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UNCASVILLE, Conn. – It started with a few isolated shouts of “BG!” echoed throughout Mohegan Sun Arena during a 42-second moment of silence for Brittney Greener, the WNBA star was sentenced Thursday to 9 1/2 years in prison in Moscow.
The length of time matched Griner’s jersey number. No. 42 was missing another game here as her team, the Phoenix Mercury, lost 77-64 to the Connecticut Sun.
Soon the scattered shouts turned into a loud chant of “Bring her home!” repeated about a dozen times, invading the silence. In the stands, fans held hands; on center court, the teams did the same.
Then the 42 seconds were up. But the plight of Griner, who was detained in Russia on charges of illegally smuggling vape cartridges containing cannabis, remained the focus here.
The decision did not surprise legal analysts who have followed the case and are familiar with Russia’s criminal justice system, but it nonetheless unnerved people inside and outside the arena.
It was “a really emotional day for our whole team, but we know we didn’t put our hopes on the Russian legal system,” Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard told reporters before the game. “We just want her home.”
Mercury star Skyler Diggins-Smith said reporters’ questions about “our real-life friend” languishing behind bars “just add to our trauma.” “No one even wanted to play today,” Diggins-Smith said.
On the stand, Elin Rutstrom of Melrose, Mass., said she and her partner, Kara Amon, talked about the specific risks Griner faced in Russia when they heard about the sentence earlier Thursday.
“We were just talking about how horrible it is for a gay woman of color” to be imprisoned in Russia, Rutstrom said. “She’s a political pawn.” Ammon and Rutstrom praised the WNBA for keeping Greener’s plight in the forefront.
After news of the verdict spread, Svobodna BG’s messages resonated on Twitter and among sports stars.
Atlanta Dream’s Erika Wheeler tweeted: “My heart goes out to BG’s family and wife! Today hit a slightly different man as it is our sister! I can’t even imagine how her family feels! I pray that God keeps her psyche safe, but more importantly she continues to fight BG. … I have to bring you home!”
Lexie Brown, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, tweeted: “Anyone who goes back to Russia to play is crazy.” She added: “It breaks my heart to see her right now.”
The commissioners of the NBA and WNBA shared a joint statement. “Today’s conviction and sentence are unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected, and Brittney Griner remains wrongfully imprisoned,” said Adam Silver and Kathy Engelbert. “The commitment of the WNBA and the NBA to her safe return is unwavering and we are hopeful that we are nearing the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States.”
Speaking Aug. 4, WNBA superstar Brittney Greener said she had no intention of breaking Russian law after a small amount of cannabis oil was found in her purse. (Video: The Washington Post)
Terry Carmichael Jackson, executive director of the Women’s National Basketball Association, called the decision “unfair.” That’s a terrible blow. Any conversations [Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken] and his Russian counterpart must have, we believe they have them with all deliberate speed. Because it’s time. It’s just time.”
Elizabeth Rudd, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, called Greener’s conviction and sentence “a miscarriage of justice.” She spoke briefly, saying, “Secretary of State Blinken, President Biden’s national security team and the entire American government remain committed to returning Ms. Greener safely home to her family and friends.”
Biden called for her immediate release, saying, “Today, American citizen Brittney Greener was sentenced to prison, another reminder of what the world already knows: Russia wrongfully detained Brittney. This is unacceptable and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends and teammates.
You can’t just play with people’s lives like that. disgusting. Lord, cover Britney and her family. FREE BG ‼️
— Arike Ogunbowale (@Arike_O) August 4, 2022
Lindsay Kagawa Collas, Griner’s agent, called for a deal to be “done quickly” for her release and noted that American Paul Whalen is serving a 16-year sentence in Russia. He and Greener were mentioned as part of a prisoner swap.
“Today’s sentence for Brittney Greener was severe by Russian legal standards and proves what we’ve known all along, that Brittney was used as a political pawn,” Colas said. “We appreciate and continue to support the efforts of [Biden and Blinken] to quickly make a deal to bring Britney, Paul and all Americans home. The only goal is to bring Britney and Paul home, and as such we must use every tool available. We must remain focused and united. This is a time for compassion and a shared understanding that making a deal to get Americans home will be difficult, but it is urgent and the right thing to do.
“BG is an American. BG is an Olympian. BG is ALL-STAR. BG is a daughter, wife, friend,” tweeted Kari Champion, a former ESPN anchor. “BG is an American. BG IS IN A CAGE. BG is ours. Bring her home.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, president and founder of the National Action Network, called Griner a “political pawn” and went on to ask permission to take a delegation of clergy to visit Griner to assess her health.
“Sentencing Brittney Greener to nine years in prison is a moral outrage and legal cruelty in any court of law around the world.” In most places, including the United States, what she pleaded guilty to and was charged with would not even qualify as a misdemeanor. It is a shameful and dark day when global athletics is subject to politics rather than due process,” Sharpton said.
“Let’s not forget that Brittney Griner not only entertained and won the hearts of many Americans, but for seven years she entertained and won the hearts of many Russians while playing basketball there. That’s why her basketball coach and other players came and testified for her. She and Paul Whelan are clearly pawns in some global political chess game that has nothing to do with them. They must be released immediately.”
Free BG… let’s fight for her!!!!!!!
— MeekMill (@MeekMill) August 4, 2022
Negotiations for Griner’s release were initially quiet, but over time there have been more public calls for her release. Greener’s wife, Cheryl, has been increasingly outspoken in calling for Biden to take action, and the State Department reclassified Greener as “unlawfully detained” in May.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist and perennial All-Star with the Mercury, Greiner played for UMMC Yekaterinburg during the WNBA offseason and called Yekaterinburg his “second home” on Thursday. Excited about her bond with her teammates and the growing popularity of the sport among young girls, she explained through tears, “That’s why I kept coming back.”
The focus now turns to Greener’s release negotiations, which have been complicated by frosty relations between the United States and Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine. Last week, Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and urged him to accept a deal that included Griner and Whelan.
Whelan, who was arrested in 2018 and convicted of espionage in 2020, said he was bullied. The United States has not indicated whether it would offer Russian Viktor Bout, an arms trafficker who was arrested in a US special operation in Thailand in 2008, in exchange for their release.
Cindy Boren reported from Washington. Steven Burkholder reported from Connecticut.
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