Brittney Griner was in the spotlight, as she got sentenced to nine years in Russia for alleged illegal smuggling of drugs. And University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball Head Coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Dawn Staley has been actively following the case. Moreover, she’s a big proponent of the #FreeBrittneyGriner movement on Twitter.
However, something quite surprising happened involving the two, which is great news.
Dawn Staley has been selected as the pace car driver ahead of the Cookout Southern 500 at Darlington Speedway. Of course, this is great news for the basketball coach. Moreover, it’s an incredible honor for anyone to get to drive the pace car ahead of the playoff opener race.
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We’re so excited to announce that Dawn Staley, University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball Head Coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will be leading the field to green as our Honorary Pace Car Driver for the @CookOut #Southern500 on Sept 4th! pic.twitter.com/oRQzJEgTvI
— Darlington Raceway (@TooToughToTame) August 23, 2022
The Hall of Famer coach announced the big news in less than two hours of promoting freedom for the WNBA star, Brittney Griner, who Staley calls her sister.
#FreeBrittneyGriner 187 days and counting my sister and friend @brittneygriner has been wrongfully detained in a Russian prison! We are still fighting on your behalf BG! #WeAreBG pic.twitter.com/0c6cBaz9Mo
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) August 23, 2022
What Did Dawn Staley Have To Say About The Trial?
In an interview with USA Today, the Hall of Famer coach spoke about the trial.
Staley said, “We knew it was going to happen that way, so I wasn’t heartbroken … I do believe people are working on her behalf to bring her home. This was a step that was necessary in order for them to begin the discussions of a prisoner swap.”
She added, “I truly believe we need to do whatever is necessary to bring our American citizens home. … We must exhaust every option to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home.”
What Happened to Brittney Griner?
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and WNBA star has been detained in Russia since February.
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via Getty
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)
The gold medalist was found guilty of attempting to smuggle illegal narcotics into Russia. In fact, they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. And Cannabis in any form is illegal in the nation of Russia. So, she’s been charged with nine years in prison by the court.
Dawn Staley has been following her case and has been active on social media, asking for her release.
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