By Deon J. Hampton. UConn women's basketball players show their support. Griner was one of a number of American women's basketball stars who had played for professional teams in Russia. In her spare time she enjoys working out, exploring and watching basketball. Brittney Griner played for the U.S. Olympic basketball team in August 2021. one of Russias most notorious penal colonies, Whelan was not included in the eventual prisoner swap, W.N.B.A. But the question remains: What was one of the crown jewels of American basketball doing in Russia? The United States has negotiated the release of Brittney Griner from a Russian penal colony in exchange for international arms dealer Viktor Bout, President Joe Biden confirmed on Thursday. In a written statement, Griner's family extended their "sincere gratitude" to Biden, and said they were praying for Whelan's release. A week into Brittney Griners trial in Russian court, the American basketball star pleaded guilty to carrying cannabis oil in her luggage and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. For almost two decades, Bout had been the world's most notorious arms dealer, selling weapons to rogue states, rebels and warlords in Africa, Asia and South America. Griner has played with the team since 2015 during the WNBA offseason. June 14, 2022 A Russian court on Tuesday extended the pretrial detention of the W.N.B.A. Griners presence in Russia wasnt a surprise as there "She's safe, she's on a plane, she's on her way home after months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances," Biden told reporters at the White House. Trump wrote on social media. Cash's former college and WNBA teammate Sue Bird also tweeted a reaction in the morning. And Kalmanovich, the man who helped Sue Bird attain millionaire status? "She's safe, she's on a plane, she's on her way home after months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances," Biden told reporters at the White House. - Griner was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in February 2022 just days before Moscow launched its offensive in Ukraine. WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been released in a prisoner swap with Russia in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout and was heading home on Thursday, ending what President Joe Biden called months of "hell" for her and her wife. That's the main thing," Bout said on Russian television, adding he had not been told what would happen. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. Known as "BG" to basketball fans, she has played for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia during the WNBA winter off-season since 2014. Ms Griner has been held for over four Griner's flight is expected to arrive in San Antonio, Texas. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice| Do Not Sell My Personal Information| Ad Choices star and two-time Olympic gold medalist who had been detained in Russia since February on drug charges, was released from custody on Thursday in a prisoner swap with the United States. The L.A. Times reported the late founder of Spartak, Shabtai Kalmanovich, appeared to make little money off the franchise that recruited Americans like Bird and Taurasi. Griner is one of the best basketball players in the world. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Brittney Griner, an eight-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, was found guilty of drug charges in Russia and sentenced to nine and FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. For experts on the Russian security services, Moscow's lasting interest in Bout hint strongly at Russian intelligence ties. The exchange did not include Paul Whelan, still being held by the Russian government, and a United States citizen considered wrongfully detained by the U.S. government. She was charged with drug smuggling for possessing vape cartridges with cannabis oil. WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from Russian detention, President Joe Biden said Thursday. In the weeks before Griners trial began in July, Cherelle Griner had publicly expressed frustration with Biden for her wifes continued detention. Reporting by Nandita Bose and Humeyra Pamuk; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and Moira Warburton; Writing by Jeff Mason and Steve Holland; Editing by Will Dunham, Heather Timmons, Frances Kerry, Nick Macfie and Daniel Wallis, Saudi foreign minister: 'All bets off' if Iran gets nuclear weapon, Jersey blast toll rises to five as hope of finding survivors fades, Lockerbie plane bombing suspect taken into U.S. custody, TC Energy says has not found cause of Keystone oil pipeline leak, Exclusive: Odesa grain traders don't plan to suspend grain exports, British PM Sunak faces new demands from his fractious party, Erdogan discusses Black Sea grain deal with Putin, Zelenskiy, Britain's foreign minister: Ukraine peace talks can't be used as cover for Russian rearmament, Most Gulf markets retreat on Fed rate woes, oil price slump, See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays, Basketball star detained in February, got 9-year sentence, Griner traveled to UAE and then on toward U.S. in swap, Jailed arms dealer Bout was one of world's most wanted men. Former President Donald Trump derided the exchange without Whelan. She is originally from Houston, Texas and spent the past two years covering the Oklahoma City Thunder. Bout was variously dubbed "the merchant of death" and "the sanctions buster" for his ability to get around arms embargoes. A week into Brittney Griners trial in Russian court, the American basketball star pleaded guilty to carrying cannabis oil in her luggage and could face up to 10 years in "This is a gift to Vladimir Putin, and it endangers American lives," House of Representatives Republican leader Kevin McCarthy wrote on social media, referring to Russia's president. Cherelle Griner, who said she was "overwhelmed with emotions," thanked Biden and his administration. The Russian statement did not identify Griner by name, but said the detainee is an American professional basketball player and two-time US Olympian. The W.N.B.A.s players and fans pushed furiously for Brittney Griners release from a Russian penal colony, but her plight also highlighted gender inequities in sports. Its yet another shocking turn of events in the detention of Griner, who is simply one of the best female basketball players alive, and has been in Russian custody since the outbreak of the ground war in Ukraine. After the announcement, Griners family, friends and teammates began loudly proclaiming their support for her and urging the Biden administration to work to free her. Last month, she was taken to a penal colony in the Russian region of Mordovia to serve her prison sentence. The swap was arranged after months of talks during a time of high tension between the two countries The Biden administration was excited Thursday to announce that it had reached a deal with Russia to free WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner from a Russian championship with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014 and has won two Olympic gold medals with the U.S. womens national basketball team. Elon Musk is selling Twitter HQs espresso machines, Eames chairs, and sculptures in a giant auction, Elon Musks Neuralink staff claim his demands to rush brain implant trials led to the needless deaths of 1,500 animals, Men are dropping out of the labor force because theyre upset about their social status, according to a new study, CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice. We deliver your empty moving and storage container to your residence or place of business. The swap was a rare instance of cooperation between the United States and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP) (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images). And its not the only choice. Griner was released from detention Thursday. "In the middle of the night they simply woke me up and said 'Get your things together'," he said. 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. Griners complicated detention has prompted worries that her high-profile status as an American athlete has made her a political pawn as tensions escalate between the U.S. and Russia.. WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been released in a prisoner swap with Russia in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout and was She felt sorry for me, being so dumb. Countries with tense relationships with the U.S. are more often the same ones that offer the most to Americas basketball greats. San Joaquin County. WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from Russian custody in a prisoner swap. Contact US : The customs [2] The team has participated in four FIBA World Championship for Women and their best finish has been a silver medal in 1998, 2002 and 2006. In May, the U.S. State Department said Griner had been wrongfully detained and that government officials who dealt with hostage affairs would work to secure her release. Brittney Griner, a W.N.B.A. Griner plays for the Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg. players was $228,094, while the top N.B.A. The financial incentives are compelling. "Today my family is whole. The decision to exchange Bout was a fraught one, but Biden and his team did everything possible to bring Griner home, and ultimately they have succeeded in this effort. Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. "And the president decided that it was important to at least bring Brittney home now and continue to work on getting Paul back, too.". She had pleaded guilty at her trial saying she used the cartridges to relieve pain from sports injuries and had made an "honest mistake". Griner, 32, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and star of the Women's National Basketball Association's Phoenix Mercury, was arrested on Feb. 17 at a Moscow airport after vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is banned in Russia, were found in her luggage. "What a 'stupid' and unpatriotic embarrassment for the USA!!!" Even as Biden celebrates Griners freedom, he may be hard-pressed to justify the release of a notorious figure such as Bout, and the deal could risk creating an incentive for the arrest or abduction of Americans abroad. Containers are delivered to your business or home, eliminating you from renting a truck and mini storage for your project. "These past few months have been hell for Brittney," and for her wife, family and teammates, Biden said. spokeswoman said that all the others besides Griner had left Russia and Ukraine by March 5 with the war underway.). All Rights Reserved. The Biden administration tried for months to strike a deal with Russia to free Griner. (A W.N.B.A. CNN Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and seven-time Womens National Basketball Association All-Star with the Phoenix Mercury basketball Rebecca Lynn Hammon (born March 11, 1977) (Russian: ) is an American-Russian professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces of the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA). In five games this season, she has Where it gets complicated is there is no evidence that Russian Premier League basketball is remotely as popular as the WNBA. Christine fell in love with sports at a young age and looks to bring that competitive spirit to each of her stories. He said in his announcement, without providing details, that the Russians treated Whelan's case differently. Brittney Griner of the United States reacts REUTERS/Brian Snyder//File Photo. Christine Butterfield. The NBA is projecting $10 billion in revenue this season, according to Commissioner Adam Silver. Griner's teammates and other WNBA players cheered her release. Whelan told CNN in an interview: "I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. Russia continues to claim the arrest of a prominent American citizen has nothing to do with its invasion of its neighboring country. "This is a gift to Vladimir Putin, and it endangers American lives," House of Representatives Republican leader Kevin McCarthy wrote on social media, referring to Russia's president. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. Griner, held since a week before the invasion of Ukraine, traveled from a Russian penal colony to Moscow, then to Abu Dhabi airport in the United Arab Emirates where the exchange took place, with the two walking past each other on the tarmac, U.S. officials said. But some are asking why Griner, a successful American athlete, was even in Russia during a time of upheaval. Brittney Griner, a W.N.B.A. In February, Russian authorities detained Brittney Griner, an American basketball player, on drug charges, after she was stopped at an airport near Moscow. For female players, the salaries offered by foreign leagues can be a real draw. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. "And the president decided that it was important to at least bring Brittney home now and continue to work on getting Paul back, too.". March 7, 2022, 4:11 PM PST. Dozens of male American players, including some with N.B.A. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre expressed gratitude that Saudi Arabia and other countries had raised the issue but said the talks were between Russia and the United States. off-season. We will never give up," he said. UConn's Geno Auriemma to coach Huskies days after mother's death. The Russian Federal Customs Service said that a sniffer dog had prompted it to search Griners carry-on luggage, and that it had found vape cartridges containing hashish oil. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. Biden said it was his job as president "to make the hard calls and protect American citizens everywhere.". Casey Portable Storage three areas in the Central Valley with warehouses located in Stockton, Modesto and Atwater, CA. Not only do we provide do-it-yourself solutions, we also offer full service moving and storage services. Pay in the WNBA is lower than in the NBA partly because the season is much shorter, with 36 games compared to 82 in the NBA, and the brands have considerably different earning power. Nneka Ogwumike, the head of the WNBA Players Association, agreed in an interview with Good Morning America that financial incentives compelled Griner to spend the last seven years in Russia for the winter despite safety concerns and political tensions. Former Husky Stefanie Dolson was among the first to react in the morning. In Russia, which is regarded as the most lucrative overseas market for players, teams are typically owned by the countrys oligarchs. Merced County By Deon J. Hampton. Griner, 32, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and star of the Women's National Basketball Association's Phoenix Mercury, was arrested on Feb. 17 at a Moscow airport after vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is banned in Russia, were found in her luggage. WNBA star Brittney Griner released from Russian custody in a high-profile prisoner swap between the U.S. and Moscow Griner was detained in February at Griner was taken into Russian custody on drug charges in February. The news of her release broke Thursday morning and UConn star Paige Bueckers said on her Instagram story that it was the "best news to wake up to.". As Griner was on a flight bound for Texas, Bout arrived in Moscow and hugged his mother and wife after stepping onto the tarmac, television images showed. The Russia women's national basketball team is administered by the Russian Basketball Federation. