[125][124], On August 4, the court found Griner guilty and sentenced her to nine years in prison and fined her 1 million rubles (US$16,301), even though the standard sentence for possession of no more than 2 grams of hash oil is 15 days. [17] On December 8, she was released by Russia in a 1-for-1 prisoner swap for Bout,[18] though at the same time as the exchange, Russia deported another American, Sarah Krivanek, detained for a domestic violence dispute. Although the Mercury were playing without their all-star guard Diana Taurasi (who sat out the season to play overseas), the Mercury still made it to the playoffs. [103][104] On April 22, 2015, they were both arrested on charges of assault and disorderly conduct after police responded to a fight between the two in their suburban home in Phoenix, Arizona. As we get something about his parents, we will update it here as soon as possible. I'm hurting, we're hurting". In the 2015 playoffs, Griner set a WNBA playoff record with 11 blocks (along with 18 points and 8 rebounds) in a game 1 victory against the Tulsa Shock, whom she also had 11 blocks against in a regular season game the year before. ", Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, earlier warned the White House "attempts by the American side to make noise in public don't help the practical settlement of issues.". "More important that when I spent 68 and 69 in Vietnam in the jungle for two years. "I'm just standing here overwhelmed with emotions," she said. [114] The couple's divorce was finalized in June 2016. Raymond Griner is a Marine veteran who served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, while Brittney Griners mother, Sandra Griner, is a full-time housewife. There are multiple parking options available for those looking to attend the Houston Rodeo. Griner has been detained in Moscow since February after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage. [85] She passed Candace Parker as the all-time NCAA women's dunks leader. Griner played college basketball at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Both had sustained some injuries. Dubbed a once-in-a-generation athlete and a franchise player, the 23-year-old is arguably one of . Trained by the Soviet military as a linguist, Bout began acquiring Soviet military transport planes and loaded them up with weapons. [99] Griner continues to push back on traditional gender roles as she regularly models clothes branded as "menswear" for Nike. [69][70], In the 201415 and 201516 off-seasons, Griner played in Russia for UMMC Ekaterinburg with teammate Diana Taurasi, winning back-to-back championships.[71][72]. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Brittney Griner, in full Brittney Yevette Griner, (born October 18, 1990, Houston, Texas, U.S.), American basketball player who is one of the game's leading centres, especially known for her play with the Phoenix Mercury, which she helped win a WNBA championship (2014). President Joe Biden called Griner's wife on Wednesday to reassure her he is doing all he can to press for her release. En route to the playoffs, Griner averaged 14.5 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game and 3.1 blocks per game as the Mercury finished 1618. Brittney holds American nationality. In the 2016 season, with the return of Diana Taurasi, the Mercury had a more successful playoff run. Criticism from the US including the description of Griner being "wrongfully detained" makes it "difficult to engage in detailed discussion of any possible exchanges", he said. Currently, she plays centre in for Phoenix Mercury. Griner was arrested on February 17, a few days before Russia invaded Ukraine. I just kind of look at it like, I'm just trying to help out, I'm just trying to make it not as tough for the next generation. Brittney Griner was already a star before she made her entry into the league. She is 32 years old. His exact date of birth and place are not known. Center, Is Detained in Russia", "American double Olympic basketball gold medallist arrested on drugs charges in Moscow", "Former Pentagon official: Russia could use WNBA star Brittney Griner as 'high-profile hostage', "Fears grow Russia could use US basketball star Brittney Griner as 'hostage', "U.S. Government Says Brittney Griner Was 'Wrongfully Detained', "Basketball star Brittney Griner could be brought home in a prisoner swap with a notorious arms dealer dubbed the 'Merchant of Death,' Russian media says", "Brittney Griner's guilty plea doesn't mean what you think it does. Griner was hailed as an "American hero" by fellow WNBA star, Nneka Ogwumike in the wake of the charges against her. Her mother is well educated but has no record of places of work. Griner came out as a lesbian in an interview with SI.com in 2013. Brittney Griners mother, Sandra