Tag: Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner is coming home after after prisoner swap with Russia. Here’s everything we know so far

Brittney Griner is coming home.

Brittney Griner is finally coming home.

Thank goodness!!!!!!!!!

The WNBA player has been held in Russian prisons for months after being detained due to Russian customs finding vape cartridges containing hashish oil. That was back in February.

Since then, the sports world and so many others have called for the United States to take action and get her home. Griner herself wrote a letter to President Joe Biden to make sure she wasn’t forgotten.

She was sentenced to nine years in prison, and news of discussions about a prisoner swap began swirling soon after. With reports that she was moved to a penal colony, the news kept getting more and more alarming.

But on Thursday, she’s reportedly coming home. Here’s everything we know (and we’ll update this as more news comes in):

Brittney Griner’s already fraught wrongful imprisonment in Russia just got even worse in a horrifying way

Here’s everything you need to know about Brittney Griner’s horrifying situation

It’s been 8 months since Russia wrongfully detained Brittney Griner for having vape cartridges with hashish oil.

In the time since Griner has been sentenced to 9 years in prison. Her family and supporters have constantly called for her release to no avail. No progress has been made. The US government offered to swap prisoners with Russia, but it didn’t work. Griner and her lawyers tried to appeal her sentence, but it was denied.

Now, Griner’s wrongful imprisonment is going to get even worse.

Russia has begun the process of moving Griner to a penal colony, according to reporting from ESPN’s T.J. Quinn. Her family has no idea where she is right now or where she’s being moved to and notification can take weeks.

This is horrifying — plain and simple. This puts Griner is some very real and potentially life-threatening danger.

Let’s look at the details.

NBA stars, including Steph Curry during Warriors ring ceremony, show support for Brittney Griner on her 32nd birthday

Good on Steph Curry, Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson, Jr.

With the new NBA season beginning Tuesday, a couple of the game’s brightest stars are using their platforms to shed light on a sad situation.

After all, Tuesday was also former WNBA star Brittney Griner’s birthday. Griner has been detained in Russia for the past eight months, with the U.S. government continuing efforts to get her back in the country.

Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry used his platform during the team’s ring ceremony Tuesday night to raise awareness of Griner’s detainment and share a hope for her to be freed soon.

Curry referred to Griner as “a very special member of the basketball community” in his call for her to return back to the U.S.

In Memphis, Grizzlies standouts Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson III wore hoodies that honored Griner during a Tuesday practice.

In fact, the whole team reportedly received Griner hoodies from Jackson’s mother and the WNBA. Morant also joined Curry and publicly spoke out about Griner’s cause Tuesday.

As the NBA season goes on and Griner’s detainment continues, more stars will likely use their platform to raise more awareness for Griner and her difficult situation in Russia.

Griner even shared Tuesday on her birthday her appreciation for people like Curry and Morant who are speaking out on her behalf.

As this saga continues, the NBA will likely continue to be a bastion of support for Griner and her release.

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Kim Mulkey’s lack of compassion for Brittney Griner shouldn’t surprise you because she’s already shown us exactly who she is

Kim Mulkey’s response on Brittney Griner is more disappointing than it is surprising

Brittney Griner’s wrongful detainment in Russia has truly revealed how much she means to so many people.

She’s loved, she’s idolized, she’s adored. Everyone has kind things to say about the sort of person she is. They’re constantly rooting for her safe return home and, with every passing day, the general public questions more and more why it hasn’t happened yet.

None of that applies to her former head coach at Baylor, Kim Mulkey, who doesn’t seem to see Brittney Griner as more than a career stepping stone.

She has nothing good to say about her former player. She has no words of encouragement for her family or a kind sentiment to share to the public. In fact, apparently, she has nothing to say at all.

Mulkey, now LSU’s coach, was asked about Griner’s situation in a recent press conference this week. The reporter, Cory Diaz, noted that he hadn’t heard anything from her on the Griner front which, you know, is a reasonable question considering the fact that Mulkey coached her for four years at Baylor.

What seemed to catch everyone off guard was the fact that Mulkey didn’t have anything to say.

“Diaz: I wanted to get your thoughts on the Brittney Griner situation. I don’t think I’ve seen anything from you on that…

Mulkey: And you won’t. I’ll answer the first one for you.”

There you have it, folks. We won’t hear from Mulkey on Griner. Not a peep. Nothing at all despite the fact that Griner brought her an NCAA championship in a season where they amassed a 40-0 record together.

And what a shame that is. It’s truly a tragedy to see a coach stoop to such a low level when it comes to one of her former players.

What makes this worse is that Baylor’s current coach, Nicki Collen, showed nothing but grace when asked about Griner.

“Those that have been around me know I get pretty emotional…I think BG, first of all, is human first. I think this is a human rights issue. No one’s saying she didn’t make a mistake. None of us are perfect. But I guess I would wanna know if I did something and was stuck in a foreign country, what it was, what it wasn’t. I think we all know that 10 years is a long time. I see her as a mother, as a sister, as a spouse, as a daughter, as an unbelievable ambassador for the game of basketball.”

