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US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. – Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
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US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. – Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
The controversial arrest of WNBA star Brittney Griner has the whole world talking about her. Russian officials arrested her earlier this year for carrying illegal substances in her luggage. Prior to her arrest, she was set to join her Russian teammates in UMMC Ekaterinburg.
Griner, like many other WNBA stars, played the off-season overseas. The salaries offered in the league are simply not comparable to other leagues and athletes have to look elsewhere in order to earn a decent living.
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Her arrest has put many athletes in a dilemma. They are refusing to take their talents to Russia despite the Russian league paying some of the highest salaries in the world.
Two-time WNBA champion Breanna Stewart has been quite vocal regarding Griner’s plight. Moreover, she is one of the athletes who has snubbed playing for a Russian team. Interestingly enough, Stewart has come out openly to say that she will not be playing in Russia.
Talking about her jailed teammate, Stewart had a lot to say. She said, “We are going to try and win gold in her honour, and at the same time, no one is wearing the number 15, which is a big deal for USA basketball.”
The Seattle Storm star is representing the United States National Women’s Basketball team at the FIBA World Cup in Australia. She already has two World Cups to her name and will be looking to add another one soon.
Brittney Griner has had an illustrious career with the National Team
Controversial or not, Brittney Griner is widely accepted as one of the best players in the WNBA. Playing for the Phoenix Mercury, she made a name for herself in college.
Subsequently, the Mercury drafted her as the #1 overall pick. Since then, she has had an illustrious career in the league and for the National Team.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 30: Brittney Griner #42 and Brianna Turner #21 of the Phoenix Mercury talk on the bench in the fourth quarter of Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Playoffs semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on September 30, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mercury defeated the Aces 117-91. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Griner represented her country at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics held in 2016 and 2020 respectively. She won the Gold Medal in both. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Griner averaged 16.5 points, 1.2 assists, and 7.2 rebounds.
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What are your thoughts regarding the Brittney Griner situation? Let us know in the comments down below.
