Nine Years for Griner

Brittney Griner is a seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. This February, she was detained in Russia after traveling into the country with less than a gram of hash oil. Her appeal was denied on Tuesday, October 25, nearly nine months after her arrest. She has been sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison.

Brittney Griner, a center for the Phoenix Mercury, was traveling to Russia to play in an international league, as many WNBA players do in the off-season. Since 2014, Brittney Griner has been traveling to Russia, where she plays for UMMC Ekaterinburg. She was stopped at Moscow International Airport when found carrying hash oil and was accused of importing narcotics, breaking Russian law. In August, after pleading guilty to the drug charges in hope of a more moderate sentence, she was convicted of criminally importing marijuana into the country and was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony, despite Russian law stating that the maximum detainment for the possession of fewer than two grams of hash is 15 days.

Brittney Griner’s detainment has had an undulating impact on the sports world, causing waves of people, whether they knew the star or not, to speak out in support. USA Basketball and the WNBA publicized statements that expressed their “disappointment” at the “unjustified” outcome, and a commitment to her safe return. Though the court near Moscow declared her guilty of intentional smuggling, President Biden called the sentence “unacceptable” and stated that Brittney Griner was “wrongfully detained.” United States officials claim to be working aggressively to bring her home through prisoner trade discussions with Russian authorities.

During her trial, Brittney Griner’s lawyers provided a doctor’s note that recommended the drug for chronic pain. Brittney Griner also said that she had “no intent” to break the law, and her possession of the drug was an oversight when packing, which she called an “honest mistake.” In adherence to Russian criminal justice proceedings, the trial carried on after she pleaded guilty. Now that the sentence remains upheld, it is likely that the only possibility of her return would be through negotiation with Russian authorities. The prospect of this agreement, most likely through a prisoner swap, seems increasingly dim.

Beyond the fact that Russia has a significantly different justice system from America’s, there are several factors that may have influenced Brittney Griner’s trial and sentence. Primarily, war tension caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created cracks in the relationship between the U.S. and Russia, and the athlete could almost be categorized as a prisoner of war. To the Russian government, she is valued as a diplomatic bargaining chip. She is also a person of color, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and an outspoken activist for equality. In fact, she was wearing a “Black Lives For Peace” hoodie when initially detained. Regardless of whether these distinctions played a role in her arrest and sentence, the claim of her wrongful detainment has led the U.S. government to step in with the goal of her release.

Amid negotiations for her release, Brittney Griner expressed fallen spirits as the likelihood of a timely return decreased. She rejected a basketball she was offered and said that it was too tough to play right now. Cherelle Griner, Brittney’s wife, has only been able to call her twice in the eight months since her detainment. “She’s very afraid about being left in Russia or just completely used to the point of her detriment. She’s like… ‘I feel like my life doesn’t even matter,’” Cherelle Griner said. If no progress is made on her release, Brittney Griner will be transferred to a penal colony or labor camp, where conditions are known to be incredibly harsh. During the nine years that she is sentenced to serve, she may endure isolation and psychological torture in a system that largely resembles the notorious Russian gulags. Cherelle Griner has said the athlete is at her “absolute weakest moment in life right now,” as Brittney Griner sits in a cell behind bars, unsure of her future.

The suffering of this WNBA star sitting alone in a Russian jail cell must be temporary. Her continued imprisonment, with limited contact with her family and an expected transferral to a penal colony, is intolerable. Nine years in Russia would be nearly a quarter of Brittney Griner’s life. The United States government has a responsibility to bring home the wrongfully detained prisoner and to bring her home now.