WNBA star Brittney Griner has long been open about the trauma she endured during her 10-month imprisonment in Russia. But in a recent appearance on Cam Newton’s podcast, she revealed one of the most disturbing episodes yet, a moment that underscored the psychological warfare she faced even as freedom loomed.
Griner described being transferred from the notorious IK-2 penal colony to a men’s prison in Moscow, a move she believes was never about logistics, but about control.
“I knew I was getting traded,” she said, referring to the prisoner swap that would eventually bring her home. “But the way they were treating me—it was their one last play to terrorize me or mess with me”.
Upon arrival, Griner was forced to strip naked in front of seven to eight male guards, who photographed her tattoos using a Polaroid camera while she was made to spin in a circle.
“It wasn’t about protocol,” she said. “It was about shame. It was about turning me into an object”.
This moment came after months of brutal conditions in Russia’s penal system. Griner had already endured freezing temperatures, inadequate hygiene, and forced labor. But the transfer to the men’s prison, just days before her release, felt like a final attempt to break her spirit.
Even during the flight to Abu Dhabi for the swap, the cruelty continued. Masked Russian operatives taunted her, made remarks about her sexuality, and refused to offer food, which Griner declined anyway out of fear it might be poisoned.
“Paranoia and fear were impossible to shake,” she admitted.
The prisoner exchange, which saw Griner traded for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, was brokered by the Biden administration. Though controversial, the deal brought Griner home, but not without criticism. Some questioned why Marine veteran Paul Whelan wasn’t included, while others raised concerns about Bout’s release.
Now back in the WNBA, Griner continues to advocate for Americans wrongfully detained abroad. Her voice, once silenced behind bars, is now louder than ever.
