The World Opinion

Tag: WNBA

  • Brittney Griner’s Russian Detention Prolonged For 1 Month

    MOSCOW (AP) — The legal professional for WNBA megastar Brittney Griner stated Friday her pre-trial detention in Russia has been prolonged by means of one month.

    Griner’s legal professional Alexander Boikov advised The Related Press he believed the reasonably quick extension of the detention indicated the case would come to trial quickly.

    Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, used to be detained on the Moscow airport after vape cartridges containing oil derived from hashish had been allegedly present in her baggage, which might raise a most penalty of 10 years in jail.

    The Biden management says Griner, 31, is being wrongfully detained. The WNBA and U.S. officers have labored towards her unencumber, with out visual growth.

  • Brittney Griner Now Thought to be ‘Wrongfully Detained’ In Russia By means of U.S. Officers

    The U.S. Division of State has decided that WNBA All-Famous person Brittney Griner used to be “wrongfully detained” when she used to be arrested at an airport in Russia again in mid-February on drug fees.

    This classification implies that the U.S. will paintings extra aggressively to safe Griner’s free up, whilst her criminal case continues to play out in another country, The Related Press reported mentioning two U.S. officers.

    A State Division spokesperson showed the reclassification to HuffPost however declined to enter element on the cause of the trade, which used to be first reported through ESPN on Tuesday.

    The spokesperson famous that each one circumstances involving a U.S. nationwide being detained in a foreign country are reviewed to decide if they’re “illegal” or “wrongful” and that for privateness or operational causes, no longer all wrongful detention determinations are made public.

    Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner, seen in 2019, was arrested at an airport near Moscow in mid-February on drug charges. The U.S. Department of State has since determined that her detention was unjustified.
    Phoenix Mercury heart Brittney Griner, observed in 2019, used to be arrested at an airport close to Moscow in mid-February on drug fees. The U.S. Division of State has since decided that her detention used to be unjustified.

    The president of the WNBA gamers union, Nneka Ogwumike, reacted to the scoop of the decision and expressed hope that it’s going to result in Griner’s swift go back to the U.S.

    “It’s been 75 days that our pal, teammate, sister, Brittney Griner, has been wrongfully detained in Russia. It’s time for her to come back house,” she tweeted.

    The Phoenix Mercury heart used to be detained after the Russian Federal Customs Carrier stated its officers discovered vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her baggage at an airport close to Moscow. The drug fees may raise as much as 10 years in jail.

    Griner used to be returning to Russia to renew enjoying within the Russian League, the place she performs within the WNBA low season.

    Overdue remaining month, U.S. Marine veteran Trevor Reed, who used to be detained in Russia again in 2019 after being accused of assaulting an officer, used to be launched as a part of a jail switch.

    Some other American who remains to be unjustly retained in Russia consistent with U.S. officers is Paul Whelan. Whelan used to be charged with espionage through Russian intelligence officers after visiting Moscow in 2018 for a pal’s wedding ceremony and in 2020 sentenced to 16 years in jail.

    Whelan’s brother, David Whelan, stated in a observation to journalists on Monday that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reassured his circle of relatives that the White Area stays thinking about securing his free up.

    “It will be significant that, as an increasing number of American citizens are arbitrarily detained, the White Area transfer extra intentionally and temporarily to resolve those circumstances. We will be able to proceed to inspire them to take action,” David Whelan stated.

  • WNBA Avid gamers Union President Says Gender Pay Hole Helped Lead To Brittney Griner’s Arrest

    Nneka Ogwumike, the top of the WNBA avid gamers union, on Tuesday shared an replace on Brittney Griner, the seven-time WNBA All-Big name who was once arrested in Russia in February and stays in custody out of the country.

    Ogwumike, president of the Girls’s Nationwide Basketball Avid gamers Affiliation, seemed on “Just right Morning The usa” Tuesday to talk about the league’s efforts to carry Griner house.

    Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury shoots a free throw during a game against the Las Vegas Aces, Oct. 8, 2021, at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
    Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury shoots a loose throw right through a sport in opposition to the Las Vegas Aces, Oct. 8, 2021, at Footprint Middle in Phoenix.

    Jeff Bottari by means of Getty Pictures

    Griner was once arrested on Feb. 17 in Russia ― per week sooner than that nation invaded Ukraine ― after officials with the Russian Federal Customs Carrier allegedly discovered vape cartridges containing hash oil in Griner’s baggage.

    “It’s difficult … That can have been us,” Ogwumike stated of Griner, a Phoenix Mercury celebrity and two-time Olympic gold medalist. “We’re in reality maximum all in favour of her well being and protection, particularly her psychological well being. We’re listening to that during that appreciate, she’s OK, however we wish her house.”

    “BG is us,” she emphasised, regarding Griner via her initials. “We’re BG.”

    Ogwumike additionally defined why she’s talking out about Griner now.

    “We transfer deliberately, and given the character of Brittney’s scenario, when it took place ― it was once crucial for us to be intentional about doing the most efficient factor to be sure that we don’t compromise her coming house,” she informed “GMA” anchor Robin Roberts.

    “A large number of that needed to do with teaching ourselves about the main points of what was once happening,” she went on. “Up to shall we know. However then figuring out how vital it was once for us to be strategic about when and the way we discuss her.”

    Ogwumike and Roberts mentioned how issues of gender inequality helped to land Griner in her present scenario.

    “It’s disappointing that the query of it being a gender factor is most sensible of thoughts now, in terms of this kind of circumstance,” she stated. “The truth is, she’s over there as a result of a gender factor ― pay inequity.”

    The top-paid participant within the WNBA earns $228,000 a yr, whilst some most sensible NBA avid gamers make greater than $1 million, in keeping with ABC Information.

    It’s no longer unparalleled for WNBA avid gamers to trip out of the country right through the offseason to earn some more cash. “We cross over there to complement our earning,” stated Ogwumike, who herself prior to now performed in Russia for 4 years, China for 2 years and Poland for one.

  • U.S. officers proceed to press Russia for get admission to to WNBA famous person Brittney Griner

    Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury is noticed all over the sport towards the Indiana Fever at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on September 6, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    Michael Hickey | Getty Pictures

    WASHINGTON — The State Division continues to be running to get get admission to to WNBA famous person Brittney Griner after Russian officers arrested her on accusations of smuggling medicine into the rustic a month in the past.

    Griner’s arrest got here days after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine, triggering global backlash and a slew of punishing sanctions. The 31-year-old skilled athlete has been accused of smuggling cannabis oil, a fee that carries as much as 10 years in jail.

    Jalina Porter, major deputy spokeswoman for the State Division, informed journalists on a decision Friday that U.S. officers are “intently engaged” on Griner’s case and are calling for “truthful and clear remedy” of Americans detained in Russia. Porter declined to supply additional main points when pressed via journalists.

    State Division spokesman Ned Value informed MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell on Thursday that the Biden management is “deeply involved” about Griner’s case.

    “Now we have again and again requested for consular get admission to to those detainees and feature constantly been denied get admission to. Russia should abide via its prison responsibilities and make allowance us to supply consular products and services for U.S. voters detained in Russia,” Value mentioned.

    “We are going to proceed to press for that, to proceed to peer to it that Russia lives as much as its global responsibilities. The entire whilst, we are going to do the entirety we will be able to to peer to it that her rights are revered,” Value added.

    On Thursday, an individual with regards to the continued state of affairs showed to NBC Information that Griner used to be “OK” and that her Russian prison crew has met her more than one occasions every week all over the process her detention.

    The individual clarified that after a pretrial investigation on Griner has concluded a tribulation date can be set.

    If the investigation isn’t completed via Might 19, there might be some other listening to to decide an extension. Griner’s request to be transferred to accommodate arrest has been denied.