Phoenix Mercury middle Brittney Griner within the 2021 WNBA basketball finals. Griner is presently detained in Russia. Ralph Freso, Related Press
For a number of a long time, WNBA gamers have traveled to Russia within the offseason to compete due to increased salaries, however this yr they are going to be going elsewhere in gentle of Brittney Griner’s authorized woes, in keeping with The Related Press.
What occurred with Brittney Griner?
Griner is an American girls’s basketball star who was convicted of smuggling medicine intentionally into Russia. CNN stories that she has been sentenced to 9 years in jail.
In response to Fox Information, the American basketball participant introduced vape cartridges and hashish oil to Moscow. She mentioned to the court docket previous to her sentence, “I need to say once more that I had no intent on breaking any Russian legal guidelines. I had no intent. I didn't conspire or plan to commit this crime.”
The Biden administration has been negotiating to convey Griner again to America.
The place will WNBA gamers go?
A couple of dozen WNBA gamers went to Russia to compete final winter and none will return this yr. In response to the New York Publish, most of the gamers will relocate to different locations to compete this offseason.
Breanna Stewart, one in every of Griner’s teammate in Russia, will probably be going to Turkey to play this winter. “Truthfully my time in Russia has been great, however particularly with BG nonetheless wrongfully detained there, no one’s going to go there till she’s residence,” Stewart informed The Related Press.
Different gamers are going to compete in Israel, Spain, Italy and France, in keeping with The New York Occasions.