Griner, is a full housewife. In the second round elimination game, the Mercury defeated the Connecticut Sun 8883 and advanced to the semi-finals. She hails from Houston, Texas, and her zodiac sign is Libra. She started her career as a basketball player right from her high school days in 2009. Read about our approach to external linking. Raymond Griner Age, Brittney Griner Husband, Wife, How Many Times She Got Married? I feel like I got a 500-pound brick off of my back. In her debut on May 27, 2013, against Chicago Sky, Griner equaled the WNBA dunk record, recording two dunks to equal Candace Parker's career total. I knew she was going to come home. Brittney Griner's birthday is on October 18, and she was born in 1990, in Houston, Texas, United States. The 2014 season would be a historic season for the Mercury with the combination of Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi and Candice Dupree as the dominant Big 3 to carry the team plus the arrival of new head coach Sandy Brondello, the Mercury finished 295, setting the WNBA record for most wins in a regular season. But after seeing Brittney Glory felt different. Raymond Griner is an American Military Veteran, who served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. In the first round elimination game, the Mercury defeated the Dallas Wings 10183. Baylor Star Open To Mavericks Owner's Offer", "Mercury rout Shock behind Griner's block party", "Watch Brittney Griner slam down the first dunk in WNBA playoff history", "Diana Taurasi and Mercury sweep to WNBA title over Sky", "Brittney Griner had a record-setting 11 blocks in the opening game of the WNBA playoffs", "Griner's Triple-Double Helps Mercury Beat Dream 9587", "Griner signs new multiyear deal with Mercury", "Brittney Griner scores career-high 38 points to lift Mercury to win over Fever", "Griner, Taurasi lead Mercury over Dream 10495", "Sky pull away late to beat Mercury 9486", "Mercury's Brittney Griner Leaves WNBA Bubble for Personal Reasons", "Brittney Griner's Impact Is Clear as W.N.B.A. In the second round elimination game, the Mercury defeated the number 3 seeded New York Liberty, Griner had 22 points 10 rebounds and 4 blocks in the win. He is well-known as the father of Brittney Griner, who is an American Professional Basketball Player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's NBA. WNBA star Brittney Griner may be most known for her current imprisonment in a Russian jail. Brittney Griner is the last child of the family. Read Also:- Brittney Griner Parents, Ethnicity, Brittney, father is a marine, hang in there Brittney! On March 12, 2017, Griner re-signed with the Mercury to a multi-year deal once her rookie contract expired. Women's . His weight is around 74 kg. 2 a facility in Russia's Mordovia region that traces its roots to a Gulag labor camp dubbed Temlag to serve a nine-year sentence for traveling into Russia with vape cartridges containing less than a gram of cannabis oil . Russian state prosecutors had requested 9.5 years in prison for Ms Griner, who said in her closing remarks that bringing the vape cartridges into Russia had been "an . [67] She was named as the MVP of the 2014 WCBA All-Star Game. [25], During her senior year, Griner led the Nimitz Cougars to the Texas 5A girls basketball state championship game, where Nimitz lost 5243 to Mansfield Summit High School. In 2021 during the regular season, the Mercury were the 4th seed in the Western Conference, going 19-13, with Griner averaging 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 32.8 minutes per game in the season, while playing 30 of 36 games. [62][63][64][65], Griner plays overseas in the WNBA off-season. Playing for her college team, she has a record of having over 2,000 points and 500 blocks. The double Olympic gold winner and US basketball ace, hailed as an American hero, faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug possession charges in Russia. The case comes amid ongoing tensions between Moscow and Washington over Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Brittney Griner pleads guilty to drug charges https://t.co/9vYe1tEFxp via @WBUR, Kaymarion Raymond (@fromwickedtowed) July 7, 2022. Griner with NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, an early admirer of her talent. Griner was arrested in February for possession of cannabis oil By Barbara Plett Usher BBC State Department correspondent Russia's detention of the basketball star and Olympic champion Brittney. Born Brittney Yevette Griner on October 18, 1990, in Houston, Texas, the athlete is of black ethnicity and an American citizen by virtue of her place of birth. He also served as a Harris County deputy sheriff in the 1980s when he was deported to Vietnam. Russia swaps basketball star for 'Merchant of Death', The troubling