Who is Brittney Griner and what is her fate in Russia?
The Hindu
Brittney Griner, 31, is a two-time Olympic champion and star player in the Women’s National Basket
Brittney Griner, 31, is a two-time Olympic champion and star player in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WBNA).
Standing 206 cm (6 feet 9 inches) tall, the Texan was selected first overall by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2013 Women’s National Basketball Association (WBNA) draft.
Griner, known as “BG” to basketball fans, has played for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia during the WNBA offseason since 2014. The club has drawn other top U.S. basketball players including Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker.
Griner was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on Feb. 17 with vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage.
Marijuana is illegal in Russia for both medicinal and recreational purposes.
Griner was detained upon crossing customs to catch her flight to Ekaterinburg, a city 1,400 km (870 miles) east of Moscow.
She was flying there to join her team, UMMC Ekaterinburg, for the playoffs after spending time at home in the United States.
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