WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner is still detained in Russia for more than 100 days on allegations of possession of hashish oil found in her luggage. Griner was arrested in February at a Moscow airport after Russian officials said a search of her luggage found vape cartridges containing cannabis-derived oil, and her detention has already been extended twice.
Two NBA elite players give their thoughts on Griner's circumstances.
Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry recently spoke with ESPN's Malika Andrews about the situation, which he described as "an unfortunate situation."
Curry said: "She needs to be home. She needs to be safe. She needs to be with her family."
The priority now, according to the two-time MVP, should be on raising awareness and ensuring that "all hands are on deck" to ensure Griner's safety, as per a report from The Spun.
"Right now, it's just about getting her home and everybody joining that effort, joining that front to make sure she's talked about ... I know those efforts are ongoing, and hopefully there'll be some positive end to this story," Curry noted.
LeBron Calls Support From Fellow Athletes, Fans For Griner
Earlier, Lakers superstar LeBron James called on fellow athletes to support WNBA star Brittney Griner.
James tweeted: "We need to come together and help do whatever we possibly can to bring BG home quickly and safely!! "Our voice as athletes is stronger together."
To persuade President Biden and Vice President Harris to take greater action to bring Griner back to the United States, James and his company Uninterrupted encouraged everyone else to learn about her situation, join a Change.org petition, and post about her plight on social media.
Per CBS News, the four-time NBA champion tweeted Uninterrupted's statement, saying: "For over 100 days, BG has faced inhumane conditions in a Russian prison and has been denied communications with her family and loved ones."
"As a decorated Olympian and member of an elite global sports community, BG's detention must be resolved out of respect for the sanctity of all sport and for all Americans traveling internationally," the statement further reads.
During their NBA Finals series versus Golden State, the Boston Celtics also sported "We are BG" shirts while practicing, according to a report from WBUR.
The WNBA had led the charge to raise awareness about Griner's detention in the hopes of persuading the White House to take action.
Athlete's Pay Disparity Should Be Addressed
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, spends the offseason in Europe. According to the "We Are BG" campaign's website, she does so because "significantly larger contracts" than those available in the United States are available elsewhere. "Brittney Griner's unlawful detention in Russia was caused by pay disparity," the campaign stated.
The WNBA star's charge could land her in Russian prison for up to 10 years. Her pre-trial imprisonment has already been extended twice, once in March and again in May, each time for a month.
Griner was illegally held, according to the state department, which stated it would "continue to undertake measures to offer necessary support to Ms. Griner."
Alexander Boikov, Griner's lawyer, said in May that he anticipated the case will soon go to trial because of the reduced incarceration period.
Former U.N. official In May, CBS News revealed that ambassador Bill Richardson is supporting Griner's family in securing her release.