tale of a vanished basketball star, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. [6][7] She had a breakout senior year in 2012, as the three-time All-American was named the AP Player of the Year, the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, led Baylor in winning the National Championship, and won the Best Female Athlete ESPY Award. [45] She thus became the third WNBA player to dunk and first to do so twice in one game. Back in August, we covered WNBA star Brittney Griner's unsuccessful attempt to have her 28 day marriage to fellow player, Glory Johnson, annulled based on Griner's belief that Johnson was still intimate with her ex-boyfriend during the two women's courtship. Semper Fi. Now the US government is under growing pressure to do more to secure her freedom after she was "wrongfully detained". Raymond said he never doubted for one minute that Brittney would return home at some point. She was the 2012 winner of the Honda Sports Award for basketball[79][80] and the overall Honda-Broderick Cup winner for all sports. Duke's Alison Bales had held the previous record of 30 blocks in the 2006 NCAA Women's Tournament. "[96] In 2013, Griner was featured on the cover of ESPN Magazine. [115], Griner became engaged to Cherelle Watson in August 2018,[116] and they married in June 2019. Brittney Griner Father Raymond Griner is an American Military Veteran, who served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. She was later charged with intentionally importing narcotics into the country and pleaded guilty to drug possession and smuggling on 7 July, the second day of her trial. [48], In the 2014 season, Griner's stats would improve, as she averaged 15.6 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game and 3.7 blocks per game. 2023 FOX Television Stations, ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING: Man shot in apparent accidental shooting in Houston, police investigating, CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Houston homeowner speaks out after being victim of terrifying attempted carjacking, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' Actor, Dies at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm, G.O.A.T. In 2013, Griner became the first openly gay player to be endorsed by Nike in a multi-million dollar deal. Brittney Griner's Parents: Raymond Griner (Father), Sandra Griner (Mother) Siblings: Shkera Griner, Pier Grinder, and Decarlo Griner; Brittney Griner's Height in Inches: 6 feet 9 inches; "It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year. Presently they reside in Houston, Texas, United States. Griner left in the second half of the game with a knee injury. "On the 4 July, our family normally honours the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam war veteran. In May 2015, Brittney Griner married WNBA Basketball Player Glory Johnson, but Griner annulled the marriage just a month later. . Griner wears a pair of American size 17 mens shoes and has an arm length of 88.. 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 June 27. Well, she grew up along with her four siblings which include her three sisters and a brother. Brittney is currently at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio where she is receiving medical treatment. Griner decided in April 2012 not to participate in the 2012 Olympics due to family illness and her school schedule. They made it all the way to the WNBA finals and swept the Chicago Sky 3 games to 0, to capture the Mercury's third championship in franchise history. [22], Griner attended Nimitz High School in Houston. The US Womens Basketball Association (WNBA) star was arrested in February before boarding a flight to the US at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow. "People say 'stay busy.' Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall, which is above the average 5 feet 9 inches height of female basketball players, Griner is one of the tallets in the WNBA. Griner later won gold medals with the U.S. women's national basketball team in 2016 and 2021. Griner's wife, Cherelle, posted on Instagram in April about the painful wait. The duo has been going strong in their relationship, which has made Cherelle a popular WAG. Truth About Taylor Frankie Paul and Brayden Rowleys Relationship, Meet Hal Auden Cumberbatch, Benedict Cumberbatchs Son, Jessica McRaney is Gerald McRaneys Daughter Meet Her, Who Are Slade Smileys Kids? Griner was sentenced to nine years in Russian prison after hashish oil was found in her bags at a Moscow airport. The future WNBA star was born on 18 October 1990 to Raymond and Sandra Griner in Texas. Brittney Griner with her wife Cherelle Griner, Russia frees US basketball star in prisoner swap, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Canadian grandma helps