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WNBA commissioner vows league ‘working very hard’ to bring Brittney Griner back from Russia
“That is an unimaginable state of affairs for BG to be in,” Cathy Engelbert mentioned. “She continues to have our full assist. Actually, we’re attempting every thing we are able to… “
NEW YORK — WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert mentioned the league is working very exhausting to assist carry Houston native Brittney Griner again to the USA from Russia the place she’s being held.
“I wish to take a second to reiterate the WNBA’s assist for Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner,” Engelbert mentioned earlier than the league’s draft began Monday evening. “Please know that getting her residence safely continues to be our prime precedence and whereas we face an awfully advanced problem, there may be power in group, particularly the WNBA.”
The video above initially aired on March 18.
Griner, one of many league’s largest stars, has been detained in Russia since arriving at a Moscow airport in mid-February. Russian authorities mentioned a search of her baggage revealed vape cartridges that allegedly contained oil derived from hashish, which might carry a most penalty of 10 years in jail.
Engelbert mentioned there will likely be a league-wide charity initiative spearheaded by the Mercury to assist Griner’s philanthropic mission, referred to as BG’s Coronary heart and Sole Shoe Drive. The drive has gathered new or gently used sneakers for homeless individuals within the Phoenix space.
“That is an unimaginable state of affairs for BG to be in,” Engelbert mentioned. “She continues to have our full assist. Actually, we’re attempting every thing we are able to, each angle, working together with her authorized illustration, her agent, elected leaders, the administration. Simply all people in our ecosystem to attempt to discover methods to get her residence safely and as rapidly as we are able to.”
In March, a U.S. official was granted entry to Griner and discovered her to be in “good situation,” the State Division mentioned Wednesday.
“We have been capable of examine on her situation, we’ll proceed to work very carefully together with her authorized staff, together with her broader community, to see to it that she is handled pretty,” U.S. State Division spokesman Ned Value told CNN.
Russia state media experiences Griner’s detention in a Russian jail has been prolonged via mid-Could, based on state media experiences within the nation.
