Brittney Griner

2022 - 3 - 5

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Texas Tribune"

WNBA player Brittney Griner is being detained in Russia (Texas Tribune)

The athlete, who is Black and gay, was detained by Putin's regime, which has stoked nationalism and homophobia and is admired by some in America's far ...

“I feel like I came out to myself and the world at the same time.” It has added to a global crisis that promises to impact Texans by increasing prices at the pump and potentially stoking heightened activity in the state's oil fields as the world searches for alternatives to tainted Russian supply. In a political conference last month in Florida, for example, far-right extremist Nick Fuentes asked for a round of applause for Russia. The advisory warned that “the U.S. Embassy has severe limitations on its ability to assist U.S. citizens” who stay. The U.S. and European Union have levied some of the harshest sanctions against Russia in recent international history. Putin has become a growing figure of admiration for some far-right Americans who associate him with white Christan nationalism. Griner, who graduated from Nimitz High School in Houston, attended Baylor University in Waco on a basketball scholarship. “Putin has pushed himself into a corner,” Barnes said. So that all fits into the pattern.” Even if she did, experts said, the relatively minor drug offenses hardly called for a 10-year sentence. They cited concerns about whether Griner actually committed the crimes of which she stands accused. The Russian news agency TASS identified Griner as the person who had been arrested.

Brittney Griner, WNBA All-Star, has been arrested in Russia on drug ... (CBS News)

She was arrested at a Moscow airport after a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges.

She last played for her Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg on January 29 before the league took a two-week break in early February for the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments. The Russian Customs Service said Saturday that the cartridges were identified as containing oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The customs service identified the person arrested as a player for the U.S. women's team and did not specify the date of her arrest.

WNBA Center Brittney Griner Is Detained in Russia (The New York Times)

Russian customs officials said a U.S. basketball player had vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. A Russian news agency identified the ...

Griner later won gold medals with the U.S. women’s national basketball team in 2016 and 2021. Griner’s dunks became anticipated during her time at Baylor, where she guided the Lady Bears to a national championship in 2012. She is the only player in N.C.A.A. history, male or female, to amass at least 2,000 points and 500 blocked shots. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said on Saturday that the sanctions were “akin to a declaration of war” against his country. The video released by Russia’s Customs Service showed a traveler passing through security screening, followed by footage of someone examining a package that appeared to be from the traveler’s bag. In recent years, U.S. officials have accused Russia of detaining and sentencing American citizens on trumped-up charges. Many W.N.B.A. players compete in Russia, where salaries are more lucrative, during the American league’s off-season. Some players have made substantially more money with Russian teams, like Griner’s Mercury teammate Diana Taurasi, who earned around $1.5 million with UMMC Ekaterinburg in 2015. In a statement, Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, did not dispute reports of her client’s detention. Brittney, Trevor, and other Americans must be safely returned.” Shut down your businesses now.” “We are aware of the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representation in Russia, her family, her teams and the W.N.B.A. and N.B.A.,” she said.

Commenting on WNBA star Brittney Griner, Secretary of State ... (ESPN)

Reacting to WNBA star Brittney Griner being detained in Russia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States will "provide every possible ...

"We have an embassy team that's working on the cases of other Americans who are detained in Russia," he added. Reacting to WNBA star Brittney Griner being detained in Russia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday the United States will "provide every possible assistance" to citizens who are being held in foreign countries. "There's only so much I can say given the privacy considerations at this point," Blinken said of Griner. "Whenever an American is detained anywhere in the world, we of course stand ready to provide every possible assistance, and that includes in Russia."

New York Times: Brittney Griner, two-time Olympic gold medalist ... (CNN)

Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and seven-time Women's National Basketball Association All-Star with the Phoenix Mercury basketball team, ...

We will continue to closely monitor and look forward to her return to the US." "I understand that many of you have grown to love BG over the years and have concerns and want details. The women's National Basketball Players Association said in a statement it is "aware of the situation in Russia concerning one of our members, Brittney Griner. Our utmost concern is BG's safety and well-being. The Phoenix Mercury said it is "closely monitoring the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia" as they remain in "constant contact with her family, her representation, the WNBA and NBA. We love and support Brittney and at this time our main concern is her safety, physical and mental health, and her safe return home." USA Basketball, the governing body for sport in the United States, said in a statement it is "aware of and closely monitoring the legal situation facing Brittney Griner in Russia. Brittney has always handled herself with the utmost professionalism during her long tenure with USA Basketball and her safety and wellbeing are our primary concerns." "I love my wife wholeheartedly, so this message comes during one of the weakest moments of my life," Cherelle Griner wrote in her Instagram post.

WNBA star Brittney Griner arrested and detained in Russia (The Washington Post)

Griner's arrest after a search of her luggage at Sheremetyevo International Airport found hash oil, according to Russian new agency Tass.

“USA Basketball is aware of and closely monitoring the legal situation facing Brittney Griner in Russia,” the organization said in a statement. We will continue to closely monitor and look forward to her return to the U.S.” She is a seven-time WNBA all-star after being the No. 1 draft pick in 2013 and is one of the world’s most recognizable women’s basketball players. Many women’s basketball players spend the offseason overseas to supplement their WNBA salaries. Griner’s Phoenix Mercury WNBA team was “closely monitoring the situation,” it said in a statement. “I love my wife wholeheartedly,” she wrote on Instagram, “so this message comes during one of the weakest moments of my life.