Partnership will raise awareness, call for action and support those in need

 PHOENIX – In Brittney Griner’s press conference today, her first since her safe return, Griner and the Phoenix Mercury will announce a partnership with Bring Our Families Home (BOFH), a campaign formed in 2022 by the family members of American hostages and wrongful detainees held overseas. The campaign urges the White House to take immediate and decisive action to bring detainees home and provide resources for detainees’ families.

In support of Griner, the Mercury is pledging resources and its platform to Bring Our Families Home in an effort to help raise awareness around the plight of wrongful detainees.

Together, they will tell the stories of wrongfully imprisoned Americans abroad through a campaign that will launch today with the unveiling of a mural on the west side of Footprint Center, the team’s home arena in downtown Phoenix. The mural features the face of Griner and more than a dozen detained individuals, some of whom have been held captive for more than a decade. Griner will reveal the mural alongside Neda Sharghi, chair of the steering committee of BOFH, who leads the campaign’s vision and works closely with detainees’ families. Sharghi is the sister of Emad Shargi, who is being wrongfully held at the notorious Evin Prison in Iran.

The 30-foot-wide painting features a QR code that directs to www.BringOurFamiliesHome.org. Later this season, fans will also be able to visit a dedicated hub on PhoenixMercury.com to learn more about each individual and how to get involved in the cause. The hub will continue to be populated throughout the 2023 season with news and updates on the coalition’s efforts.

The Mercury will incorporate in-game PSAs and social media content to keep the names and stories of those detained top-of-mind. The BOFH logo will be affixed to the Mercury’s home court when the team tips off its 2023 season in May, replacing the “BG42” mark near center court that was installed last season.

At every regular season home game this summer, the Mercury will host a letter-writing station for fans to draft hand-written notes of hope and encouragement to those detained and calls for action to elected officials to bring individuals home.

The Mercury will host families and friends of wrongful detainees at Mercury games in Phoenix and around the country when the team visits other markets.

Mercury President Vince Kozar: “Brittney Griner’s wrongful detention educated our organization, fan base and the Valley about the plight of hostages around the world and their families here at home.  We learned that, outside personal safety, the biggest fear is being forgotten and we know those currently being held do not automatically have the same public platform or receive the same media attention Brittney’s case did.  While we can’t fix that on our own, we intend to be a part of the solution, using the platform that we have to bring attention to these individuals throughout the 2023 WNBA season and beyond.  We are grateful to Neda and Bring Our Families Home for their willingness to partner with us.”

To learn more about Bring Our Families Home and to get involved, visit www.BringOurFamiliesHome.org.

The three-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury return to Footprint Center this summer, tipping off the season on Sunday, May 21 against the Chicago Sky in the Fry’s Food Stores Welcome Home Opener. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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