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Tag: WNBA

  • Brittney Griner Makes Robust Name To Struggle For Detainees Out of the country

    Griner, who used to be imprisoned for months on drug fees in Russia closing yr, made the tough name along her spouse Cherelle Griner in an look that made NBA icon Dwyane Wade emotional within the target market on Saturday.

    “It feels so excellent to be right here, particularly with my gorgeous, wonderful spouse and with all of y’all right here these days,” the WNBA celebrity mentioned.

    “I wish to thank everybody and let’s stay combating to carry house each American nonetheless detained out of the country.”

    Moments earlier than the WNBA celebrity’s deal with, Cherelle Griner thanked Black ladies and Black-led organizations “who fought so arduous” for Griner’s liberate in December.

    The rite’s host Queen Latifah presented Griner and her spouse previous to their temporary look and mentioned she used to be “again right here with us the place she belongs.”

    She later hugged Latifah and bumped her first following the alternate.

    “I’m hoping you’ll sign up for me in writing to Paul Whelan and proceeding to recommend for different American citizens to be rescued and returned to their households,” she wrote on Instagram days earlier than Christmas.

  • Brittney Griner Attends WM Phoenix Open Golfing Match

    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — WNBA celebrity Brittney Griner attended the WM Phoenix Open golfing event Saturday in her 2nd public look since her free up from a Russian jail.

    Griner was once a part of a crowd of about 200,000 fanatics on the event, gazing the motion from the stadium sixteenth hollow.

    American professional basketball player Brittney Griner acknowledges fans as she watches on the 16th hole during the third round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
    American skilled basketball participant Brittney Griner recognizes fanatics as she watches at the sixteenth hollow all the way through the 3rd spherical of the Phoenix Open golfing event, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photograph/Darryl Webb)

    Ultimate month in her first look, the Griner was once on the Martin Luther King Jr. march in downtown Phoenix.

    Griner is skipping the United States Basketball coaching camp in Minnesota so she will also be along with her spouse and recuperate from her time in prison in Russia. She was once traded in a dramatic prisoner change in December.

    Griner has mentioned she’ll play for the Phoenix Mercury once more this season, despite the fact that she’s nonetheless an unsigned unfastened agent. She hasn’t mentioned her world long run and doubtlessly taking part in within the Olympics subsequent 12 months in Paris.

  • Brittney Griner’s Spouse Says The WNBA Famous person Is A ‘Hostage’ In Russia

    Brittney Griner’s spouse, Cherelle Griner, mentioned in a brand new interview that the WNBA big name is successfully a “hostage” in Russia, the place she’s recently serving a nine-year jail sentence for drug ownership.

    In a preview clip of a full-length interview with “CBS Mornings” host Gayle King, Cherelle mentioned she by no means idea two global leaders must meet to talk about the “freedom of my spouse.”

    “It’s like a film for me,” Cherelle defined. “I’m like, ‘In no global did I ever suppose, you already know, our president and a overseas country president can be sitting down having to talk about the liberty of my spouse.’ And with the intention to me, up to everyone’s telling me a special definition of what B.G. is, it feels to me as though she’s a hostage.”

    The 2-time Olympic gold medalist was once sentenced to 9 years in a Russian jail on Aug. 4 for allegedly sporting hashish in vape packing containers whilst coming into a Moscow airport in February.

    Her legal professionals appealed the Russian court docket’s choice on Aug. 15, and now, the Moscow area court docket will pay attention the attraction on Oct. 15, in step with The Related Press.

    There were long-standing talks a couple of prisoner change that will convey Griner and previous U.S. marine Paul Whelan to the U.S. in alternate for a Russian hands broker, Viktor Bout, however no additional affirmation has been established.

    Cherelle has been in touch with President Joe Biden and the White Area for months hoping that Biden would convey Brittney house all of a sudden.

    After a gathering with Biden within the Oval Place of work in September, she thanked him and his management for “its efforts to safe my spouse’s unlock” in a publish on Instagram.

    “It was once an honor to talk with him without delay in regards to the Brittney we all know and love,” Cherelle wrote within the caption. “I’ve felt each and every minute of the grueling seven months with out her. I sit up for the day my spouse is again house.”

