U.S. to hold critical briefing on detained WNBA star Brittney Griner

Published

2 years ago

June 14, 2022

Holly Stearnes

The United States State Department is set to brief the WNBA team, Phoenix Mercury, about their team member Brittney Griner

Griner has been detained in Russia for 115 days.

In February, she was arrested at an airport in Russia and accused of having cannabis vaping oil in her luggage.

In May, a U.S. State Department official said WNBA player Brittney Griner had been ‘wrongfully detained‘ in Russia. They also confirmed Biden’s administration has made her release a priority.

Griner’s agent has confirmed that the WNBA star is receiving some form of communication with family and friends while being detained.

CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 17: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates during Game Four of the 2021 WNBA Finals on October 17, 2021 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

Coach Vanessa Nygaard confirmed that the team is awaiting a crucial briefing about Griner’s wellbeing and her release.

But she did share some doubts.

“It’s been 115 days now, 115 days that she’s been wrongfully imprisoned in another country, and we just want her to come home.
I hope it’s not just a show, to say they briefed us, which I’m afraid of.
Hopefully, it’s something that shows positive progress and we learn something new that helps us learn more about how we’re going to bring our teammate home.”
Vanessa Nygaard, Phoenix mercury head coach

Nygaard also used this time to encourage U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to attend one of Mercury’s upcoming games.

“You’re welcome to come into our locker room and talk to us. You’re also welcome to just enjoy the game, you can see what our team looks like without Brittney Griner, but also we would just love to see you as a supporter of our team.
“And um, yeah, we have snacks in our locker room, we got all sorts of stuff that we would love to — honestly, you can sit on the bench, you can sit on the bench right next to me.”
Vanessa Nygaard, Phoenix mercury head coach

It has been 115 days since our friend, Brittney Griner, has been wrongfully detained in Russia. It is time for her to come home. @WhiteHouse, we are paying attention and we are counting on you. #WeAreBG
— Breanna Stewart (@breannastewart) June 12, 2022

Former teammate Penny Taylor also used her hall of fame speech to call for Griner’s release saying “the entire global sports community needs to come together to insist that she be a priority.”

115 days wrongfully detained. It’s time to bring BG home!! @WhiteHouse @POTUS @VP https://t.co/sQRyKly9kv #WeAreBG #BrittneyGriner pic.twitter.com/UH7VkW0lTU
— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) June 12, 2022

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