Stephen Curry, 34, Pays Tribute to ‘Wrongfully Incarcerated’ Basketball Star Brittney Griner

On Tuesday night, Stephen Curry, alongside his Golden State Warriors teammates, unearthed their fourth championship banner. However, the 34-year-old NBA star made sure to honor WNBA player Brittney Griner, who is serving a nine-year prison sentence overseas in Russia.

Griner was arrested in a Russian airport in February 2022 when security found traces of marijuana in her luggage. She was taken into custody on account of drug smuggling and Her trial began months later. She plead guilty to drug smuggling and was sentenced to nine years in prison. However, since her conviction, the United States government has been diligently working to bring her back to American soil.

Although not a member of the government, the Golden State Warriors player emphasized his sympathy for the detained athlete. “We want to continue to use our platform and the opportunity to shout out a very special member of the basketball community,” Curry said.

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Stephen Curry is hopeful that Brittney Griner will be brought home soon

“We want to continue to let her name be known and we pray,” the MVP added, after noting that the WNBA player’s birthday just passed. “It’s been 243 days since she has been wrongfully incarcerated in Russia…We hope that she comes home soon and everybody’s doing their part to get her home.”

Including Curry, Griner’s legal team also recognized that she spent her 32nd birthday behind bars in a Russian prison. “Not only this is her birthday in jail away from her family, teammates, and friends, but she is very stressed in anticipation of the appeal hearing,” Maria Blagovolina, one of Griner’s lawyers told media outlet PEOPLE in a recent interview.

“We brought her a lot of letters, birthday messages from all over the world, from her family, from friends, her team; and that was very important for her,” Blagovolina added.

Through her legal team, Griner was actually able to deliver a statement to the friends, family, and fans who have stuck by her side during her detention. “Thank you everyone for fighting so hard to get me home. All the support and love are definitely helping me,” the basketball player relayed.

Despite the circumstances, the WNBA player’s legal team shared that she “very much appreciates the support and love she’s been getting” and “feels the support.” As she continues to be supported endlessly by the United States, she is able to keep her spirits up during this harrowing time.