    She additionally thanked “pals, leaders and supporters who proceed to face with us and suggest for Brittney’s swift and protected go back” ahead of including: “Let’s percentage a unified dedication to bringing all American citizens house to their households and family members. In combination We Are BG.”

  • Las Vegas Aces vs. Atlanta Dream Odds, Line, Choices, and Prediction – August 9| 2022 WNBA Season

    The Las Vegas Aces will take at the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday evening. The Aces spoiled Sue Fowl’s final ever common season house sport on Sunday. They received 89-81 in what was once an exhilarating contest from begin to end. They are 23-10 at the yr now, and they’re going to go back house after a protracted highway go back and forth.

    The Dream misplaced in Minnesota on Sunday, 81-71. They are 14-19 and dangle the 7th seed within the league. With simply 3 video games ultimate, each sport is a very powerful for Atlanta’s playoff possibilities. Not too long ago, they have additionally failed to hide seven video games in a row on the worst conceivable time.

    “??? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ?????” – LVAces

    Las Vegas has break up their two contests as opposed to Atlanta this yr. They received by way of 23 issues the primary time they performed in Would possibly, however misplaced by way of 16 a number of weeks in the past at house. The Aces’ A’Ja Wilson went off for 29 issues on Sunday, to move with six rebounds. They have got a number of gifted scorers and lead the WNBA in issues consistent with sport.

    Because the common season involves an finish, the number one seed is also tricky to take hold of if the Chicago Sky do not lose a couple of video games. The Aces will want to watch out to not slip to 3rd, although, with the Connecticut Solar only one sport again.

    Atlanta is coping with some accidents which might come again to chew them. They do have thrilling rookie Rhyne Howard although, and she or he averages 16.1 issues consistent with sport. She scored 16 issues in Sunday’s loss after a 28-point efficiency on Friday.

    “Difficult. #DoItForTheDream” – @AtlantaDream

    The Dream had luck dealing with the Aces in July, however that was once because of Tiffany Hayes’ 31 issues. Now that she’s out, it is going to be an uphill fight for the Dream on Tuesday.

    Las Vegas Aces vs. Atlanta Dream Fit Main points

    Fixture: Atlanta Dream @ Las Vegas Aces

    Date & Time: Tuesday, August 9,10:00 p.m. EDT

    Venue: Michelob Extremely Area, Paradise, Nevada

    Las Vegas Aces vs. Atlanta Dream Making a bet Odds
    TeamSpreadTotalMLAtlanta Dream+12.5 (-110)o166.5 (-105)+495Las Vegas Aces-12.5 (-110)u166.5 (-115)-735

    Las Vegas Aces vs. Atlanta Dream Making a bet Prediction

    Additionally Learn
    Tale Continues underneath

    Atlanta has two key video games to near out the season towards the New York Liberty following Tuesday’s contest. If they may one way or the other thieve this sport towards Las Vegas, they’re going to like their possibilities to make the playoffs.

    Sadly, being down a number of avid gamers and taking part in at the highway towards a a lot more gifted workforce is Atlanta’s truth. Be expecting the Aces to win the season collection and search for them to get out to a commanding halftime lead.

    Prediction: Aces First Part -7 (-115) & Dream Workforce General Underneath 76.5 Issues (-110)

    Edited by way of Jodi Whisenhunt

    Coming quickly!

  • LeBron James Questions U.S. Reaction To Griner Scenario On His TV Display

    LeBron James is publicly criticizing the USA’ dealing with of WNBA All-Famous person Brittney Griner’s case in a trailer for an upcoming episode of his tv display: “The Store: Uninterrupted.”

    Griner is on trial in Russia for drug ownership. She pleaded responsible closing week and can seem once more in court docket on Thursday.

    “Now, how can she really feel like The united states has her again?” James stated within the trailer. “I might be feeling like, ‘Do I even wanna return to The united states?’”

    James tweeted Tuesday night time that his feedback within the trailer weren’t meant to be essential of the U.S. efforts to get Griner again.

    “My feedback on “The Store” referring to Brittney Griner wasn’t knocking our gorgeous nation,” he stated. “I used to be merely announcing how she’s more than likely feeling emotionally along side such a lot of different feelings, ideas, and so on within that cage she’s been in for over 100+ days! Lengthy tale quick #BringHerHome”

    It’s unclear when the display was once filmed, even though within the trailer it’s discussed that Griner have been in Russia for greater than 110 days, which might were just about 5 weeks in the past as she was once detained on Feb. 17.

    All the way through the weeks since day 110, along with the trial starting and the responsible plea, Griner’s spouse Cherelle has had a telephone dialog with President Joe Biden. Biden additionally gained a letter from Brittney Griner on July 4 and despatched a letter again to her, which she was once given in court docket closing week.

    There may be no point out of different detained American citizens within the trailer.

    NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, talking later Tuesday after his league’s board of governors assembly in Las Vegas, reiterated that the NBA and WNBA are “doing the whole lot in our energy” to carry Griner house.

    “I’m accepting that the management is doing the whole lot they may be able to presently,” Silver stated. “There are some severely complicated geopolitical problems right here. And I’m certain as invariably as they’re extra fascinated with Brittney, there are different households who’re in fact enthusiastic about their family members who’re being held towards their will in Russia presently. … There are very tough problems that the Biden management has to stand relating to what’s suitable.”

    Washington hasn’t disclosed its technique within the case and the U.S. could have little leverage with Moscow as a result of sturdy animosity over its movements in Ukraine. The State Division’s designation of Griner being wrongfully detained strikes her case beneath the supervision of its particular presidential envoy for hostage affairs, successfully the federal government’s leader hostage negotiator.

    U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated Washington will proceed to paintings for the discharge of Griner, in addition to different American citizens held through Moscow, together with former Marine Paul Whelan.

    “We will be able to now not relent till Brittney, Paul Whelan, and all different wrongfully detained American citizens are reunited with their family members,” he tweeted closing week,

    Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan stated Monday that former New Mexico Gov. Invoice Richardson have been in touch with the Nationwide Safety Council, however wouldn’t touch upon “his trip or what he intends to do” amid experiences that Richardson plans to trip to Russia and paintings on Griner’s free up.

    James’ display will air on Friday.

    AP Basketball Creator Tim Reynolds in Las Vegas contributed.

  • Brittney Griner Venerated On Jerseys Of All 22 Avid gamers At WNBA All-Stars Sport

    All of the gamers at Sunday’s WNBA All-Superstar recreation took to the courtroom in jerseys bearing fellow participant Brittney Griner’s identify and quantity.

    Griner, a celeb of the Phoenix Mercury, has been detained in Russia on drug fees since February, after vape cannisters with hashish oil had been allegedly present in her baggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. She pleaded accountable remaining week.

    Avid gamers on each groups wore jerseys with the quantity 42 all the way through the second one part of the All-Superstar contest at Chicago’s Wintrust Area. The Phoenix Mercury emblem and Griner’s identify additionally gave the impression at the uniforms.

    Griner’s spouse, Cherelle Griner, was once seated courtside throughout the show. A number of gamers hugged her.

    She pleaded accountable on Thursday to drug ownership and smuggling, however stated she had no goal of committing a criminal offense, telling the Moscow courtroom she packed in a rush and integrated the canisters accidentally.

    She may resist 10 years in jail if convicted of large-scale transportation of gear.

    She have been returning to Russia to play within the Russian League, the place she performs within the WNBA low season.

  • Brittney Griner’s Spouse Says She Hasn’t Heard From White Space Following Letter To Biden

    The spouse of Brittney Griner stated the White Space has no longer but answered to a letter from the WNBA big name requesting President Joe Biden’s assist in getting her launched from Russian detention.

    Griner, a 31-year-old two-time Olympic gold medalist and middle for the Phoenix Mercury, was once arrested in February when she traveled to Russia and government claimed they discovered hashish oil in her baggage. On July 4, she wrote an impassioned letter to Biden asking him to not “overlook about me,” and expressing fears that she “could be right here endlessly.”

    Griner’s spouse, Cherelle Griner, informed CBS Information that the letter to Biden was once the newest effort to get the president’s consideration concerning the Olympian’s detention. Regardless that the White Space showed to The Related Press that Biden won the letter, Cherelle Griner stated the loss of reaction from the president has been “very disheartening.”

    “It kills me each and every time that, , when I’ve to jot down her and he or she’s asking, ‘Have you ever met with [the White House] but?’ And I’ve to mention no,” Cherelle informed the hole Tuesday. “I’m positive she is like, ‘I’m going to jot down him and ask now as a result of my circle of relatives has attempted to no avail, so I’m going to do it myself.’”

    In her letter, Griner stated she has been “terrified” as she sits on my own in a Russian jail mobile.

    “As I sit down right here in a Russian jail, on my own with my ideas and with out the security of my spouse, circle of relatives, buddies, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I could be right here endlessly,” she wrote to Biden.

    Cherelle Griner stated her spouse’s phrases will have to be taken severely.

    “She is most certainly the most powerful individual that I do know, so she doesn’t say phrases like that calmly,” Cherelle informed CBS Information. “That implies she actually is terrified that she might by no means see us once more. You already know, I percentage those self same sentiments.”

    Griner’s trial started remaining week, and the athlete faces as much as 10 years in jail if convicted.

  • Trial For WNBA Celebrity Brittney Griner Starts In Russian Court docket

    MOSCOW (AP) — American basketball famous person Brittney Griner seemed in a Moscow-area courtroom for trial Friday, about 4 1/2 months after she used to be arrested on hashish ownership fees at an airport whilst touring to play for a Russian staff.

    WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia on July 1, 2022.
    WNBA famous person and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a court docket for a listening to, in Khimki simply outdoor Moscow, Russia on July 1, 2022.

    Alexander Zemlianichenko by way of Related Press

    Griner used to be arrested in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. Police mentioned she used to be sporting vape canisters with hashish oil. The Phoenix Mercury middle and two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist may resist 10 years in jail if convicted of large-scale transportation of substances.

    Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian legal circumstances are acquitted, and in contrast to within the U.S., acquittals may also be overturned.

    At a closed-door initial listening to Monday within the Moscow suburb of Khimki, Griner’s detention used to be prolonged for some other six months, to Dec. 20.

    The athlete’s detention and trial come at an awfully low level in Moscow-Washington members of the family. Griner used to be arrested lower than per week ahead of Russia despatched troops into Ukraine, which irritated already prime tensions between the 2 nations.

    The invasion resulted in sweeping sanctions imposed by way of america, and Russia denounced the U.S. for sending guns to Ukraine.

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday denied politics performed a job in Griner’s detention and prosecution.

    “The details are that the well-known athlete used to be detained in ownership of prohibited drugs containing narcotic components,” Peskov advised journalists. “In view of what I’ve mentioned, it might’t be politically motivated,” he added.

    Griner’s supporters have saved a low profile in hopes of a quiet answer, till Would possibly, when the State Division reclassified her as wrongfully detained and shifted oversight of her case to its particular presidential envoy for hostage affairs — successfully the U.S. executive’s leader negotiator.

    Griner’s spouse, Cherelle, has steered President Joe Biden to safe her free up, calling her “a political pawn.”

    “It used to be excellent to peer her in a few of the ones photographs, however it’s tricky. Each and every time’s a reminder that their teammate, their buddy, is wrongfully imprisoned out of the country,” Phoenix Mercury trainer Vanessa Nygaard mentioned Monday.

    The trainer was hoping that Biden would “take the stairs to verify she comes house.”

    Griner’s supporters have inspired a prisoner change like the only in April that introduced house Marine veteran Trevor Reed in change for a Russian pilot convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy.

    Russian information media have time and again raised hypothesis that she might be swapped for Russian fingers dealer Viktor Bout, nicknamed “the Service provider of Demise,” who’s serving a 25-year sentence on conviction of conspiracy to kill U.S. voters and offering support to a 15 may organization.

    Russia has agitated for Bout’s free up for years. However the large discrepancy between Griner’s case — which comes to alleged ownership of vape cartridges containing hashish oil — and Bout’s world dealings in fatal guns may make one of these change unpalatable to the U.S.

    Others have instructed that she might be traded in tandem with Paul Whelan, a former Marine and safety director serving a 16-year sentence on an espionage conviction that america has time and again described as a setup.

    U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, when requested Sunday on CNN whether or not a joint change of Griner and Whelan for Bout used to be being thought to be, sidestepped the query.

    “As a basic proposition … I’ve were given no upper precedence than ensuring that American citizens who’re being illegally detained in a technique or some other around the globe come house,” he mentioned. However he mentioned he may now not remark “in any element on what we’re doing, except for to mention that is an absolute precedence.”

