Angel McCoughtry, who spent three seasons playing basketball in Russia, has vowed she will never go back following the experience of her friend and fellow Rio 2016 gold medallist Brittney Griner ©Getty Images

Angel McCoughtry, who spent three seasons playing basketball in Russia, has vowed she will never go back following the experience of her friend and fellow Rio 2016 gold medallist Brittney Griner, who was released after nearly 10 months in jail there.

Griner, who has played regularly in Russia since 2014, was imprisoned after being arrested for possessing cannabis oil shortly prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and was sentenced to nine years in a prison labour camp.

On Thursday (December 8), it was announced that she was being swapped for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout after a deal brokered by the United States President Joe Biden.

Asked on the TMZ Sports TV show if she would return to Russia to play, McCoughtry replied: "No, I would not go back - I would not go back."

Earlier, she was pleased with the news of her 32-year-old former team-mate's release. 

"Oh my gosh, today is a celebration. 

"Brittney is back, she's on solid ground.

"Knowing Brittney, she's a big teddy bear, her personality is so bubbly.

"I couldn't imagine the conditions she's gone through."

US basketball star Brittney Griner, sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony for possessing cannabis oil, returned this week as part of a prisoner swap ©Getty Images
US basketball star Brittney Griner, sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony for possessing cannabis oil, returned this week as part of a prisoner swap ©Getty Images

Speaking of her own experiences in Russia, McCoughtry, who spent two stints playing with Dynamo Kursk, commented: 

"I played in Russia for three years, and that was probably one of the hardest places I had to play.

"It was hard to make friends.

"People are introverted because of the weather - the sun doesn't come out.

"So, it's already kind of depressing being there, playing there.

"But, to be in that kind of environment, I'm so glad she's back."

Many players travel overseas during the Women’s National Basketball Association off-season because they can earn significantly more money than they do in the United States, but that option is now unavailable.

"It's tough on us because Russia was one of the places where we made the most money," McCoughtry said.

"I was making my WNBA salary in one month in Russia - my whole salary.

"I think girls are gonna go elsewhere and play, probably.

"We still have Spain and Istanbul, Turkey, different places, but it definitely takes a toll on our game cause Russia, that was a place that had a lot of money for women to play, so it definitely hurts our game."