Brittney Griner plays for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. She has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17. Houston native and Baylor graduate Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison by a Russian court.
She was also fined 1 million rubles or about $16,000. The 31-year-old WNBA star was convicted of drug possession. President Joe Biden called the verdict and sentence unacceptable.
The U.S. State Department continues to negotiate for her release, presumably through a prisoner exchange. Griner made a statement apologizing to her family, Russian teammates and the Russian city where she plays.
Human Rights Campaign released the following statement: Today, WNBA star Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison.