The Phoneix Mercury All-Star Brittney Grinner is fighting for her freedom in a Russian prison for some time now. The 2014 WNBA champ was detained by the authorities after she arrived at a Moscow Airport on February 17 for charges of possession and smuggling of cannabis oil found in vape cartridges. She was sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted despite pleading guilty before the trial. However, this is not the first instance Brittney Griner faced a terrible situation in a foreign country.

Two months after winning her first WNBA championship, Griner had to deal with a life-threatening situation in November 2014 in China. The eight-time WNBA All-Star traveled to China to play for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls team in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association during the offseason. Unfortunately, Brittney Griner was attacked by an unknown assailant with a knife while she and her teammates were boarding a bus.

Brittney Griner survives a fatal attack

Griner’s agent at the time, Lindsay Kagawa Colas gave an insight into the whole situation after the incident. Colas revealed that BG and one of her teammates were attacked by a man who was carrying a knife.

READ MORE: Despite Big Hopes, Fear of ?Labor Camp? for Brittney Griner Keeping Wife Cherelle Up at Night

The attacker approached the players and began yelling before pulling out a knife. Luckily, neither Griner nor her teammate suffered any fatal injuries, thanks to their winter jackets.

The assailant stabbed Griner in the elbow. Her winter jacket protected her during the attack. Meanwhile, BG’s teammate came out of the attack unharmed because she was wearing two winter jackets.

The police officials were able to apprehend the attacker after the man showed up covered in blood at the crime scene after their arrival. Fortunately, the 31-year-old walked out of a life-threatening attack with minor scratches when the situation could have been much worse.

Griner makes an appeal

A Russian court convicted BG and sentenced her to nine years in prison for drug possession and smuggling charges in August. Following the verdict, Griner’s lawyer Maria Blagovolina filed an appeal against the decision. The appeal hearing is scheduled for October 5. Griner’s future in Russia will depend on this hearing.

Watch This Story: WNBA Star Brittney Griner?s Saga in Russia: The Entire Timeline

She could be forced to work in a labor camp if the order gets finalized after the appeal. The Biden Administration and Griner’s family are doing everything they can to bring her home. However, the situation continues to get worse for the WNBA star. She is dealing with the toughest challenge of her life.