Calay News
Brittney Griner, the star of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), who spent 10 months in a Russian prison, encouraged Americans imprisoned in that country to “stay strong” at her first press conference since her release in December. The basketball player, who is preparing to resume her career with the Phoenix Mercury team, pledged to continue fighting on behalf of people who are unjustly detained worldwide.
When asked what her message would be for Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich and American citizen Paul Whelan, both detained in Russia, Griner responded: “I would tell everyone who is unjustly detained: “Stay strong, keep fighting, don’t give up.”
“Just keep getting up, find a little routine, and stick to it as best you can; that’s what helped me,” Griner explained at the conference, becoming emotional several times.
“Keep pushing because we’re not going to stop. We’re not going to stop fighting. We’re not going to stop raising awareness about everyone who has been left behind now,” she told a crowded audience of journalists.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion, Griner was arrested in February 2022 at a Moscow airport for possession of a vape pen and liquid containing cannabis, a prohibited substance in Russia. The 6-foot-9-inch center traveled to Russia to play with the Ekaterinburg team during the WNBA offseason.
In the context of growing international tension due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison but was released in December after lengthy negotiations in an exchange with Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
On Thursday, Griner said she was aware of the efforts that were made to secure her release and acknowledged that they were a great morale boost during her imprisonment. “Sometimes the news was a little delayed, but I was aware of the efforts and everything that was happening,” she explained. “Those moments when I could see what was going on definitely made me feel a little more comfortable,” she admitted. “It gave me hope, which is something difficult to have and something dangerous to have because when it doesn’t work, it’s so devastating.”
