Brittney Griner Released from Russian Detention
WNBA Star Brittney Griner is free from the Russian penal system according to U.S. officials.Griner was released in a prison swap between the U.S.
and Russia as has been expected. In exchange, the U.S. released Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the "merchant of death.""Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner," President Biden tweeted Thursday morning with images of him and Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, in the Oval Office. "She is safe.
She is on a plane. She is on her way home. Griner was initially detained in February by Russian authorities. It took weeks before her detainment was announced by the Russian Federal Customs Service.
Griner was being detained for being in possession of hashish oil that was in her vape cartridges. She was accused of "smuggling" drugs.Griner was in Russia to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg, a team she has played for since 2016 to supplement her income from the WNBA.
