A Russian court found Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) star and Houston native Brittney Griner guilty of drug possession and smuggling and sentenced her to nine years in prison on Thursday, Houston-based media outlets reported citing the Associated Press (AP).
Griner, who went No. 1 in the 2013 draft after leading Baylor to a national championship, was in Russia where she played professionally during the WNBA's offseason to supplement her income. Authorities at a Moscow airport earlier this year discovered hashish oil in her luggage and subsequently detained her.
The AP reported that an emotional Griner apologized to the court after the prosecutor requested a prison sentence of nine and a half years.
“I want to apologize to my teammates, my club, my fans and the city of (Yekaterinburg) for my mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I brought on them,” Griner said, per the report. “I want to also apologize to my parents, my siblings, the Phoenix Mercury organization back at home, the amazing women of the WNBA and my amazing spouse back at home.”
According to the AP, the sentence followed the Biden administration’s proposed deal to Moscow in which the U.S. freed an imprisoned Russian in exchange for the former Olympic gold medalist and American Paul Whelan, who is serving time for espionage.
President Joe Biden criticized the court’s ruling and vowed to continue working on bringing Griner and Whelan home, the report said.
Around the Fourth of July, Houston Daily reported last month, individuals who represented Griner gave the White House a hand-written letter in which she appealed to Biden to help secure her release.
"It kills me to know [my wife, my family and my teammates] are suffering so much right now,” she said in the correspondence.
The WNBA dedicated its current campaign to Griner.