This Thursday, WNBA player Brittney Griner learned her fate in a Russian court after she pleaded guilty to a drug charge last month.
As we previously reported, a Russian judge convicted the athlete of drug possession and drug smuggling and sentenced her to a total of nine years in prison. She was also fined one million rubles, the equivalent of about $16,200. The harsh sentence came even despite the U.S. State Department classifying Griner as “wrongfully detained.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken had also revealed last week that the Biden administration offered a “substantial proposal” for the return of the basketball player and fellow American Paul Whelan. Clearly, the trade offer didn’t work.
Before being given her prison sentence, the WNBA star apologized for bringing vape cartridges with her while tracking to Russia back in February, which is illegal there. She begged for leniency while asking the court to take into consideration her good character. She said, “Russia became my second home. I remember vividly coming out of the gym and all the little girls coming out and waiting on me. That’s what kept making me come back here.”
She continued, “’I want to apologize to my teammates, my club and the city for my mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I brought. I want to also apologize to my parents, my siblings, Phoenix Mercury, the amazing women of the WNBA and my amazing spouse back at home.” She added, “I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws. I made an honest mistake and I hope that your ruling doesn’t end my life. I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics…but I hope that it’s far from this courtroom.”
Biden did release a statement following the sentence and said, “It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates,” Biden wrote in the statement. “My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible.” Many people including rapper Boosie is upset that Griner was handed down 9 years over a vape pen. But he’s even more upset about the U.S.’s little effort to get her home. Here’s what he had to say in a new Instagram video post:
View this post on Instagram
RELATED: Pres. Biden Speaks On Brittney Griner’s 9-Year Sentence In Russian Drug Trial
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a joint statement, “Today’s sentencing is unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected and Brittney Griner remains wrongfully detained. The WNBA and NBA’s commitment to her safe return has not wavered and it is our hope that we are near the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States.”
Her defense team called the verdict “absolutely unreasonable” and said they “will certainly file an appeal.”
RELATED: Verdict In Brittney Griner’s ‘Drug-Smuggling’ Trial Expected As Early As Today, With Prosecutors Demanding Nine-Year Sentence
Source