Brittney Griner is no stranger to Russia. For the past seven years, Griner has spent the WNBA offseason playing overseas in Russia and this year was no different. With the 2022 WNBA season set to begin in a few months, Griner was supposed to be on her way back home.
Unfortunately, those plans were thwarted when she was detained by Russian officials that reportedly found vape cartridges with cannabis oil in her luggage at the airport. The incident happened sometime in February, though the United States is just learning about it now.
The news couldnโt have come at a worse time. For the past two weeks, Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine with no end in sight. Tensions have been rising between Russia and the rest of the world, but now Brittney Griner is finding herself right in the middle of it all.
RELATED: Brittney Grinerโs Height and 20 Other WNBA Players Who Compare
Griner was making her way through security at the Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow when service dogs indicated that drugs might be located in her luggage. After scanning the luggage, vape cartridges were found and it was later confirmed that the cartridges contained cannabis oil.
โA criminal case was opened against a US citizen under paragraph โcโ of Part 2 of Art. 229.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – smuggling of narcotic drugs in a significant amount,โ the Federal Customs Service of Russia said in a social media post on Saturday.
The social media post also contained a video of Griner making her way through customs and added that she faces a punishment of 5 to 10 years in prison if convicted. With the way Russia has acted over the past few weeks, thereโs a good chance Griner is eventually convicted.
As of right now, itโs unclear why it took so long for the world to learn of her detainment. Itโs also unclear where sheโs being held and what the future has in store for her. Nonetheless, she is gaining a lot of support across the nation, with many calling for her swift return to the US.
Cherelle Griner Has Message for Her Wife, Brittney Griner
The news of Brittney Grinerโs arrest has been troubling for many, but no one is more troubled and confused than Grinerโs wife, Cherelle Griner. The two have been married since June 2019 and have grown incredibly close over the past few years. Theyโre both huge LGBTQ activists.
On Sunday, Cherelle posted a photo on Instagram. โThank you to everyone who has reached out to me regarding my wifeโs safe return from Russia. I love my wife wholeheartedly, so this message comes during one of the weakest moments of my lifeโ she said in the caption.
Cherelle posted another Instagram photo in support of her wife on Monday.โMy heart, our hearts, are all skipping beats everyday that goes by. I miss your voice. I miss your presence. Youโre our person! There are no words to express this pain. Iโm hurting, weโre hurting,โ she said.
Cherelle isnโt the only one hoping for Grinerโs swift return to the United States. Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee weighed in on the incident. “Please, allow Miss Griner to leave. Allow her legal representation to handle her matters,” Lee said. โIt is no place for her,โ she continued.
Griner has spent nine seasons in the WNBA since being drafted first overall by the Phoenix Mercury in 2013. Sheโs a seven-time All-Star and has averaged 17.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 steals, and 2.8 blocks in 30.9 minutes per game. Sheโs an all-time WNBA great.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 25 Greatest WNBA Players of All-Time
All of us here at At the Buzzer are hoping this matter gets resolved soon. With the number of people being detained in Russia โ both Russians and foreigners โ thereโs no telling how bad Russian prisons are going to get in the coming weeks. Weโre hoping for her safety and security.
What to Read Next...
At The Buzzer, or ATB is the place for those who love sports, life, family, community, and so much more. We are far from the run-of-the-mill 24/7 sports news websites. We not only bring you whatโs happening in the world of sports in terms of trades and breaking news, but we also bring you the news that goes on behind the scenes, like big life moments, and so much more. So take a minute and read one of our articles, we promise you won't regret it.