Brittney Griner told supporters their letters helped her "to not lose hope" when she was wrongfully detained in Russia, and encouraged them to write to fellow hostage Paul Whelan.
The WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist posted a handwritten note to Instagram on Wednesday, thanking those who sent her letters during the nearly 10 months she was imprisoned on drug charges. Griner was released Dec. 8 as part of a prisoner swap with Russia.
"You took time to show me you cared and I want to personally take the time to write to you and say that your effort mattered," the Phoenix Mercury's eight-time all-star center wrote.