The WNBA athlete faced drug smuggling charges at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport in February 2022.

Griner, who had been playing basketball for UMMC Ekaterinburg, was found with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.

She was subsequently convicted and sentenced to nine years in IK-2 prison in Mordovia.

After spending nearly ten months behind bars, she was released in a prisoner exchange with the US.

In her upcoming memoir, “Coming Home,” Griner recounts her experiences in prison, including the need to take precautions for her safety.

She describes having to use a toothbrush as a makeshift weapon and discovering that her cellmate had been spying on her.

Despite the challenges, Griner managed to confront the situation and get her cellmate removed from the cell.

Griner also reflects on the mental toll of her imprisonment, expressing thoughts of suicide and the determination to endure for the sake of her family.

“Coming Home” is scheduled for release on May 7.