which American to bring home.
The choice was one or none.
I wholeheartedly wish that
we could have brought
Paul home today
on the same plane as Britney.
The big question
now is how to get Paul Wieland home,
who the Russians will want in exchange,
and whether the U.S.
will be willing to do it Jake.
You could hear
in that exclusive interview
that Paul Wieland did with our colleague
Jennifer Handler
that he is deeply frustrated.
He says that today Russia
got the better deal,
that the briner was exchanged
for what he called a world class felony.
He said he believes that
Russia is dangling him, Paul Wieland
over Biden's head
and that they will want something
big in exchange.
Now, as for Brittany Reiner,
she is on her way
back to the United States.
She is due to land in San Antonio, Texas.
We don't quite know when.
That,
of course, is
where Treva Reid
was also taken when he was released
by the Russians back in April.
And that is where Griner, like
Reid, will be able
to get any medical attention
that she needs.
All right, Alex Marquardt,
thanks so much.
Brittney Griner
basketball team,
the Phenix Mercury
has been tweeting
for weeks, counting
the days that Griner has been in
Russian custody, calling for her release.
Today, the team tweeted, no more days.
She's coming home.
Joining us now is Terry Jackson.
She's the executive director
of the Women's
National Basketball Players Association.
Thanks so much for joining us.
How did you feel this morning
when you heard the news?
Thank you, Jake. I.
I go to bed every
night saying
Brittney is coming home tomorrow.
So I was anxiously anticipating
this morning.
I thought I was just going to be happy,
happy, happy.
And I was.
But
hearing the news just released
the gates of emotion.
I sobbed
like I haven't solved
in quite a long time.
But it was all tears of joy.
Have you heard joy?
Have you been told any information
about how Brittney is doing?
I have not. I have not.
You know,
I've done these interviews
in the past, spoken
with you and your colleagues.
And I say
every time I see an image of Becky,
I lean in to see if I can read her face.
She's beautiful cheekbones.
She's striking.
And I
just seeing
the seeing the smile, seeing that
there was some good spirits
there made me feel good.
But I know that there is a journey ahead
of healing and wellness.
And and we are all here for it for her.
Have you spoken to Brittany's
family at all or any of her teammates?
What are they saying?
Well, her teammates, yes, of course.
Those are my members.
Those are my bosses.
Those are who I report to.
So, yes, they are.
They are filled with joy.
We've had conversations,
live conversations, a lot of texting.
And these,
as you can imagine,
lots of emoji filled text.
I have sent messages to Sheryl
knowing that she will respond to me
when she can, when she has a moment.
No, you know, no expectation there.
But I've also been very closely
tied to her
team, Lindsey Kagawa
Solis, who is her representation
here in the U.S.
and in the WNBA
and has really been leading this effort
magnificently.
And so we have been in touch.
And so,
you know, I just can't wait to hear that.
Beaches, feet are on U.S.
soil.
Do you expect that
she'll be able to continue
playing basketball professionally?
What's what's going on?
My family has been in the trenches
on this. That's wonderful.
That's so sweet.
Yes, yes, yes. Do I.
Do I expect that she'll be playing soon?
Was that the question? Yeah.
You know what?
I expect
and hope that baby does
whatever brings her joy.
I would. We would.
I love to see her back among the 144
so that we are truly complete.
Absolutely.
But what I want for Becky
is what is best for BG
and only she can determine that.
But I support wherever she lands, 1,000%.
All right. Go give your son another hug.
Terri Jackson, thanks so much.
Really appreciate your time.
Thank you.