Silence stared straight into the eyes of the USA balling committees when the WNBA star Brittney Griner was detained in Russia. Griner was stopped by the Russian authorities on February 17, 2022, as she was unaware of the harrowing experience that lay ahead. Griner must have spent sleepless nights since in August she was sentenced to nine years of prison. Fortunately, the USA finally got into an agreement with Russia and Griner soon made her way to her native country in December. While her WNBA peer Sabrina Ionescu recollects the ordeal and the “tough” time Griner was put through, she can’t help but point fingers at the state of affairs.

Ionescu was present during a candid chat with Vanity Fair when she recounted Griner’s terrible experience. With a WNBA star suffering so much, Ionescu sunk into the past to share the horrors of that time and shared how she coped with the unexpected news. “It was tough, knowing she’s one of us; she’s part of our league. You don’t want to see anyone go through that. Obviously, only she knows what she went through and how bad it was. But I mean…it’s Russia,” Ionescu stated via Vanity Fair.

Griner had gone to Russia to ply her trade for the local league in the off-season. She was a part of the UMMC Ekaterinburg squad and would have participated in the Russian Premier League and FIBA Europe’s EuroLeague Women. However, while she was on her way to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport, she was stopped in her tracks by a customs dog. And the matter went downhill from there.

Griner was sentenced to 9 years in prison which would have completely jeopardized her career. In such tough times, the US authorities got into negotiations with Russia. However, owing to the difference in law in the two countries, they couldn’t find early success. Fans ultimately breathed a sigh of relief when Griner was released from prison in December 2022 and she straight made her way back to America. The issue gained so much attention that even US President Joe Biden tweeted on the same.

Brittney Griner supported by Joe Biden

Biden when Griner was released breathed a sigh of relief. He admitted to being in touch with Griner as she was on her way home. “She is safe. She is on a plane,” wrote Biden, as per People. Griner’s experience in prison was such that the whole spotlight was on her as citizens crossed their fingers hoping to watch Griner in the WNBA.

Griner too has given several interviews detailing her time in prison and admitted to wanting “to take my life more than once in the first weeks.” Perhaps, it is only a miracle to see Griner doing well in the W.

Maybe it is a collective spirit like this that would have helped Griner. As athletes can only imagine the tough time she went through, all they can wish is for Griner to get better at her game every day as she makes her way in Team USA colors.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.