Russia arrests WNBA star Brittney Griner on cannabis charges

Russia announced Saturday that WNBA player Brittney Griner has been arrested for possession of cannabis vape cartridges, a crime that could see the all-star athlete face up to 10 years in prison. Griner’s arrest comes amid a war between Russia and Ukraine that began on February 24 with an invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s Customs Service said on Saturday that a basketball player from the United States was arrested after the cannabis vape cartridges were discovered in her luggage at Sheremetyevo Airport near Moscow, although Griner was not identified by name or identity The date of the arrest was not specified. Customs also released a video that appears to show Griner making her way through an airport security checkpoint.

The Russian news agency TASS then reported that the arrested player was Griner, who plays for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. Though the date of Griner’s arrest has not been released, media reported that she has been in custody since February. Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Griner’s agent, appeared to confirm reports of the arrest in a statement on Saturday.

“We are aware of the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representative in Russia, her family, her teams and the WNBA and NBA,” said Kagawa Colas. “As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to comment further on the details of her case, but can confirm that her mental and physical health remains our primary concern as we work to bring her home.”

WNBA Star Player

Griner is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, played on the 2014 Mercury’s League championship team, and was named a seven-time League All-Star. She was in Russia to play the winter basketball season, a practice many WNBA players have. She has played in Russia for the past seven seasons, earning more than $1 million a year, about four times her annual WNBA salary. On January 29, she played her last game with her team UMMC Ekaterinburg before the Russian league entered a two-week hiatus for the FIBA ​​World Cup qualifying tournaments.

“Brittney Griner has the full support of the WNBA, and our top priority is her speedy and safe return to the United States,” the league said in a statement Saturday.

More than a dozen WNBA players, including league MVP Jonquel Jones and two league champion Chicago Sky players Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley, have been to Ukraine and Russia this winter to play basketball. The WNBA announced on Saturday that all players except Griner had left the two warring countries. The players’ union also issued a statement of support on Monday.

“We are aware of the situation in Russia regarding one of our members, Brittney Griner. Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of BG,” the WNBAPA said. “On behalf of The 144, we send our love and support. We will continue to closely monitor her return to the US and look forward to her return.”

Russia and Ukraine at War

Griner’s arrest comes amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, possibly embroiling her in an ongoing diplomatic row between the United States and Russia. On Saturday, the day news of Griner’s arrest made headlines, the US State Department issued a travel advisory warning Americans traveling to Russia would not be able to help Americans in the country.

News of Griner’s arrest was quickly rebuked by US officials. Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who represents Griner’s hometown of Houston in the US House of Representatives, issued a statement over the weekend calling for her release.

“We know there have been some issues with vape cartridges and other items, but let me be clear,” she said at a public event on Saturday, “Brittney Griner is a US citizen; she was a guest in Russia… and I will demand her release.”

Texas Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro took to social media to call for Griner’s release.

“This follows a pattern of Russia unfairly detaining and imprisoning US citizens, including Trevor Reed,” Castro wrote on Twitter. “US citizens are not political pawns. Brittney, Trevor and other Americans must be brought back safely,” he added, referring to Griner and a former US Marine who was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2020 for assaulting two police officers. His family claims the charges are untrue and politically motivated.

Michael A. McFaul, a former US ambassador to Russia, warned all Americans remaining in Russia to leave the country immediately.

“Of course, I don’t know the circumstances of their detention, but Griner’s arrest should be a wake-up call for all Americans in Russia,” McFaul told the New York Times. “Get out. Now close your business.”