  • LeBron James Calls for Biden Deliver Brittney Griner House ‘Abruptly And Safely’

    LeBron James is sharing his public enhance for Brittney Griner because the WNBA participant and two-time Olympic gold medalist stays in Russia, the place she has been detained for greater than 100 days.

    In February, Griner used to be detained at a Moscow airport after allegedly sporting marijuana vape cartridges in her baggage.

    She used to be in Russia taking part in for UMMC Ekaterinburg all the way through the WNBA offseason.

    On Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers famous person posted a message on Twitter calling for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to get Griner house “all of a sudden and safely.”

    The mythical ball participant often known as on athletes to band in combination and take motion referring to Griner’s detainment.

    “We wish to come in combination and lend a hand do no matter we most likely can to convey BG house briefly and safely!! Our voice as athletes is more potent in combination,” James stated in a tweet pleading for enhance.

    “As a embellished Olympian and member of an elite international game group, BG’s detention should be resolved out of appreciate for the sanctity of all game and for all American citizens touring across the world,” James wrote on Twitter.

    James is pushing the U.S. govt to “instantly cope with this human rights factor” and “do no matter is essential to go back Brittney house.”

    He related to a Alternate.org petition supporting the WNBA athlete.

    Russian government charged Griner with smuggling “narcotic medicine.” She may just resist 10 years in jail if convicted.

    Final month, Griner’s legal professional stated the Phoenix Mercury superstar’s pretrial detention used to be prolonged by means of one month.

    The U.S. Division of State additionally decided final month that the WNBA athlete used to be “wrongfully detained” when she used to be arrested in February.

    The classification signifies that the U.S. will push more difficult for Griner’s go back house, whilst her criminal case continues to spread in another country, The Related Press reported.

    James is likely one of the newest NBA stars to sign up for the refrain of voices calling for Griner’s free up.

    Final Saturday sooner than their staff observe, a couple of Boston Celtics avid gamers sported “We Are BG” shirts, showcasing a QR code that hyperlinks to the net petition to convey Griner house.

  • Blinken Speaks To Brittney Griner’s Spouse As WNBA Participant Stays Detained In Russia

    Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Cherelle Griner on Saturday as her spouse, WNBA participant Brittney Griner, stays detained in Russia.

    The State Division has made the basketball big name’s unencumber its best precedence, Blinken instructed Cherelle Griner, assuring her that the dept is operating at the case nonstop and that she must achieve out if she’s no longer receiving the tips she wishes.

    CNN and NBC Information first reported at the dialog, which a senior State Division professional showed to HuffPost.

    On Tuesday, Cherelle Griner posted a black-and-white video on Instagram from one among her spouse’s video games, with a caption announcing, “Recreation Day!” The video displays Brittney Griner jogging off the basketball courtroom to offer her spouse a kiss.

    Blinken’s dialog with Cherelle Griner got here only a day after a Russian courtroom dominated to increase Brittney Griner’s pretrial detention till no less than June. A consular officer from the State Division was once ready to talk to the WNBA participant at the sidelines of her Friday listening to, in step with division spokesperson Ned Worth.

    On Monday, then again, U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan stated that the rustic had denied the U.S. Embassy permission to discuss with Brittney Griner for the 3rd time in a month.

    “That is unacceptable. We name on @mfa_russia to supply well timed consular get entry to, consistent with Russia’s intl & bilateral duties,” Sullivan stated in a tweet posted via the embassy.

    Russian government arrested the basketball participant in February on drug smuggling fees after she was once allegedly discovered wearing cannabis-derived vape cartridges in her baggage in Moscow. The 2-time Olympic gold medalist has performed for a Russian basketball group for years throughout the WNBA low season.

    Worth stated final week that Griner is “doing in addition to can also be anticipated underneath what can simplest be described as exceedingly tough instances,” and stated the State Division is “running very carefully” on her case along with fellow detained American Paul Whelan. Trevor Reed, an American who was once additionally detained in Russia, was once launched final month in a prisoner switch.

    “Our message around the board for American citizens who’re detained in Russia is that we predict, in keeping with the Vienna Conference, to have common and constant get entry to to American citizens who’re detained, together with the ones American citizens who’re in pretrial detention,” Worth stated.