Speaking at the trial on July 27, Griner said she still did not know how the cartridges ended up in her bag. "We are not giving up. We deliver your empty moving and storage container to your residence or place of business. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre expressed gratitude that Saudi Arabia and other countries had raised the issue but said the talks were between Russia and the United States. And its not the only choice. WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from Russian custody in a prisoner swap. (Photo by Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP) (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images). Merced County The swap was a rare instance of cooperation between the United States and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. Griner, 32, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and star of the Women's National Basketball Association's Phoenix Mercury, was arrested on Feb. 17 at a Moscow airport after vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is banned in Russia, were found in her luggage. Where it gets complicated is there is no evidence that Russian Premier League basketball is remotely as popular as the WNBA. The L.A. Times reported the late founder of Spartak, Shabtai Kalmanovich, appeared to make little money off the franchise that recruited Americans like Bird and Taurasi. A Russian mining corporation and its billionaire owner Iskandar Makhmudov funds the club where Griner competed, UMMC Ekaterinburg. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred.". "These past few months have been hell for Brittney," and for her wife, family and teammates, Biden said. All The Space You Need Brittney Griner runs up court during a U.S. women's basketball gold-medal game against Japan at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug. 8, 2021. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre expressed gratitude that Saudi Arabia and other countries had raised the issue but said the talks were between Russia and the United States. For experts on the Russian security services, Moscow's lasting interest in Bout hint strongly at Russian intelligence ties. Keep For As Long As You need She was charged with drug smuggling for possessing vape cartridges with cannabis oil. A week into Brittney Griners trial in Russian court, the American basketball star pleaded guilty to carrying cannabis oil in her luggage and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. "These past few months have been hell for Brittney," and for her wife, family and teammates, Biden said. Since the 2022 season ended in September, W.N.B.A. We go over there to supplement our incomes, and quite frankly, we go over there to maintain our game.. The swap was a rare instance of cooperation between the United States and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. Griner plays for the Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg. She felt sorry for me, being so dumb. Brittney Griner, a W.N.B.A. Griner, 32, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and star of the Women's National Basketball Association's Phoenix Mercury, was arrested on Feb. 17 at a Moscow airport after vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is banned in Russia, were found in her luggage. March 7, 2022, 4:11 PM PST. American basketball player Brittney Griner has been moved to a penal colony in Russia, her lawyers said, after a court rejected her appeal of a nine-year prison In February, Russian authorities detained Brittney Griner, an American basketball player, on drug charges, after she was stopped at an airport near Moscow. April 26, 2022, 5:00 AM. The NBA is projecting $10 billion in revenue this season, according to Commissioner Adam Silver. All rights reserved. Easy Access. Store on-site or have us haul your loaded container to its final destination. Cherelle Griner spoke to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris the day before Brittney Griner pleaded guilty; afterward, she told The New York Times in a statement that she would remain concerned and outspoken until her wife returned home. off-seasons. Saturday marked the fourth anniversary of Cherelle Griner and Brittney Griner, a basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury. The financial incentives are compelling. Thats down from 89 players who went overseas during the off-seasons of 2017 to 2018, but close to half of the leagues 144 players in total.. Cash's former college and WNBA teammate Sue Bird also tweeted a reaction in the morning. Christine fell in love with sports at a young age and looks to bring that competitive spirit to each of her stories. Pay in the WNBA is lower than in the NBA partly because the season is much shorter, with 36 games compared to 82 in the NBA, and the brands have considerably different earning power. UConn's Geno Auriemma to coach Huskies days after mother's death. At a news conference Thursday morning, President Biden said Griner was on a plane and would be home within 24 hours. star had been detained in Russia on drug charges for nearly 10 months before she was released in a prisoner swap on Thursday. San Joaquin County. For experts on the Russian security services, Moscow's lasting interest in Bout hint strongly at Russian intelligence ties. In five games this season, she has Brittney Griner, an eight-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, was found guilty of drug charges in Russia and sentenced to nine and "There was no mediation involved," she said. We will never give up," he said. The W.N.B.A. She currently plays for UMMC Ekaterinburg, a women's basketball team that competes in the Russian Premier League. UConn women's basketball players show their support. Brittney Griner played for the U.S. Olympic basketball team in August 2021. one of Russias most notorious penal colonies, Whelan was not included in the eventual prisoner swap, W.N.B.A. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Its yet another shocking turn of events in the detention of Griner, who is simply one of the best female basketball players alive, and has been in Russian custody since the outbreak of the ground war in Ukraine. She won a W.N.B.A. Last month, she was taken to a penal colony in the Russian region of Mordovia to serve her prison sentence. American basketball player Brittney Griner, 31, was detained in Russia after local authorities said they found vape cartridges in her suitcase. Containers are delivered to your business or home, eliminating you from renting a truck and mini storage for your project. This is a BETA experience. spokeswoman said that all the others besides Griner had left Russia and Ukraine by March 5 with the war underway.). Or, we'll take care of driving your Casey container to your new home or business. For almost two decades, Bout had been the world's most notorious arms dealer, selling weapons to rogue states, rebels and warlords in Africa, Asia and South America. Former Husky Stefanie Dolson was among the first to react in the morning. "This is a gift to Vladimir Putin, and it endangers American lives," House of Representatives Republican leader Kevin McCarthy wrote on social media, referring to Russia's president. Reporting by Nandita Bose and Humeyra Pamuk; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and Moira Warburton; Writing by Jeff Mason and Steve Holland; Editing by Will Dunham, Heather Timmons, Frances Kerry, Nick Macfie and Daniel Wallis, Saudi foreign minister: 'All bets off' if Iran gets nuclear weapon, Jersey blast toll rises to five as hope of finding survivors fades, Lockerbie plane bombing suspect taken into U.S. custody, TC Energy says has not found cause of Keystone oil pipeline leak, Exclusive: Odesa grain traders don't plan to suspend grain exports, British PM Sunak faces new demands from his fractious party, Erdogan discusses Black Sea grain deal with Putin, Zelenskiy, Britain's foreign minister: Ukraine peace talks can't be used as cover for Russian rearmament, Most Gulf markets retreat on Fed rate woes, oil price slump, See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays, Basketball star detained in February, got 9-year sentence, Griner traveled to UAE and then on toward U.S. in swap, Jailed arms dealer Bout was one of world's most wanted men. Cherelle Griner, who said she was "overwhelmed with emotions," thanked Biden and his administration. "In the middle of the night they simply woke me up and said 'Get your things together'," he said. season, about 70 players decided to play with international teams instead of resting during the off-season, with more than a dozen of them competing in Russia and Ukraine. They have numerous choices to make lots of additional money.. She was sentenced to a penal colony for nine years, near the 10-year maximum. The maximum salary in 2022 for W.N.B.A. (Photo by Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP) (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images), Dallas Mavericks Touched Base With The Detroit Pistons About Trading For Nerlens Noel, New York Yankees Prioritize Logic In Pursuit Of Free Agent Carlos Rodn, Breaking Down The San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Situation After Jimmy Garoppolo Injury, Manchester United Women Lay Down Champions League Credentials With First Point Away To City Rivals, Pittsburgh Steelers Rookie George Pickens Tantrum Doesnt Bother Mike Tomlin, ROH Final Battle 2022 Results: Winners, News And Notes On December 10. Another UConn great, Swin Cash, showed support on Twitter. "I made it. "This is a gift to Vladimir Putin, and it endangers American lives," House of Representatives Republican leader Kevin McCarthy wrote on social media, referring to Russia's president. He said in his announcement, without providing details, that the Russians treated Whelan's case differently. Sign up for theFortune Features email list so you dont miss our biggest features, exclusive interviews, and investigations. Bout was one of the world's most wanted men before his arrest in 2008 in Thailand in a sting operation by U.S. agents who recorded him offering to sell missiles to people he believed were Colombian guerrillas. Brittney Griner released from Russian prison: UConn women's basketball players react on Twitter. