The Latest Breaking News from Brittney Griner

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — There was a sense of heaviness in the air at Mohegan Sun Arena as Connecticut Sun and Phoenix Mercury players linked arms in a circle before Thursday night’s game.

The Phoenix star was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony and fined 1 million rubles, which is about $16,500, on Thursday.

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"I hope that in your ruling that it doesn't end my life here," Griner said prior to sentencing

United States urges Russia to accept a "serious proposal" Washington made weeks ago for the return of U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner, national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday.

Following are reactions after U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner was sentenced in a Russian court on Thursday to nine years in prison for illegally bringing hashish-infused vape cartridges into the country. She had admitted having the cartridges but called it an honest mistake.

Now that WNBA star Brittney Griner has been convicted of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison, attention turns to the prospect of a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia that could get her home

MINNEAPOLIS — Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said Thursday that her team's players and coaching staff "have been glued to seeing Brittney [Griner] in the trial" that ended with the Phoenix Mercury star being found guilty of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison by a Russian judge.