police snag phone scammer, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus. The WNBA superstar was moved to female penal colony No. Talking of her family, her parents are her mother Sandra Griner, and her father Raymond Griner. [93] Griner had previously come out to her parents in high school, which her father did not accept gracefully, forcing her to live with an assistant coach for six weeks during her senior year. Type above and press Enter to search. On Monday, U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner appealed to President Joe Biden to secure her release from jail in Russia, . Heres more about the couple whose child made them celebrity parents. He is well-known as the father of Brittney Griner, who is an American Professional Basketball Player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Womens NBA. [113] Johnson gave birth to twin girls on October 12, 2015, 16 weeks premature. This is after her historical college run, in which she scored a record-setting 2,000 points with 500 shots blocked, both of which had never before happened in NCAA history by a male or female player, per the New York Times. PHOENIX - Standing 6 feet 8 inches tall with an 88-inch wingspan and wearing men's size 17 shoes, Brittney Griner is 200 pounds of talent. Rivals ranked Griner the nations top high school womens basketball player in 2009. Griner was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport in February this year while returning to play basketball in Russia. Roughly half of WNBA players compete overseas in the off-season. [111] The following day, and after less than a month of marriage, Griner filed for an annulment of the marriage citing fraud and duress;[112] the annulment was denied. She is of mixed ethnicity, of African American descent, and by nationality, she is American. Brittneys elder siblings have decided to keep their life off social media. The 32-year-old disappeared on 17 February - just days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine - as she was passing through Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport. Russian media have reported that Griner could eventually return to the US through a prisoner exchange. By birth her sun sign is Libra. Brittney Griner was born to Sandra Griner (Mother) and Raymond Griner (Father). In January 2010, she became only the seventh player to dunk during a women's college basketball game,[32] and only the second woman to dunk twice in a single college game, making the second and third dunks of her college career[33] in a lopsided 9918 victory against Texas State University. I think we should take that much of a stand. The same year, Brittney Yevette Griner was selected to the 2009 American basketball team, Phoenix Mercury. Head of content and Editor-at-large at Ghanafuo.com Dickson Ofori Siaw is a blunt writer who loves to make his readers see "the other perspectives of a news story". Based on our research, we rate ALTERED an image purportedly showing a CNN report that Russia ordered a DNA test to determine whether Griner should go to a male or female prison. Raymond Griners exact net worth is not known but his net worth might be more than $1 million. On August 25, 2019, Griner scored a season-high 34 points in a 9486 loss to the Chicago Sky. "At no stage was Brittney pressured to undertake the fertility process," Johnson's statement said, in opposition to Griner's claim that she did not know how long Johnson had been pregnant. Still, the process of returning US citizens includes a court decision and a formal pardon from current Russian President Vladimir Putin. It's not just about the money", "Twenty-One Finalists In The Mix For Final 2012 U.S. Women's Olympic Basketball Team Roster", "2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team Roster", "Past Honda Sports Award Winners for Basketball", "Griner Receives Honda Sports Award for WBB", "Past Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year Winners (Honda Cup)", "Griner sets NCAA women's mark with 8th dunk", "Past WBCA HS Coaches' All-America Teams", "WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year", "Moore named MVP of 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women, headlines All-Star Five", "40 Under 40: Brittney Griner Wants Our Kids to Feel Hope", "WNBA Continues Celebration Of Landmark 25th Season, Names Greatest Players In League History, "The W25", "Griner, Delle Donne and Diggins dealt with bullies", "WNBA's Brittney Griner on Being a Gay Athlete: I Felt Like Half of Me Wasn't Accepted", "Brittney Griner poses with giant reptile on 'ESPN Magazine' cover", "Life Out Loud: 'In My Skin,' by Brittney Griner", "Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner will not be on court for National Anthem this season", "Brittney Griner says she will