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. The Biden administration tried for months to strike a deal with Russia to free Griner. Brittney Griner arrived in Russia in February to play basketball, one of the sports biggest stars. UConn women's basketball players show their support. Griners detention first became public on in March. For almost two decades, Bout had been the world's most notorious arms dealer, selling weapons to rogue states, rebels and warlords in Africa, Asia and South America. - Griner was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in February 2022 just days before Moscow launched its offensive in Ukraine. "I made it. The arrangements came together within the past 48 hours after Biden had made the decision to exchange Bout, the White House said. Biden lamented that the United States was unable to win Whelan's release. He was shot dead in a contract killing in 2009. We never stopped pushing for her release.". Griner, held since a week before the invasion of Ukraine, traveled from a Russian penal colony to Moscow, then to Abu Dhabi airport in the United Arab Emirates where the exchange took place, with the two walking past each other on the tarmac, U.S. officials said. Brittney Griner has been released from Russia detention in a prisoner swap, as the United Stated has agreed to releaseRussian arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for the WNBA star. It's a Sign of Trouble. Though the WNBA generates $60 million in revenue annually, Silver said in 2018 that its costs exceed that amount, and the league has lost $10 million on average each year that it has existed., This offseason, 70 WNBA players went abroad. All rights reserved. The only reason you go there is for money, Taurasi said on an ESPN podcast that aired in 2020. That is the only reason you leave your country to go to a different country to play basketball., When 60 Minutes asked Bird about Russian billionaire Shabtai Kalmanovich recruiting her for Spartak Moscow, she replied, Im a millionaire because of it., WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has pushed back on the theory that playing overseas is strictly a financial decision. The UAE president and Saudi crown prince led mediation efforts that secured Griner's release, a UAE-Saudi joint statement said. The WNBA Players Association did not respond to Fortunes request for comment. Rebecca Lobo, former UConn star and current ESPN analyst, also tweeted her support forGriner, along with her wife Cherelle. U.S. officials spoke to him on Thursday about the Griner deal. BG and I will remain committed to the work of getting every American home," she added, using her wife's initials. The swap was arranged after months of talks during a time of high tension between the two countries WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from Russian custody in a prisoner swap. For female players, the salaries offered by foreign leagues can be a real draw. "What a 'stupid' and unpatriotic embarrassment for the USA!!!" The United States has negotiated the release of Brittney Griner from a Russian penal colony in exchange for international arms dealer Viktor Bout, President Joe Biden confirmed on Thursday. Biden who had been under growing political pressure to free the Americans was said to have backed the offer. Russia rejected Biden's attempt to gain the freedom of Paul Whelan, a former Marine also held in Russia, forcing Biden to opt to get only Griner out. Anyone can read what you share. Some Republicans criticized the Democratic president for making the swap. The Ukrainian port of Odesa was not operating on Sunday after the latest Russian attack on the region's energy system, Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky said, but added that grains traders were not expected to suspend exports. WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been released in a prisoner swap with Russia in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout and was I was arrested for a crime that never occurred.". Griner is one of the best basketball players in the world. She was arrested at an airport near Moscow in February when By Tania Ganguli,Jonathan Abrams and Emma Bubola. Terms & Conditions. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. How good is the Big East Conference this season? Griner was one of a number of American women's basketball stars who had played for professional teams in Russia. Former President Donald Trump derided the exchange without Whelan. 1 team, CT's rarest bat wins endangered species protections in court. This is a carousel. Other major WNBA stars have spent their offseasons overseas, including Liz Cambage, Diana Taurasi, and Sue Bird, who is married to the outspoken soccer star Megan Rapinoe, who led a campaign for pay equity in a historic lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation. Dec. 8, 2022 Updated: Dec. 8, 2022 1:27 p.m. WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been released in a prisoner swap with Russia in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout and was heading home on Thursday, ending what President Joe Biden called months of "hell" for her and her wife. But some are asking why Griner, a successful American athlete, was even in Russia during a time of upheaval. In the weeks before Griners trial began in July, Cherelle Griner had publicly expressed frustration with Biden for her wifes continued detention. [1/14]Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Basketball - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v United States - August 4, 2021. "We are not giving up. Griner has played with the team since 2015 during the WNBA offseason. BG would wholeheartedly love to not go overseas, Cherelle Griner told ABC News in late May. Our containers make any commercial or household project cost