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. [1/14]Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Basketball - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v United States - August 4, 2021. The reality is, shes over there because of a gender issue pay inequity, Ogwumike, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, told GMA. Brittney Griner runs up court during a U.S. women's basketball gold-medal game against Japan at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug. 8, 2021. Russia's foreign ministry said it traded Griner for Bout, 55, a Russian citizen who in 2012 was given a 25-year prison sentence by a U.S. court on charges related to his arms-dealing career. Brittney Griner, 32, was exchanged for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer known as the Merchant of Death, who had been serving a 25-year prison sentence for conspiring to sell weapons to people who said they planned to kill Americans. Bout was one of the world's most wanted men before his arrest in 2008 in Thailand in a sting operation by U.S. agents who recorded him offering to sell missiles to people he believed were Colombian guerrillas. Cherelle Griner spoke to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris the day before Brittney Griner pleaded guilty; afterward, she told The New York Times in a statement that she would remain concerned and outspoken until her wife returned home. A person briefed on the negotiations said that in June, the United States offered to trade Bout for Griner and another American, the former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. Biden said Griner was in good spirits and had displayed "grit and incredible dignity" throughout the ordeal. They have numerous choices to make lots of additional money.. This is a carousel. We go over there to supplement our incomes, and quite frankly, we go over there to maintain our game.. UConn women's basketball players show their support. BG and I will remain committed to the work of getting every American home," she added, using her wife's initials. She currently plays for UMMC Ekaterinburg, a women's basketball team that competes in the Russian Premier League. A Biden administration official said the United States had proposed different options for Whelan's release and that Russia's "sham espionage" charges against him were the reason it treated his case differently. Griner was detained on Feb. 17 after the Russian authorities accused her of carrying hashish oil in her luggage at an airport near Moscow. "What a 'stupid' and unpatriotic embarrassment for the USA!!!" Whelan told CNN in an interview: "I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. players are paid tens of millions of dollars. US basketball player Brittney Griner (C) is escorted by police before a hearing during her trial on [+] charges of drug smuggling, in Khimki, outside Moscow on August 2, 2022. Bout was one of the world's most wanted men before his arrest in 2008 in Thailand in a sting operation by U.S. agents who recorded him offering to sell missiles to people he believed were Colombian guerrillas. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. Or, we'll take care of driving your Casey container to your new home or business. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred.". Griner is one of the best basketball players in the world. WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner reacts as she listens to the verdict standing in a cage in a courtroom in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. He was shot dead in a contract killing in 2009. The swap was a rare instance of cooperation between the United States and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. A Moscow court has reportedly extended WNBA basketball player Brittney Griners arrest till May 19, which could extend her detention for 63 more days. Professional womens basketball player Brittney Griner has been transferred to a Russian penal colony, according to a statement issued by her legal team Wednesday. The news was met with overwhelming joy in the womens basketball community, which has been working to keep Griners case in the public eye and talking about her plight at every available opportunity. This is a BETA experience. Keep For As Long As You need Renee Montgomery added to the sentiment with simple message. The only reason you go there is for money, Taurasi said on an ESPN podcast that aired in 2020. That is the only reason you leave your country to go to a different country to play basketball., When 60 Minutes asked Bird about Russian billionaire Shabtai Kalmanovich recruiting her for Spartak Moscow, she replied, Im a millionaire because of it., WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has pushed back on the theory that playing overseas is strictly a financial decision. Other major WNBA stars have spent their offseasons overseas, including Liz Cambage, Diana Taurasi, and Sue Bird, who is married to the outspoken soccer star Megan Rapinoe, who led a campaign for pay equity in a historic lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation. All rights reserved. Here is what we know about Griners detention in Russia. She arrived in a courtroom outside Moscow on Friday as something WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been released in a prisoner swap with Russia in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout and was heading home on Thursday, ending what President Joe Biden called months of "hell" for her and her wife. Griner reportedly makes $1 million a year overseas playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg in the Russian Premier League. Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for weeks as it escalates its war on Ukraine. Store on-site or have us haul your loaded container to its final destination. players in the off-season is to go overseas and play, Engelbert told The New York Times. Griners wife believes the opportunity to supplement her income absolutely played into the basketball stars decision to head to Russia in the first place. No one even bothered to sell game tickets, he told the newspaper, but Kalmanovich put the players in a gated house, gave them money to dine at the best restaurants, and sent them on vacations., Henry Abbott, another former ESPN basketball writer who now runs the digital media company True Hoop, ran the money-laundering rumors by a source: I asked a veteran of the game, and she laughed, asked if I really didnt know. Brittney Griner situation explained: WNBA All-Star released fro [email protected]. Stanislaus County Just give us a ring at (209) 531-9010 for more info. U.S. officials spoke to him on Thursday about the Griner deal. Offers may be subject to change without notice. As of 2015, UMMC Ekaterinburg was paying Taurasi a reported $1.5 million per season. The maximum salary in 2022 for W.N.B.A. "In the middle of the night they simply woke me up and said 'Get your things together'," he said. Biden said it was his job as president "to make the hard calls and protect American citizens everywhere.". - Griner was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in February 2022 just days before Moscow launched its offensive in Ukraine. (Reporting by Nandita Bose and Humeyra Pamuk; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and Moira Warburton; Writing by Jeff Mason and Steve Holland; Editing by Will Dunham, Heather Timmons, Frances Kerry, Nick Macfie and Daniel Wallis), NASA's Orion capsule blazes home from test flight to moon, President of the United States since 2021, A baby whose anti-vax parents rejected heart surgery over fear of 'blood that is tainted' had the life-saving surgery anyway after a court intervened, Nurses at Atlanta hospital under fire over TikTok video mocking maternity patients. The Ukrainian port of Odesa was not operating on Sunday after the latest Russian attack on the region's energy system, Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky said, but added that grains traders were not expected to suspend exports. On Monday, U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner appealed to President Joe Biden to secure her release from jail in Russia, admitting in a handwritten letter that she Some Republicans criticized the Democratic president for making the swap. Griner, an All-Star with the Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was detained following her arrest at Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport in A conditional grant of clemency for Bout was not completed until Thursday, after U.S. officials in the UAE verified Griner had arrived there. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been released in a prisoner swap with Russia in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout and was heading home on Thursday, ending what President Joe Biden called months of "hell" for her and her wife. How the lineup may look, 1 to 4 inches of snow expected Sunday in CT, weather service says, CIAC football finals recap: FCIAC, SCC each crown two champions, Bear hibernating in tree near West Hartford Center will not be moved, officials say, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds visit CT's Essex Steam Train, Dixon, Greenwich pickoff five passes, roll through Fairfield Prep for second Class LL championship in five years, What UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma said about Brittney Griner's release from Russian prison, CT has poured millions into school security since Sandy Hook, Jacobs: Inspired Greenwich makes emphatic case to be No. pic.twitter.com/0GeDwGvvXw, Brittney Griner released from Russian prison: UConn women's basketball players react on Twitter. Nevertheless, she was sentenced on Aug. 4 to nine years in a penal colony. By Tania Ganguli,Jonathan Abrams and Emma Bubola. Did they get better sponsors, sell more tickets I wondered? "Today my family is whole. The wife of basketball player Brittney Griner said the imprisoned star tried calling her via the U.S. Embassy in Russia nearly a dozen times Saturday, but the U.S. government never connected the call. He said in his announcement, without providing details, that the Russians treated Whelan's case differently. The swap was arranged after months of talks during a time of high tension between the two countries after Russia's February invasion of Ukraine. And so BG is not here to say this but I will gladly speak on her behalf and say that BG and I will remain committed to the work of getting every American home.. season, about 70 players decided to play with international teams instead of resting during the off-season, with more than a dozen of them competing in Russia and Ukraine. The outdated view is essentially that the only choice for W.N.B.A. "We are not giving up. Even as she expressed joy about the imminent return of her wife, Cherelle Griner took time to advocate for Whelan. Brittney Griner, the 6ft 9in WNBA star, has been held in Moscow since February after she was detained by immigration officials after allegedly attempting to enter Russia while in possession of illegal contraband. Anyone can read what you share. So today my family is home but as you all are aware, there's so many other families who are not whole, Cherelle Griner said. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone with Griner from the Oval Office, along with Griner's wife, Cherelle. Griner's flight is expected to arrive in San Antonio, Texas. ESPN's Holly Rowe shared a photo of UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma, who worked with Griner on the U.S. Olympic team. Biden who had been under growing political pressure to free the Americans was said to have backed the offer. Man zip-tied, set on fire by California car thieves after stopping to help seemingly stranded woman: Report, Heavy rain, wind, snow blows through California into Sierra, Viktor Bout reveals what he said to Brittney Griner as the two met on the tarmac during their exchange, US releases notorious arms dealer in prisoner swap for Brittney Griner, Griner case latest in string of high-profile prisoner swaps, Phoenix Suns 'grateful' for Brittney Griner's return to United States, Putin says more US-Russia prisoner exchanges possible after Griner release. Nevertheless, she was sentenced on Aug. 4 to nine years in a penal colony. She previously served as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). In 2016, ESPNs Kate Fagan visited Griner and Taurasi in Russia and observed near-empty arenas, cheap tickets, and an apparent lack of any significant culture around watching womens basketball as signs that suspicious funds were bankrolling Russian teams. Womens Basketball World Reacts To Brittney Griners Release From Russian Penal Colony More From Forbes Dec 9, 2022,07:20am EST Dec 9, 2022,07:00am EST Golf Her next court hearing is scheduled for July 14, and Griners legal team said they expect the trial to conclude at the beginning of August, according to Reuters. "The choice before us was one or none," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CBS News. Id like to plead guilty, your honor. But Whelan was not included in the eventual prisoner swap, despite months of efforts by U.S. diplomats to include him in the deal. Russian authorities detained Griner, a seven-time WNBA All-Star for the Phoenix Mercury and an NCAA champion at Baylor University, at Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport in February after claiming to find two vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her carry-on luggage. Brittney Griner released from Russian prison: UConn women's basketball players react on Twitter. I didnt want to break the law, Griner told a judge Thursday at the second hearing of her trial, according to Reuters. She was sentenced to a penal colony for nine years, near the 10-year maximum. The arrangements came together within the past 48 hours after Biden had made the decision to exchange Bout, the White House said. Our containers make any commercial or household project cost effective. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Thats down from 89 players who went overseas during the off-seasons of 2017 to 2018, but close to half of the leagues 144 players in total.. But there was no intent. While fans immediately rallied around her on social media, her family and friends initially remained quiet about the situation out of fear that drawing attention to her would politicize the case. players have shied away from playing in Russia, tend to have more government and corporate financial support, spoke to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. players make a fraction of what their male counterparts do in the N.B.A. All The Space You Need At a news conference Thursday morning, President Biden said Griner was on a plane and would be home within 24 hours. Another UConn great, Swin Cash, showed support on Twitter. BG and I will remain committed to the work of getting every American home," she added, using her wife's initials. star and two-time Olympic gold medalist who had been detained in Russia since February on drug charges, was released from custody on Geno is ALL of us, next time we see @brittneygriner Welcome home! Detained American basketball player Brittney Griner was found to be in good condition by a U.S. Embassy official in Moscow who was granted access to her on Rebecca Lobo, former UConn star and current ESPN analyst, also tweeted her support forGriner, along with her wife Cherelle. Michael Crowley, Lara Jakes and Michael D. Shear contributed reporting. Griner was released in a prisoner swap that involved Griners detention first became public on in March. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred.". North Korea Wants Dollars. She won a W.N.B.A. Griner was arrested back in February and charged with possession of cannabis-derived oil cartridges. Our containers allow you to do your move at your own pace making do-it-yourself moving easy and stress free. WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from Russian custody in a prisoner swap. The two countries also swapped prisoners in April when Russia released former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed and the United States released Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko. FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. A conditional grant of clemency for Bout was not completed until Thursday, after U.S. officials in the UAE verified Griner had arrived there. It's a Sign of Trouble. Russia rejected Biden's attempt to gain the freedom of Paul Whelan, a former Marine also held in Russia, forcing Biden to opt to get only Griner out. Saturday marked the fourth anniversary of Cherelle Griner and Brittney Griner, a basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury. Griners wife, Cherelle Griner, said at the news conference, Today is just a happy day. Cherelle Griner had maintained public pressure on the White House not to forget about her wife. We'll pick up your loaded container and bring it to one of our local storage facilities. 