Biden says Brittney Griner in "good spirits," vows to keep working for Paul Whelan's release

Washington — President Biden said WNBA star Brittney Griner is in "good spirits" and heading home after the U.S. secured her release Thursday in an extraordinary one-for-one prisoner swap for international arms dealer Viktor Bout.

"She's safe. She's on a plane," Mr. Biden said in brief remarks at the White House Thursday morning. "She's on her way home. After months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances, Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones and she should have been there all along. This is a day we've worked toward for a long time. We never stopped pushing for her release."

Mr. Biden spoke to Griner on the phone from the Oval Office in the morning, along with Griner's wife, Cherelle.