effective. No one even bothered to sell game tickets, he told the newspaper, but Kalmanovich put the players in a gated house, gave them money to dine at the best restaurants, and sent them on vacations., Henry Abbott, another former ESPN basketball writer who now runs the digital media company True Hoop, ran the money-laundering rumors by a source: I asked a veteran of the game, and she laughed, asked if I really didnt know. Nevertheless, she was sentenced on Aug. 4 to nine years in a penal colony. And I want to thank all of the hard working public servants across my administration, who worked tirelessly to secure a release.. Several American media reports suggest that the Russian fortunes being sunk into womens basketball are part of a money laundering scheme.. Just because, you know, she cant make enough money in the WNBA, like, to sustain her life.. Biden said it was his job as president "to make the hard calls and protect American citizens everywhere.". A conditional grant of clemency for Bout was not completed until Thursday, after U.S. officials in the UAE verified Griner had arrived there. She had been found guilty in August of trying to smuggle illegal narcotics into Russia and was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony. He said in his announcement, without providing details, that the Russians treated Whelan's case differently. CNN Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and seven-time Womens National Basketball Association All-Star with the Phoenix Mercury basketball But the question remains: What was one of the crown jewels of American basketball doing in Russia? Brittney Griner of the United States reacts REUTERS/Brian Snyder//File Photo. W.N.B.A. The two countries also swapped prisoners in April when Russia released former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed and the United States released Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko. Known as "BG" to basketball fans, she has played for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia during the WNBA winter off-season since 2014. Speaking at the trial on July 27, Griner said she still did not know how the cartridges ended up in her bag. Brittney Griner situation explained: WNBA All-Star released fro Professional womens basketball player Brittney Griner has been transferred to a Russian penal colony, according to a statement issued by her legal team Wednesday. (A W.N.B.A. "And the president decided that it was important to at least bring Brittney home now and continue to work on getting Paul back, too.". As of 2015, UMMC Ekaterinburg was paying Taurasi a reported $1.5 million per season. Stanislaus County Griner, an All-Star with the Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was detained following her arrest at Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport in Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone with Griner from the Oval Office, along with Griner's wife, Cherelle. The swap was arranged after months of talks during a time of high tension between the two countries after Russia's February invasion of Ukraine. ESPN's Holly Rowe shared a photo of UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma, who worked with Griner on the U.S. Olympic team. Russian authorities detained Griner, a seven-time WNBA All-Star for the Phoenix Mercury and an NCAA champion at Baylor University, at Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport in February after claiming to find two vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her carry-on luggage. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, the EuroLeague suspended all Russian teams and US and WNBA officials began calling players out of the country. March 7, 2022, 4:11 PM PST. Our containers allow you to do your move at your own pace making do-it-yourself moving easy and stress free. In May, the U.S. State Department said Griner had been wrongfully detained and that government officials who dealt with hostage affairs would work to secure her release. The W.N.B.A.s players and fans pushed furiously for Brittney Griners release from a Russian penal colony, but her plight also highlighted gender inequities in sports. Her next court hearing is scheduled for July 14, and Griners legal team said they expect the trial to conclude at the beginning of August, according to Reuters. A Biden administration official said the United States had proposed different options for Whelan's release and that Russia's "sham espionage" charges against him were the reason it treated his case differently. A Moscow court has reportedly extended WNBA basketball player Brittney Griners arrest till May 19, which could extend her detention for 63 more days. Cherelle Griner, who said she was "overwhelmed with emotions," thanked Biden and his administration. Rebecca Lynn Hammon (born March 11, 1977) (Russian: ) is an American-Russian professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces of the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA). A week into Brittney Griners trial in Russian court, the American basketball star pleaded guilty to carrying cannabis oil in her luggage and could face up to 10 years in Griners wife believes the opportunity to supplement her income absolutely played into the basketball stars decision to head to Russia in the first place. BG and I will remain committed to the work of getting every American home," she added, using her wife's initials. Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for weeks as it escalates its war on Ukraine. Griner's teammates and other WNBA players cheered her release. By Deon J. Hampton. You may opt-out by. The reality is, shes over there because of a gender issue pay inequity, Ogwumike, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, told GMA. (Reporting by Nandita Bose and Humeyra Pamuk; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and Moira Warburton; Writing by Jeff Mason and Steve Holland; Editing by Will Dunham, Heather Timmons, Frances Kerry, Nick Macfie and Daniel Wallis), NASA's Orion capsule blazes home from test flight to moon, President of the United States since 2021, A baby whose anti-vax parents rejected heart surgery over fear of 'blood that is tainted' had the life-saving surgery anyway after a court intervened, Nurses at Atlanta hospital under fire over TikTok video mocking maternity patients. Offers may be subject to change without notice. How the lineup may look, 1 to 4 inches of snow expected Sunday in CT, weather service says, CIAC football finals recap: FCIAC, SCC each crown two champions, Bear hibernating in tree near West Hartford Center will not be moved, officials say, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds visit CT's Essex Steam Train, Dixon, Greenwich pickoff five passes, roll through Fairfield Prep for second Class LL championship in five years, What UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma said about Brittney Griner's release from Russian prison, CT has poured millions into school security since Sandy Hook, Jacobs: Inspired Greenwich makes emphatic case to be No. Griner was making $1 million-$1.5 million playing for oligarch-funded UMMC Ekaterinburg, a superpower that has long shelled out top dollar for the worlds best womens players. We never stopped pushing for her release, and took painstaking and intense negotiations. Biden said it was his job as president "to make the hard calls and protect American citizens everywhere.". All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. Griner was traveling to Russia to rejoin her professional team, UMMC Yekaterinburg, which she played for during the W.N.B.A. Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. 2022 Fortune Media IP Limited. They also thanked former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who traveled to Moscow in an effort to win the release of Griner and Whelan, but who did not act on behalf of the government. After the 2021 W.N.B.A. I didnt want to break the law, Griner told a judge Thursday at the second hearing of her trial, according to Reuters. Here is what we know about Griners detention in Russia. Some Republicans criticized the Democratic president for making the swap. - Griner was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in February 2022 just days before Moscow launched its offensive in Ukraine. She arrived in a courtroom outside Moscow on Friday as something But there was no intent. pic.twitter.com/0GeDwGvvXw, Brittney Griner released from Russian prison: UConn women's basketball players react on Twitter. Griner was released in a prisoner swap that involved Womens Basketball World Reacts To Brittney Griners Release From Russian Penal Colony More From Forbes Dec 9, 2022,07:20am EST Dec 9, 2022,07:00am EST Golf We can provide inside storage at our facility or you can keep it on site at your home or business. The wife of basketball player Brittney Griner said the imprisoned star tried calling her via the U.S. Embassy in Russia nearly a dozen times Saturday, but the U.S. government never connected the call. Adding in marketing deals and bonuses, the WNBA says its players can make up to $650,000, while the average base salary in the NBA exceeds $7 million. This is a day we've worked toward for a long time, Biden said Thursday. US basketball player Brittney Griner (C) is escorted by police before a hearing during her trial on [+] charges of drug smuggling, in Khimki, outside Moscow on August 2, 2022. The two countries also swapped prisoners in April when Russia released former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed and the United States released Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko. Did they get better sponsors, sell more tickets I wondered? Dozens of male American players, including some with N.B.A. She is originally from Houston, Texas and spent the past two years covering the Oklahoma City Thunder. Then announced: Its money laundering, Abbott tweeted in March.. Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for weeks as it escalates its war on Ukraine. Griner reportedly makes $1 million a year overseas playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg in the Russian Premier League. "Today my family is whole. The news was met with overwhelming joy in the womens basketball community, which has been working to keep Griners case in the public eye and talking about her plight at every available opportunity. Brittney Griner Paige Bueckers' support of Brittney Griner coming home (Screenshot: Instagram/@paigebueckers). All Rights Reserved. S&P Index data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. The Russia women's national basketball team is administered by the Russian Basketball Federation. The Russian Federal Customs Service said that a sniffer dog had prompted it to search Griners carry-on luggage, and that it had found vape cartridges containing hashish oil. So today my family is home but as you all are aware, there's so many other families who are not whole, Cherelle Griner said. Brittney Griner, 32, was exchanged for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer known as the Merchant of Death, who had been serving a 25-year prison sentence for conspiring to sell weapons to people who said they planned to kill Americans. Brittney Griner, the 6ft 9in WNBA star, has been held in Moscow since February after she was detained by immigration officials after allegedly attempting to enter Russia while in possession of illegal contraband. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. 20 Maryland: What you need to know, How Ins Bettencourt secured UConn's win with late free throws, UConn men's basketball team 'connected' on and off the court, UConn women's basketball could have seven players available Sunday vs. Maryland. Even as Biden celebrates Griners freedom, he may be hard-pressed to justify the release of a notorious figure such as Bout, and the deal could risk creating an incentive for the arrest or abduction of Americans abroad. International womens teams, which tend to have more government and corporate financial support than those in the W.N.B.A., can pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a season, and sometimes more than $1 million. And Kalmanovich, the man who helped Sue Bird attain millionaire status? In a written statement, Griner's family extended their "sincere gratitude" to Biden, and said they were praying for Whelan's release. Renee Montgomery added to the sentiment with simple message. "Today my family is whole. No Rental Trucks You are so loved! After the announcement, Griners family, friends and teammates began loudly proclaiming their support for her and urging the Biden administration to work to free her. Just give us a ring at (209) 531-9010 for more info. Brittney Griner runs up court during a U.S. women's basketball gold-medal game against Japan at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug. 8, 2021. The Biden administration was excited Thursday to announce that it had reached a deal with Russia to free WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner from a Russian jail, but critics on social media blasted Biden for giving up a dangerous Russian arms dealer in exchange for a mere basketball player and leaving a U.S. Marine languishing in a Russian jail on top of it. "In the middle of the night they simply woke me up and said 'Get your things together'," he said. A person briefed on the negotiations said that in June, the United States offered to trade Bout for Griner and another American, the former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. players have shied away from playing in Russia in favor of playing for teams in Turkey, Spain and other countries. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. Trump wrote on social media. In 2016, ESPNs Kate Fagan visited Griner and Taurasi in Russia and observed near-empty arenas, cheap tickets, and an apparent lack of any significant culture around watching womens basketball as signs that suspicious funds were bankrolling Russian teams. While fans immediately rallied around her on social media, her family and friends initially remained quiet about the situation out of fear that drawing attention to her would politicize the case. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. The exchange did not include Paul Whelan, still being held by the Russian government, and a United States citizen considered wrongfully detained by the U.S. government. Detained American basketball player Brittney Griner was found to be in good condition by a U.S. Embassy official in Moscow who was granted access to her on Griner's flight is expected to arrive in San Antonio, Texas. 2021 Casey Portable Storage. But she still played for her Russian team, UMMC Yekaterinburg, for several years during W.N.B.A. Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, July 7th. Top players like Brittney Griner can earn quadruple their base salary in the WNBA by playing in Russia over the winter off-season, according to the Associated Press. Contact US : Nneka Ogwumike, the head of the WNBA Players Association, agreed in an interview with Good Morning America that financial incentives compelled Griner to spend the last seven years in Russia for the winter despite safety concerns and political tensions. They also thanked former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who traveled to Moscow in an effort to win the release of Griner and Whelan, but who did not act on behalf of the government. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. "This is a day we've worked toward for a long time. players was $228,094, while the top N.B.A. Bout was variously dubbed "the merchant of death" and "the sanctions buster" for his ability to get around arms embargoes. Russia's foreign ministry said it traded Griner for Bout, 55, a Russian citizen who in 2012 was given a 25-year prison sentence by a U.S. court on charges related to his arms-dealing career. players are paid tens of millions of dollars. UConn's Nika Mhl in concussion protocol, unavailable vs Maryland, Shaban's 5 TDs leads Barlow to first state football crown, Dixon, Greenwich claim Class LL title over Fairfield Prep, Groff, New Canaan rally to beat Maloney for Class L championship, Notre Dame-West Haven rides defense, Piechota to Class M title, No. Russia rejected Biden's attempt to gain the freedom of Paul Whelan, a former Marine also held in Russia, forcing Biden to opt to get only Griner out. For the Mercury, her salary was $221,450 for the 2021-22 season, making her one of the WNBAs highest-paid players. I need time to prepare. Griner said in court that she had packed in a rush and the vape cartridges made it into her bag by accident, according to Russian media reports.. She won a W.N.B.A. Griners complicated detention has prompted worries that her high-profile status as an American athlete has made her a political pawn as tensions escalate between the U.S. and Russia.. Nevertheless, she was sentenced on Aug. 4 to nine years in a penal colony. Biden lamented that the United States was unable to win Whelan's release. Many American female basketball players competed with high-paying Russian teams in the time before the war with Ukraine. Bout was one of the world's most wanted men before his arrest in 2008 in Thailand in a sting operation by U.S. agents who recorded him offering to sell missiles to people he believed were Colombian guerrillas. [2] The team has participated in four FIBA World Championship for Women and their best finish has been a silver medal in 1998, 2002 and 2006. Griner was one of a number of American women's basketball stars who had played for professional teams in Russia. Id like to give my testimony later. Griner was seen as a hostage held by President Vladimir V. Putins government as Russia was subjected to a broad swath of international sanctions in response to its invasion of Ukraine a week after her arrest. Leading up to her guilty plea, Griner publicly pressured American President Joe Biden to intervene in a letter sent through her representatives. On Monday, U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner appealed to President Joe Biden to secure her release from jail in Russia, admitting in a handwritten letter that she The State Department said in May that Griner had been wrongfully detained. Elon Musk is selling Twitter HQs espresso machines, Eames chairs, and sculptures in a giant auction, Elon Musks Neuralink staff claim his demands to rush brain implant trials led to the needless deaths of 1,500 animals, Men are dropping out of the labor force because theyre upset about their social status, according to a new study, CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been released in a prisoner swap with Russia in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout and was heading home on Thursday, ending what President Joe Biden called months of "hell" for her and her wife. "And the president decided that it was important to at least bring Brittney home now and continue to work on getting Paul back, too.". Russia has freed basketball star Brittney Griner in a prisoner swap, with the US releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, US officials say. A look back at recent history suggests that prominent female athletes, especially basketball players, can just get paid better in Russia than they can at home. Once delivered, take all the time you need to load your container. Even as she expressed joy about the imminent return of her wife, Cherelle Griner took time to advocate for Whelan. A Biden administration official said the United States had proposed different options for Whelan's release and that Russia's "sham espionage" charges against him were the reason it treated his case differently. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice| Do Not Sell My Personal Information| Ad Choices And so BG is not here to say this but I will gladly speak on her behalf and say that BG and I will remain committed to the work of getting every American home.. Griner was arrested back in February and charged with possession of cannabis-derived oil cartridges. "The choice before us was one or none," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CBS News. Bout was variously dubbed "the merchant of death" and "the sanctions buster" for his ability to get around arms embargoes. We Do The Driving off-season. Griner's teammates and other WNBA players cheered her release. Griner, 32, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and star of the Women's National Basketball Association's Phoenix Mercury, was arrested on Feb. 17 at a Moscow US basketball player Brittney Griner (C) is escorted by police before a hearing during her trial on [+] charges of drug smuggling, in Khimki, outside Moscow on August 2, 2022. Biden said Griner was in good spirits and had displayed "grit and incredible dignity" throughout the ordeal. American officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of detaining U.S. citizens on dubious pretexts. Ms Griner has been held for over four Griners appeal of her conviction was denied in October, and in November she was moved to one of Russias most notorious penal colonies. But Whelan was not included in the eventual prisoner swap, despite months of efforts by U.S. diplomats to include him in the deal. Hashish oil is a marijuana concentrate that has a high concentration of the psychoactive chemical THC, and it is commonly sold in cartridges that are used in vape pens. Brittney Griner, the American basketball superstar detained in Russia, has written to US President Joe Biden pleading for help. Biden said Griner was in good spirits and had displayed "grit and incredible dignity" throughout the ordeal. Whelan told CNN in an interview: "I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. "The choice before us was one or none," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CBS News. Trump wrote on social media. The leagues average base salary this season is $120,600 and the top WNBA salary is $228,000. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. We will never give up," he said. Brittney Griner, a W.N.B.A. Russia continues to claim the arrest of a prominent American citizen has nothing to do with its invasion of its neighboring country. Whelan told CNN in an interview: "I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. sales@caseyportablestorage.com. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. Man zip-tied, set on fire by California car thieves after stopping to help seemingly stranded woman: Report, Heavy rain, wind, snow blows through California into Sierra, Viktor Bout reveals what he said to Brittney Griner as the two met on the tarmac during their exchange, US releases notorious arms dealer in prisoner swap for Brittney Griner, Griner case latest in string of high-profile prisoner swaps, Phoenix Suns 'grateful' for Brittney Griner's return to United States, Putin says more US-Russia prisoner exchanges possible after Griner release. FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone with Griner from the Oval Office, along with Griner's wife, Cherelle. Christine Butterfield. Shes finally COMING HOME!!!! WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner reacts as she listens to the verdict standing in a cage in a courtroom in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. "This is a day we've worked toward for a long time. Michael Crowley, Lara Jakes and Michael D. Shear contributed reporting. Former President Donald Trump derided the exchange without Whelan. Among the most outspoken athletes through Griner's ordeal was UConn legend Breanna Stewart, who has been tweeting daily that Griner has been 'wrongfully detained in Russia' while tagging the White House, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. What We Know About Brittney Griners Release From Russia, https://www.nytimes.com/article/brittney-griner-russia.html. championship with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014 and has won two Olympic gold medals with the U.S. womens national basketball team. June 14, 2022 A Russian court on Tuesday extended the pretrial detention of the W.N.B.A. The Biden administration was excited Thursday to announce that it had reached a deal with Russia to free WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner from a Russian Griner was released from detention Thursday. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!!!! Griner, held since a week before the invasion of Ukraine, traveled from a Russian penal colony to Moscow, then to Abu Dhabi airport in the United Arab Emirates where the exchange took place, with the two walking past each other on the tarmac, U.S. officials said. By Deon J. Hampton. As Griner was on a flight bound for Texas, Bout arrived in Moscow and hugged his mother and wife after stepping onto the tarmac, television images showed. The outdated view is essentially that the only choice for W.N.B.A. Countries with tense relationships with the U.S. are more often the same ones that offer the most to Americas basketball greats. In a written statement, Griner's family extended their "sincere gratitude" to Biden, and said they were praying for Whelan's release. She had pleaded guilty at her trial saying she used the cartridges to relieve pain from sports injuries and had made an "honest mistake". She was charged with drug smuggling for possessing vape cartridges with cannabis oil. 6 UConn women at No. The decision to exchange Bout was a fraught one, but Biden and his team did everything possible to bring Griner home, and ultimately they have succeeded in this effort. A spokesperson for the WNBA was not immediately available for comment Friday. In her spare time she enjoys working out, exploring and watching basketball. U.S. officials spoke to him on Thursday about the Griner deal. We'll pick up your loaded container and bring it to one of our local storage facilities. experience, are still choosing to play in Russia. star and two-time Olympic gold medalist who had been detained in Russia since February on drug charges, was released from custody on Griner's flight is expected to arrive in San Antonio, Texas. We never stopped pushing for her release.". star and two-time Olympic gold medalist who had been detained in Russia since February on drug charges, was released from custody on Thursday in a prisoner swap with the United States. Griner was taken into Russian custody on drug charges in February. The news of her release broke Thursday morning and UConn star Paige Bueckers said on her Instagram story that it was the "best news to wake up to.". Even so, the level of excitement over the joyful news permeated every corner of the womens basketball world. That's the main thing," Bout said on Russian television, adding he had not been told what would happen. 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