protest during the national anthem all season", "WNBA players call on league to stop playing national anthem before games", "Brittney Griner Proposes To Girlfriend Glory Johnson", "WNBA's Brittney Griner Gets Engaged to Former Tennessee Vols Star Glory Johnson", "WNBA star Brittney Griner arrested on assault and disorderly conduct", "Mercury's Brittney Griner arrested on assault allegations", "Former Lady Vol Glory Johnson, WNBA Star Brittney Griner wed on Phoenix mountaintop", "WNBA Wedding! [51] During the series, Griner set WNBA finals records in game 1 for most blocks in a game (8) and most blocks in a quarter (5). This is the most important thing and means the most to me because shes my baby.". With tensions between the US and Russia since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, those close to Griner worry that she will be detained for long periods. Griner was named a WNBA All-Star, but missed the 2013 WNBA All-Star Game with a right knee injury, and was replaced by Tina Thompson. Initially, US authorities and representatives for Griner were largely silent, other than to say they were working to bring her home. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, the EuroLeague suspended all Russian teams, and US and WNBA officials began calling players out of the country. She appeared in "The Taboo Issue". [26] Houston mayor Bill White declared May 7, 2009, Brittney Griner Day. In 2016 and 2019, she renewed her contract with the Dallas Wings, formerly known as the Shock. The 31-year-old basketball player is the daughter of Sandra Griner (mother) and Raymond Griner (father). [39] She blocked more shots than any other Division I women's team that season. The basketball star is the youngest of three siblings, with two sisters, Shkera Griner and Pier Griner, and a brother, Decarlo Griner. "If she were Steph Curry or LeBron James, she wouldn't be over there at all because she'd be making enough money," Ms Spruill said. [47], In April 2013, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he would consider drafting Griner to the NBA, and Griner expressed interest in the opportunity, but no offer to try out was extended by the team. Brittney was born to father Raymond and mother Sandra Griner. NFL Player Damar Hamlin in Critical Condition after Collapsing on Field, Legendary Designer Vivienne Westwood Dies Aged 81, 10 Female IAS Officers who can inspire us. When Raymond Griner got married to Sandra Griner, they expanded their family by giving birth to four children: three girls and a boy named Shkera Griner, Pier Griner, Brittney Griner, and Decarlo Griner. The twists of the WNBA's most talked about marriage took an irreconcilable turn for Brittney Griner. [91], She was also named one of ESPNW's Impact 25 in 2014. The U.S. says he sold them all over the world. Father of Qatari Manchester United bidder Sheikh Jassim admits he 'doesn't like the investment' and 'isn't even 'a football fan' - but says his son is still 'pushing hard' to get a 4.5bn deal . At 205 centimetres tall and with two Olympic gold medals under her belt, Ms Griner or "BG" as she is known to basketball fans is one of the most recognisable figures in American basketball. [43], Her college career came to an end in the 2013 NCAA women's basketball tournament when Baylor lost to the University of Louisville Cardinals in the Sweet 16.[44]. [43], Griner was the sole player still playing in college on the 2012 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team finalists roster. In early May, however, the State Department said it considered Griner to be "wrongfully" detained, and a lengthy campaign to secure her release began. The legendary 6-foot-9-inch Baylor womens college basketball player joined the WNBAs Phoenix Mercury in 2013 after being first drafted overall; she won the WNBA All-Star title in her first year with the team. She made her remarks after Mercury players refused to take the floor during a pre-season game in Bradenton, Florida. [81], She was the 2012 recipient of the Wade Trophy, presented to the best female NCAA Division I basketball player who embodies the "Spirit of Margaret Wade. The 31-year-old, who measures 6ft 9 in height, plays for Phoenix Mercury, a team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Phoenix Mercury center popped the. [58] Without Griner, the Mercury finished 139 as the number 5 seed. 8 min read. [9] Standing 6ft 9in (206cm) tall, Griner wears a men's U.S. size 17 shoe and has an arm span of 87.5in (222cm). In 2018, she became engaged to Cherelle Watson. [10][4], Griner led the U.S. national women's basketball team to victory at the Rio Olympics in 2016. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 08: Phoenix Mercury fan Carley Givens takes a photo of a "Black Lives Matter" mural depicting Brittney Griner outside the Footprint Center on December 08, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. She played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears in Waco, Texas. Brittney Griner parents: Meet Raymond Griner and Sandra Griner, Wayne Shorter family, wife, children, parents, siblings, Wayne Shorter parents: Meet Joseph Shorter, Louise Shorter, Wayne Shorter siblings: Meet Alan Shorter, Hajia4Real tops Twitter trends following U.S. jail reports, Sulley Muntari, Agyeman Badu, Asamoah Gyan, others visit Christian Atsus family home, VIDEO: Government will be fully involved in providing Christian Atsu a befitting burial Dr. Bawumia, Christian Atsus mortal remains arrive in Ghana via Turkish Airlines, Maybe I created enemies along the line Kofi Amoabeng on UT Banks collapse, Christian Atsu was one of Ghanas finest personnel Akufo-Addo. "I've always been open about who I am and my sexuality," she said. In February 2022, Griner arrived in Russia to play in the Russian Premier League during the WNBA offseason. "I would just tell him Id like to thank him for all of his time and effort and his administration for what theyve done to get her back home because without him they couldnt have done it," Raymond Griner said. [123], On the second day of her trial, July 7, Griner pleaded guilty[a] but said she had no intent to break the law. She follows the Christianity religion. In addition to lettering in basketball throughout high school, she played varsity volleyball as a freshman. The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their f. Two-time Olympic gold winner Griner is one of the highest-paid players in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and has been hailed for her dunking ability. Despite wishing to be "normal", her unique talent on the basketball court was quickly noticed by coaches at the Nimitz High School in Houston. [54] In 2017, Griner would have the best season of her career thus far. [16] US officials stated that she was "wrongfully detained". In August 2016, Griner re-signed with UMMC Ekaterinburg for the 201617 off-season. However, her father's name is unclear. They would make it as far as the second round where they lost to the Minnesota Lynx in the elimination game. The Mercury upset the Fever in the first round elimination game, as Griner had 18 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks. Heightline.com 2023. Raymond was a Marine Veteran who served in Vietnam for two tours in 1968 and 1969. Griner was the only college player in the group. and she said YES!! Starting in her sophomore year, Griner practiced with the boys' basketball team, and worked with a Nimitz football coach to develop her leg strength in preparation for learning to dunk. Raymond Griners ethnicity is African-American. At her pre-trial hearing, Griner was given a six-month extension to her detention until December 2022. Press Esc to cancel. . A post shared by BG (@brittneyyevettegriner). In fact, Brittney 's own father - Ray, was a Vietnam War veteran - initially did not show a lot of support for her after she came out as gay. Furthermore, Johnson has two twins children. In the second round elimination game, the Mercury defeated the Connecticut Sun 9686, advancing to the semi-finals for the third year in a row, they would face off against the Seattle Storm. Griner was named to the McDonalds All-American team in 2009. She was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury during the 2013 draft as the first overall pick. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Raymond Griners parents information is not available anywhere on the web. On March 22, Griner set an NCAA tournament record with 14 blocked shots in a 4933 win against the Georgetown Hoyas. Griner scored 26 points along with 9 rebounds in the win. [28], Griner was named a WBCA All-American and participated in the 2009 WBCA High School All-America Game, leading the team by scoring 20 points and collecting 9 rebounds.[29]. In Arizona, she had been prescribed medicinal cannabis, which is illegal in Russia. American basketball star Brittney Griner could face up to a decade behind bars after pleading guilty to drug possession charges at a Russian court. The former Pentagon official Evelyn Farkas expressed concern that Griner could be used as a "high-profile hostage" by Russia. "[101] She said she does not believe that the national anthem should be played at sporting events. In the year 2013, the pair met and started . Two of the staples of Brittney's vocabulary are "sir" and "ma'am." A strong selling. Griner, who is considered one of the best players in the world, was detained in February at an airport near Moscow when vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage. Beijing Great Wall finished the season as the runner-up in the playoff.