As the WNBA season tips off next month, one of the league’s biggest stars is still detained overseas.
The Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, provided no update on Phoenix Mercury All-Star Brittney Griner Monday.
Griner, 31, has been imprisoned in Russia since January, after airport custom alleged to have found cannabis oil in her luggage. She could face ten years in prison if convicted and is believed to currently be in a labor camp.
Griner’s accolades on the court are vast and her impact on mental health awareness among athletes has been even greater. Griner has never shied away from being candid about her mental state. On the court, she is a two time Olympic Gold Medalist with Team USA, a WNBA champion and a three-time EuroLeague champion.
Griner has played in Russia since 2015, making over $2-million a year in Russia. The highest WNBA salary is $600,000.
“All of her accomplishments are far ahead of any male counterparts that you could really think of,” said Melissa Isaacson, a sportswriter and professor at Northwestern University in the US state of Illinois.
Unfortunately, it has been two months since her arrest, and there is little public knowledge of Griner’s circumstances. The US government, WNBA and Griner’s family have been quiet about her arrest. Last month, a Moscow court announced it would extend Griner’s arrest until May 19th.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki noted that it is “not typically constructive” to talk about Americans detained abroad when asked about Griner’s case. A state department representative told BBC that a consular officer had been granted a visit with Griner in March.
“We continue to insist that they allow consistent, timely consular access to all US citizen detainees in Russia,” the spokesman said in a statement. “We are closely engaged on this case and in frequent contact with Ms Griner’s legal team.”
Griner’s absence will be apparent as the WNBA season kicks off next month. The veteran was expected to play her eight season in the league alongside a loaded roster predicited to win the WNBA Finals.
Instead, her teammates, opponents and fans will be waiting for any update on Griner’s return home. Some of her peers spoke on the situation prior to the WNBA Draft, noting that what happened to Griner could have been “any of us.”
Like Griner, Stewart and many WNBA players go overseas to play and make quality income. They are paid nearly five times as much as they make in the WNBA in Russia.
“The big thing is the fact that we have to go over there,” said Seattle Storm player Breanna Stewart. “WNBA players need to be valued in their country and they won’t have to play overseas.”
The Beat @APU 