That’s how easy it is. This isn’t her player. She has nothing to do with the situation. But kindness doesn’t cost a thing and Collen seems able to offer up plenty of it. We can’t say the same for Mulkey.

I’d love to call this surprising, but that would be a lie. It’s not shocking. It shouldn’t catch anyone off guard. This is just who Kim Mulkey is and who she always has been. She’s shown us that at every turn.

After all, this is the same coach that barred her team from talking about their sexuality, according to Griner herself. The former Baylor star revealed how Mulkey and the program, overall, weren’t welcoming to gay athletes during her time there.

That’s not something a loving coach would do. Those aren’t things a loving coach would ask of one of their players, no matter what their skill level is. It’s not something a program that actually cared about its students would allow.

On top of that, this isn’t the first time Mulkey has been silent on important issues — particularly when it comes to Black players. After George Floyd was killed by police officers in 2020, Mulkey had nothing to say while the rest of the sports world spoke out against police violence. Chloe Jackson, a former player, called her out on it. Yet, still. Nothing has changed. History is just repeating itself.

So, yes. Mulkey is sincere in her apathy. She’s committed in her silence. She genuinely doesn’t care about Brittney Griner or her well-being. The truth is she never actually has and it’s been plain to see for years.

It’s not surprising. If anything, it’s disappointing. Coaches are supposed to be leaders. They’re the ones who their athletes are supposed to look to for guidance and wisdom. And when it comes to their former athletes, they show compassion. Any good coach you’ve ever had is just one phone call away.

Yet here Kim Mulkey is with one of her former players wrongfully detained in a foreign country, and her only response is still hostility.

I’m sure her new recruits at LSU are going to love this.

U.S. government may not want Dennis Rodman to go to Russia to try to help Brittney Griner

A hostage negotiator said that Rodman’s proposed visit is a “terrible” idea.

Five-time NBA champion and Basketball Hall of Fame forward Dennis Rodman said he plans to visit Russia to advocate for Brittney Griner.

The WNBA star was arrested on Feb. 17 for bringing less than one gram of cannabis into the country. Earlier this month, on Aug. 4, Griner received a nine-year Russian prison sentence on drug charges.

While there is a chance Griner could come home sooner if Russia and the United States agree to negotiations for a prisoner swap, Rodman wants to take matters into his own hands.

Here is the latest update on the developing story (via NBC News):

“Former NBA player Dennis Rodman said Saturday that he plans to visit Russia to seek the release of Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges earlier this month.

‘I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,’ Rodman told NBC News at a restaurant in D.C. “I’m trying to go this week.'”

The U.S. government, however, may not actually want Rodman to do this:

“He is more likely to hurt than help, said a senior Biden administration official.

‘It’s public information that the administration has made a significant offer to the Russians and anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder release efforts,’ said the official.”

A hostage negotiator told Insider that Rodman’s proposed visit is a “terrible idea” and one that could potentially put the former NBA player in danger. The U.S. Department of State has issued a strong advisory to not travel to Russia.

Rodman, however, likely believes otherwise. He described Putin as “cool” after he took a trip to Moscow in 2014.

He has also maintained a friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

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Dennis Rodman: I got permission to go to Russia to help Brittney Griner

Former NBA player Dennis Rodman said Saturday that he plans to visit Russia to seek the release of Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges this month. “I got permission to go to Russia to help that …

Former NBA player Dennis Rodman said Saturday that he plans to visit Russia to seek the release of Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges this month. “I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,” Rodman told NBC News at a restaurant in D.C. “I’m trying to go this week.”
Source: Jonathan Allen @ NBC

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Nick Wright @getnickwright
Here’s #47: One of the 5 best defenders of the last 30 years, the greatest rebounder of his generation, and a consummate winner who played in 9 Conference Finals, 6 Finals & won 5 rings, Dennis Rodman @Dennis Rodman pic.twitter.com/xnsbt0Tgxj – 1:30 PM

More on this storyline

 

NBC News reached out to White House national security officials for comment on Rodman’s plans to travel Russia to engage in the Griner case. Rodman was in Washington for a sneaker convention. Though he has a much more established relationship with Kim, Rodman expressed confidence in his understanding of Russia’s president. “I know Putin too well,” he said. -via NBC / August 21, 2022
It’s not just the five additional moments that Visual Concepts’ designers have brought to the mode, for a total of 15. It’s also the testimonials from the figures so closely associated with Jordan and his career — from Dennis Rodman and Phil Jackson to Mike Fratello and Ahmad Rashad — and the genuine affection they rekindle for a player with no shortage of admirers. -via Polygon / August 11, 2022
Draymond Green: Rodman was INSANE!! And John Stockton had a tough time with these dudes. Hornacek had no answer for Pip -via Twitter @Money23Green / July 25, 2022

 

El apoyo de los fans de Brittney Griner tras saber que las autoridades rusas la sentenciaron a 9 años en prisión

La situación de Brittney Griner en Rusia ha pasado de ser precaria a ser desastrosa. El jueves, la estrella de la WNBA hizo su última apelación en un juzgado ruso y emitió una disculpa a su familia, a sus fans y a su equipo por su “error inocente” …

La situación de Brittney Griner en Rusia ha pasado de ser precaria a ser desastrosa.

