WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is opening up about the terrifying months she spent in a Russian prison. In an exclusive "20/20" special set to air May 1, Griner recounts the moment cannabis oil cartridges were found in her luggage, a misstep that led to her detainment on foreign soil. A teaser of the emotional interview will be broadcast by "Good Morning America" earlier that day, as reported by ABC15.

During her interview with "20/20," which will air at 9 p.m. on ABC15, Griner, aged 33 and a nine-time WNBA All-Star for the Phoenix Mercury, likened the inadvertent packing of the cartridges to everyday forgetfulness. “Have you ever forgot your keys in your car? Left your car running? Have you ever-- you know, where's my glasses? They're on top of your head. Where's my phone? Oh, it's in my pocket. It's just so easy to have a mental lapse,” Griner told Roberts.

Griner's ordeal began on February 17, 2022, when she was apprehended at Sheremetyevo International Airport. It was a mistake that would thrust her into the international spotlight amid worsening U.S.-Russia relations. After pleading guilty to drug charges, asserting the inclusion of hashish oil was accidental, she was sentenced to nine years in prison, according to 6abc. However, following a high-profile prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, Griner was released on December 8, 2022, after nearly ten months.

Meanwhile, Griner has managed to channel her experience into a memoir, titled "Coming Home," which is slated for release on May 7. “This was a mistake. It was an accident, which I understand accidents have repercussions,” Griner reflected to Roberts. The book promises to offer a raw account of her plight in Russia and her eventual freedom.

Griner expressed that the sobering realization of having the vape cartridges in her bag instantly made her think of the impact on her loved ones. "I'm thinking about my wife. I'm thinking about my dad. You know, what my mom's gonna think, what my family's gonna think, public opinion is gonna think. You know, I can just see the headlines now," she shared with 6abc. Her family's fervent advocacy and the rallying cry for her release led by top figures in the WNBA and NBA put additional pressure on the U.S. government, culminating in her return to the United States.