WNBA star Brittany Griner is she being exploited by U.S. and Russian officials?

Unscripted
By Keith Edmonds
Ink Spot Contributing Writer

For the past 2 months WNBA superstar Brittany Griner has been held by Russian authorities after being arrested in a Moscow airport for having vape cartridges and cannabis oil in her luggage. The 31-year-old 6’9 Griner has been a star basketball player since her high school days in Texas and her talents have taken her to the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. To make additional income, Griner spends her off-seasons playing in Russia where she reportedly makes over 1 million dollars each season which is almost 5x the salary she makes in the United States. In todays UNSCRIPTED I’ll be looking at this very interesting situation that she’s gotten herself into, and I’ll be sharing how many look at it as a political move by the Russian government in response to the US placing sanctions on them as retaliation for their invasion of Ukrainian territories.

Let me start by saying that I am NOT a political strategist, aficionado, or in any way someone that is well-versed on governmental issues. What intrigued me to do this piece is that it involves a high-profile sports figure and how closely linked sports and politics can become in our daily lives. I just find it suspicious that Griner who plays for the Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg is being treated in this manner and have it NOT be suggested or thought of as a ploy by Russian officials to have leverage against the US during this very tenuous situation between both countries. The US government is very aware of what is going on and staying very quiet in regards to their negotiations regarding Griner as to not upset the “delicate balance” of what is occurring in ongoing threats and stalemates in their dealings with Russia. I just find it interesting that BOTH sides seem to know what to do to secure Griner’s release but are unable to come to a resolution.

So, the question that needs to be asked is: Is Russia holding Griner’s release as a tactic to get the US to stop their sanctioning, or is the US willing to use one of our most recognized stars as a pawn in these “war games?” Senior Democratic senator Tim Kaine (Virginia) was quoted as saying “I think there’s no doubt that her detention, and then this continuation of the imprisonment, is all to try to make her a hostage and a part of this chess game. Vladimir Putin and the Russians want to use her as a negotiating chip and what a horrific thing to do to someone.” I’m inclined to agree with Senator Kaine as I see no reason to continue to detain her at this point because what/who is this serving?

Griner has been detained since February 17th, 2022, and reports of her well-being have stated that she is in good spirits, healthy, and seems to understand the weight of the moment that she’s in. The interesting thing to me is that she has YET to speak with a US officials and US diplomats have yet to place Griner in a category of “American travelers it considers wrongfully detained,” a clause that allows for additional government attention under the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs and there seems to be no cognizant plan for her release or return. If convicted, Griner could face sentencing of up to 10 years in prison which is a fate that several Americans that are being or have been detained in Russia have experienced recently namely Trevor Reed, (a former US marine), is serving nine years on charges of assaulting police officers in Moscow and Paul Whelan, who is serving 16 years on espionage charges.

I’ll say this, Brittany Griner should be released and allowed to come home where any penalties or fines that are issued can be placed against her by United States officials. To continue to keep her in Russia’s custody where we cannot see or reach her and only have access to her through Russian agencies is a crime in itself. The latest report says that Griner’s pre-trial detainment will be extended until May 19th, 2022. Is this fair? What is the “end game” for this situation? Only time will tell, but it is my prayer that justice will be served, and that Brittany Griner will be allowed to return home and to the WNBA arenas that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing her perform in. The United States government needs to be more heavily involved quickly, before this escalates into something that we’ll regret for years to come.