El jueves, la estrella de la WNBA hizo su última apelación en un juzgado ruso y emitió una disculpa a su familia, a sus fans y a su equipo por su “error inocente” de llevar menos de un gramo de aceite con cannabis en su equipaje a su llegada a Rusia.

Pareciera que la disculpa cayó en oídos sordos con las autoridades rusas. Según lo informó James Longman de ABC News, tras encontrarla culpable de tráfico de drogas, el juez sentenció a Griner a nueve años en prisión.

Tan solo fue medio año menos de los 9.5 que los fiscales le habían solicitado al juez previo a la sentencia.

Traducción: La estrella de basquetbol de EEUU Brittney Griner ha sido sentenciada a 9 años en prisión después de que un juez ruso la encontrara culpable de tráfico de drogas.
La pena máxima. Tenía menos de un gramo de aceite de cannabis en su equipaje y ya lo había admitido.

 

En su declaración, Griner dijo que nunca quiso lastimar a nadie y le suplicó a las autoridades rusas que “no termine mi vida aquí”.

“Nunca quise lastimar a nadie. Nunca quise poner en riesgo a la población rusa. Nunca quise violar ninguna ley aquí. Fue un error inocente y espero que su sentencia no termine mi vida aquí”.

Ahora Griner tiene una sentencia de nueve años y está en mucho peligro por obvias razones.

El sistema de justicia ruso es misterioso en el mejor de los casos y siniestro en el peor de los casos, especialmente para alguien como Griner, quien es una mujer gay negra. Rusia no es conocida por ser generosa ni amable con personas como ella.

Ella necesita ayuda y la necesita rápido. Nadie sabe qué le podría pasar ahí adentro y, honestamente, pensarlo es aterrador.

Es por eso que, tras conocer la sentencia, los fans han expresado de forma apasionada su apoyo a Griner:

Traducción: ¿¡9.5 años?! 9.5 años (corazón roto) BG, te amamos. No sé qué más decir. Te amamos. LIBEREN A BRITTNEY GRINER.

 

Traducción: Liberen a Brittney Griner. Es todo.

 

Traducción: EEUU necesita moverse de forma expedita y arreglar algún tipo de intercambio de prisioneros para liberar a Brittney Griner. Esto es tan inhumano.

 

Traducción: Brittney Griner merece mucho más que esto. ¡Libérenla!

 

Traducción: 9.5 años es mucho tiempo por una ofensa que generalmente hubiera ameritado una simple multa. Liberen a Brittney Griner.

 

Artículo traducido por Ana Lucía Toledo

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Sirius XM NBA: A Moscow court sentenced …

Sirius XM NBA: A Moscow court sentenced WNBA Star Brittney Griner to 9 years in jail. @JumpsShot8 tells @Rick Kamla how much it bothers him #WeAreBG #BringBrittneyHome pic.twitter.com/pqwwSL0Knv

You may not hear much more about a Brittney Griner prisoner swap and there’s a good reason why

This is why the Brittney Griner prisoner swap negotiations are going to go quiet again.

Brittney Griner needs to be freed from her Russian prison as soon as possible.

Russian authorities sentenced the Phoenix Mercury star to 9 years in prison for what they called “drug possession and smuggling.” Authorities arrested Griner at the airport back in February after they found less than a gram of cannabis oil on her person upon arrival in the country. She’s been in jail ever since.

Though Griner has that horrifying sentence staring her down, there is still hope in freeing her. It’s not time to give up. The possibility of a prisoner swap is still on the table, as we detailed here on Thursday after her sentencing.

However, to get it done, the United States will reportedly need to keep things on the hush.

The Kremlin is apparently open to a prisoner swap, per the Associated Press, but has “strongly warned” against publicizing any negotiations that are happening.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said communication about a swap should only happen via a dedicated Russia-U.S. channel that President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to set up in June 2021.

Here’s exactly what he had to say.

“If the Americans again try to engage in public diplomacy and make loud statements about their intention to take certain steps, it’s their business, I would even say their problem,” Lavrov said. “The Americans often have trouble observing agreements on calm and professional work.”

None of that sounds great. At all. So it needs to be quiet on this front so things can get done and Griner can go free.

Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken are both in Cambodia right now for a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It’s an opportunity for the two sides to have discussions, but it’s unclear if anything will happen from this. And, honestly, with the way things are looking, we probably won’t know until it’s done.

All we can do is be patient and keep pulling for Griner. It’s frustrating, certainly. But the rest is out of our hands. Let’s just hope it gets done soon.

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