Tag: Brittney Griner

State Department officials met Monday …

State Department officials met Monday with representatives of Brittney Griner’s WNBA team about the Phoenix Mercury star’s monthslong detention in Russia and the Biden administration’s efforts to secure her release. The State Department confirmed the meeting, which involved officials from its specialized office that advocates for hostages and wrongfully detained Americans, but offered no additional details about what was said or who specifically attended.

Before Game 1 of the Finals, Silver …

Before Game 1 of the Finals, Silver announced that the NBA would be working with the U.S. government to try to “expedite” her case to bring her home as soon as possible. Silver explained Wednesday how the NBA got involved with Griner’s case. “Well, actually, what spurred us, you used the words ‘wrongfully detained,’ and so that is an official designation used by the U.S. government,” Silver said. “Initially, when she was detained, even though we all knew what was going on, we were told by the U.S. government to keep it a little bit more as a low-profile issue I think because they were hoping that Russia frankly wouldn’t see her as such a high-value asset, in which they would be looking to get something in return for her.”

Silver added that this official …

Silver added that this official classification is what allowed the NBA to get more involved in the situation. “Clearly now everyone understands how important she is, how well known she is in this country, how important she is in the WNBA,” Silver said. “At this point, I think for all of us, we have to bring as much attention to her case as possible, and get her home safely as quickly as possible.”

Rockets leaders show support in rally, prayer vigil for Brittney Griner

In a rally held on the steps of Toyota Center, multiple leaders for the Rockets showed their support Monday for Brittney Griner, a native Houstonian who is being detained in Russia.

In a rally and prayer vigil held Monday on the steps of Toyota Center, leaders for the Rockets showed their support for women’s basketball star Brittney Griner, a native Houstonian who is being detained in Russia.

Griner, a seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has been detained for 107 days after vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis were allegedly found in her luggage at an airport near Moscow. The U.S. State Department reclassified Griner as being “wrongfully detained” by the Russian government last month.

According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Rockets head coach Stephen Silas, assistant coach John Lucas, and president of business operations Gretchen Sheirr were among those in attendance.

“I proudly proclaim this day as Brittney Griner day in the city of Houston,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “Bring Brittney home.”

“This is someone who literally has given everything to this city, to this state and to this country, somebody who went to the Olympics in 2016 and 2020 and won the gold, somebody who seven times has been (an All-Star),” Turner said. “The WNBA is here. The NBA is here. People from all parts of our city are here. I just want to join the chorus to say, ‘Bring Brittney home. And bring here home now.’”

The complete story from Monday’s rally can be read in the Houston Chronicle, with video of the event available below. Former players Calvin Murphy, Moochie Norris, and Purvis Short were also present.

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LeBron James: We need to come together …

The Boston Celtics want WNBA star Brittney Griner free from Russian detention

The Celtics might be in the middle of trying to win an NBA title but are not about to turn a blind eye to Griner’s ongoing detention.

WNBA star Brittney Griner has found herself sucked into an international conflict, wrongfully detained in Russia according to the US State Department for several months now. And while her case remained a quiet one as those involved initially hoped to secure her release by not drawing attention to the case, that footing has changed in recent days.

And it isn’t just the Phoenix Mercury star’s inner circle working to get Griner freed, her cause has increasingly been taken up by her peers in the NBA and fans of the sports more generally. On Saturday, the Boston Celtics joined the ranks of those demanding her release, sporting tee-shirts reading “We are BG” on the front and a QR code that links to a petition demanding Griner’s release on the back.

The shirts came about through the efforts of NBA Player’s Union vice president and Celtics forward Grant Williams, a noted fan of the WNBA and supporter of a number of admirable causes off of the court.