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

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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.

Photo Credit: Alexander Zemlianichenko

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
Vanessa Nygaard
Photo Credit: LA Times

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

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.”

Penny Taylor
Photo Credit: Swish Appeal

Holly is an anchor and reporter at Ticker. She's experienced in live reporting, and has previously covered the Covid-19 pandemic on-location. She's passionate about telling stories in business, climate and health.

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Rafa Nadal pulls out of French Open

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The Spaniard has failed to regain full fitness from a hip injury sustained earlier this year

Rafa Nadal has delivered news that no tennis fan wanted to hear.

The King of Clay will miss the French Open after failing to regain full fitness from a hip injury suffered at the Australian Open back in January.

The 14-time Roland Garros winner says he expects to retire following the 2024 season.

Nadal has dominated the clay court season for close to two decades.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion fronted a widely anticipated press conference at his tennis academy in Mallorca to drop the bombshell, saying its the right thing to do for his body and personal happiness.

“I’ll look to be 100% ready for next year, which I believe will be the last year of my professional career,” Nadal told a news conference at his tennis academy in Mallorca, Spain.

“The evolution of the injury I sustained in Australia has not gone as I would have liked. I have lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible.”

“I’ll not establish a date for my return. I’ll see how my body responds and take it from there,” said the 36-year-old. “If I keep playing at this moment, I don’t think I can be there next year.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to come back in the highest level and compete for Grand Slams. What I will try to do is to give myself the opportunity to go back to what could be my final year competing at the highest level.”

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China expresses concerns about ‘politicisation of sports’

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The East Asian nation raised the issue when Premier Li met with the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach

China has expressed concerns to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about the politicisation of sporting events.

The issue was raised when Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Thomas Bach, the head of the IOC, in Beijing over the weekend.

“China’s efforts to promote the Olympic spirit will never cease, and [China is] ready to work with IOC to oppose the politicisation of sports, and make further contributions to the Olympic movement,” Li said.

It is rare for China to raise such concerns with the IOC in public, and it was the first time it had made such comments since the Winter Olympics in Beijing early last year.

The United States and several of its allies took part in a diplomatic boycott of the Games, citing alleged human rights abuse in China’s far west region of Xinjiang.

Beijing has repeatedly denied the accusation and said it opposes any attempts to politicise sporting events.

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Tasmanian AFL team becomes reality

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Tasmania will have a team in the AFL after all 18 current teams agreed to the motion

An exciting day for residents of the Australian state of Tasmania today.

Outgoing AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirming Tasmania has been granted the league’s 19th licence.

It follows the nation’s federal government confirming it will cover the $240 million shortfall to fund a new multi-purpose stadium at Macquarie Point.

This has long been viewed as Tasmania’s most significant hurdle for entry into the league.

All 18 clubs supported the state’s bid, before the AFL Commission agreed to a formal ratification.

McLachlan fronted a press conference at North Hobart Oval, alongside Premier Jeremy Rockliff, Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles and a whole host of players.

The CEO says the decision “will finally make [the] competitions truly national”. #trending #featured

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