“Freed American Basketball Player Griner Returns to the Court After Russia Prison Swap”
Former WNBA All-Star, Brittney Griner, who won the Olympic and world championship twice, has been sentenced to nine years in prison after being arrested for carrying drugs in her electronic cigarette box. Griner, who reached the WNBA championship in 2014 with the Phoenix Mercury, played for Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg team and won four FIBA Women’s Europa League titles and three Russian league cups. Her career came to a crashing halt when she was arrested on February 17th, 2020, at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. The 30-year-old basketball player had electronic cigarette boxes containing drugs among her belongings, leading to her arrest and subsequent sentencing. Griner’s fans and peers were shocked to learn of her arrest and sentencing. It’s a sad turn of events for a talented athlete who had achieved so much in her career. Despite her accomplishments, it’s clear that her personal struggles have had a significant impact on her life and career. It remains to be seen if there will be any efforts to appeal her sentence or if Griner will serve the full nine years in prison.
