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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)
WNBA star Brittney Griner will face her appeal hearing on October 25 near a court in Moscow. The Phoenix Mercury center was sentenced to nine years in prison for the possession and smuggling of cannabis oil in Russia. Griner’s lawyer revealed that the appeal hearing will begin at 6:00 AM EST and several outcomes are possible. However, BG’s attorneys also gave a tear-inducing update on the eight-time All-Star’s state of mind ahead of the appeal hearing on Tuesday. Moreover, the recent news about Brittney Griner has led to some broken-hearted reactions from the sports world, as her freedom looks bleak.
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Further, Griner’s lawyers Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boikov spoke on behalf of their client ahead of the appeal hearing. The lawyers suggested that a final ruling is expected after the hearing on Tuesday. There are a number of possible outcomes that Griner could face after the hearing.
The appeal court could either finalize the verdict, reduce her sentence, or overrule it and send BG’s case back to the lower court. Unfortunately, if the appeal court chooses not to revoke the verdict, Brittney Griner‘s sentence will come into effect and she will be sent to a Russian penal colony.
Brittney Griner realistic about the appeal hearing’s outcome
BG’s lawyers stated that the 2014 WNBA champ was not expecting any ‘miracles to happen’ during the appeal hearing. Her attorneys revealed that BG was very nervous ahead of the hearing and will not be present in the court. Moreover, the 32-year-old will attend the hearing through a video link from the detention center in Moscow.
Further, the recent update from Griner’s lawyers has left the whole sports world disheartened. BG has been stuck in Russia for over eight months. Griner was detained by the customs authorities at a Moscow Airport in February after a small amount of cannabis oil was found in her luggage.
Sports world disappointed by Griner’s recent update
Griner’s family is doing all they can to bring her home. Cherelle Griner and the WNBA launched a #WeAreBG social media campaign on the basketball star’s 32nd birthday.
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Fans, celebrities, and the sports fraternity have come in support of BG and prayed for her safe return. Here are some of the reactions from the fans.
Gross injustice. She must stay strong.
— Mawusha (@imvcapital) October 25, 2022
Free Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan!
— jimmy c. (@JiQed) October 25, 2022
https://twitter.com/Alexgraig22/status/1584805765759451136
https://twitter.com/KnowethJC_/status/1582921202460692480
To the United States government. We want Brittany home now. God pleas give Brittany your strength and courage to weather this storm please be with her all the way home.
— Gloria Townsend (@GloriaT56367297) October 24, 2022
Stay strong Brittney. Praying for you and your family. #FreeBG #WeAreBG
— LeeAnn Gray (@gray_dis911) October 23, 2022
Brittney Griner serving 9 years in a Russian prison for 0.7 grams of cannabis oil is no kind of justice anyone should be okay with. Especially considering they are only using her as a political tool because of their Ukraine invasion
— Jah (@JahlilWill) October 19, 2022
https://twitter.com/tobiasdubose/status/1582583164354326528
Griner admitted that she had the canisters in her luggage , but testified she had inadvertently packed them in haste , and that she had no criminal intent .
— Anirudh Chatterjee (@Anirudh1969) October 25, 2022
The people of America demanded Brittney Griner’s safe return. Thus, the Joe Biden Administration has taken major steps to bring the WNBA star home. As BG faces a pivotal day in her life. Her family, friends, and fans would hope that the verdict comes in her favor.
