The WNBA’s players’ association released a scathing statement urging other bodies to help after Brittney Griner had her jail sentence appeal rejected.
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA, was arrested at Moscow International airport in February after being accused of smuggling hashish oil in her luggage. She was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison - and the court near the capital upheld the sentence as a state prosecutor labelled it ‘fair’.
WNBA ace Griner apologised in vain for her ‘honest mistake’ in her appeal hearing via video link. The eight-time WNBA All-Star and former champion will serve the jail term in a penal colony.
The WNBPA - the players’ association for the league - is comprised of all players and is governed by an executive committee as well as player representatives from each WNBA team. The body is committed to protecting the rights of WNBA players and safeguarding their welfare both on and off the court.
The WNBPA issued a statement in the wake of the news that Griner’s appeal was denied, which read: “The courage and integrity Brittney Griner has displayed throughout her wrongful detainment should motivate every American to join our campaign to bring her home to her family without any further delay.
“Brittney has repeatedly taken responsibility and made clear that she never intended to break Russian laws. While their legal system is very different from ours, there is no doubt that the original sentence she received was extreme, even for the Russian legal system. This appeal is further verification that BG is not just wrongfully detained - she is very clearly a hostage.
“Let us not be divided in this moment. Rallying around BG and all the wrongfully detained Americans is the common thread of humanity that unites us without regard to ideology or political party. We must united and support the stated public commitment of the Biden Administration and Congressional leaders to do everything possible to get her home.
“Likewise, we strongly encourage leadership at FIBA, USA Basketball, and across the entire global sport community to voice their support for BG and join our campaign with a daily, public call to action.
“No athlete should be used as a political pawn.”
Griner was detained on 17 February at an airport near Moscow when vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage as she was returning to the US at the end of the WNBA offseason. Her case has become something of a political game between the US and Russia, whose relations have deteriorated following Vladimir Putin ’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
The White House have denounced the legal proceedings involving Griner as a ‘sham’. The Biden administration is aware of the situation and are working to release Griner and have her return home to the States. President Joe Biden has called for her release immediately.
In August, the Kremlin suggested the possibility of a prisoner swap between the US and Russia involving the basketball player and a sought after prisoner in American captivity, with Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout - dubbed the Merchant of Death - reported as a possible transfer.
Griner had been in Russia playing in the WNBA off-season for UMMC Ekaterinburg, who she has competed for since 2014. She was reportedly earning £1.1 million for her performances - around six times her salary with the Phoenix Mercury.
