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Celebs, the VP and a road ovation: Brittney Griner, Mercury settle into 'new normal' as WNBA season tips off

Yahoo Sports WNBA writer Cassandra Negley and Eden Laase of Just Women’s Sports preview what promises to be a joyful and emotional return to the basketball court for WNBA star Brittney Griner after being detained in Russian prison for nearly 10 months.

LOS ANGELES — Nothing about the 2023 WNBA season opener in Los Angeles was normal. Not the fanfare, the pregame questions, the standing ovation for the visiting team’s entrance, nor the vice president of the United States making an appearance.

“Today, that really wasn’t normal. Yeah. I mean …” Phoenix Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard trailed off.