Brittney Griner went to Russia in hopes of earning higher pay than the WNBA. And after years, she ended up being arrested at the Moscow Airport for smuggling illegal substances. After months of trial, she was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison, where she now awaits pending negotiations between the US and Russian governments for her release. But initially, Griner, despite being over 5500 miles away from home, felt at peace in Russia.

WNBA players generally go to play in different leagues to get a larger salary. The WNBA is only for a few months in the year and the players have reported that they have been being underpaid for quite some time now.

As a result, Griner decided to go play in Russia in 2014.

Brittney Griner may have been over 5500 miles away, but she was at peace

Brittney Griner was earning a much higher pay in Russia. In fact, it was much better than what she used to get in the WNBA. She was one of the best players in the WNBA and in the Russian league as well. But there was another reason why Griner felt comfortable going to Russia.

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An ESPN reporter named Kate Fagan traveled to Ekaterinburg when Griner was still playing. She had an interview with Griner over there and BG talked about how she escaped the noise. She said, “I don?t have to talk to anybody over here.”

“I don?t have to see anybody. I don?t have to answer my phone. And everybody is asleep half the time when I?m up. I can be disconnected when I?m over here,” she added.

This all changed after her arrest in February. Griner is held in Russia for over 200 days now and her friends, family, and loved ones have all requested her release. They have even asked the United States government to intervene.

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And the government obliged and has been negotiating with the Russian authorities. But this seems complicated as relations between the two countries have been strained for some time now. But there is still hope as the president recently met with Griner’s wife, assuring her that they are doing their best to get her back from a country that was like home to her in the beginning. Despite being over 5000 miles away.