1 team, CT's rarest bat wins endangered species protections in court. And I want to thank all of the hard working public servants across my administration, who worked tirelessly to secure a release.. Dec. 8, 2022 Updated: Dec. 8, 2022 1:27 p.m. American basketball player Brittney Griner, 31, was detained in Russia after local authorities said they found vape cartridges in her suitcase. The UAE president and Saudi crown prince led mediation efforts that secured Griner's release, a UAE-Saudi joint statement said. Biden said Griner was in good spirits and had displayed "grit and incredible dignity" throughout the ordeal. Brittney Griner arrived in Russia in February to play basketball, one of the sports biggest stars. Bout was variously dubbed "the merchant of death" and "the sanctions buster" for his ability to get around arms embargoes. Among the most outspoken athletes through Griner's ordeal was UConn legend Breanna Stewart, who has been tweeting daily that Griner has been 'wrongfully detained in Russia' while tagging the White House, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. 6 UConn women at No. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. "I made it. Griner, 32, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and star of the Women's National Basketball Association's Phoenix Mercury, was arrested on Feb. 17 at a Moscow Id like to give my testimony later. Griners appeal of her conviction was denied in October, and in November she was moved to one of Russias most notorious penal colonies. Former President Donald Trump derided the exchange without Whelan. "These past few months have been hell for Brittney," and for her wife, family and teammates, Biden said. The leagues average base salary this season is $120,600 and the top WNBA salary is $228,000. After the 2021 W.N.B.A. Many American female basketball players competed with high-paying Russian teams in the time before the war with Ukraine. Speaking at the trial on July 27, Griner said she still did not know how the cartridges ended up in her bag. All rights reserved. Griner was one of a number of American women's basketball stars who had played for professional teams in Russia. (Photo by Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP) (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images), Dallas Mavericks Touched Base With The Detroit Pistons About Trading For Nerlens Noel, New York Yankees Prioritize Logic In Pursuit Of Free Agent Carlos Rodn, Breaking Down The San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Situation After Jimmy Garoppolo Injury, Manchester United Women Lay Down Champions League Credentials With First Point Away To City Rivals, Pittsburgh Steelers Rookie George Pickens Tantrum Doesnt Bother Mike Tomlin, ROH Final Battle 2022 Results: Winners, News And Notes On December 10. American officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of detaining U.S. citizens on dubious pretexts. April 26, 2022, 5:00 AM. The W.N.B.A. players have shied away from playing in Russia in favor of playing for teams in Turkey, Spain and other countries. She had pleaded guilty at her trial saying she used the cartridges to relieve pain from sports injuries and had made an "honest mistake". Russia rejected Biden's attempt to gain the freedom of Paul Whelan, a former Marine also held in Russia, forcing Biden to opt to get only Griner out. Russia's foreign ministry said it traded Griner for Bout, 55, a Russian citizen who in 2012 was given a 25-year prison sentence by a U.S. court on charges related to his arms-dealing career. We never stopped pushing for her release, and took painstaking and intense negotiations. In August, Griner was convicted by a Russian court on a charge of attempting to smuggle narcotics into Russia. Sign up for theFortune Features email list so you dont miss our biggest features, exclusive interviews, and investigations. For the Mercury, her salary was $221,450 for the 2021-22 season, making her one of the WNBAs highest-paid players. International womens teams, which tend to have more government and corporate financial support than those in the W.N.B.A., can pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a season, and sometimes more than $1 million. "There was no mediation involved," she said. She had been found guilty in August of trying to smuggle illegal narcotics into Russia and was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony. How good is the Big East Conference this season? She was charged with drug smuggling for possessing vape cartridges with cannabis oil. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. We Do The Driving Paige Bueckers' support of Brittney Griner coming home (Screenshot: Instagram/@paigebueckers). Shes finally COMING HOME!!!! U.S. officials spoke to him on Thursday about the Griner deal. Griner was making $1 million-$1.5 million playing for oligarch-funded UMMC Ekaterinburg, a superpower that has long shelled out top dollar for the worlds best womens players. Cherelle Griner, who said she was "overwhelmed with emotions," thanked Biden and his administration. 20 Maryland: What you need to know, How Ins Bettencourt secured UConn's win with late free throws, UConn men's basketball team 'connected' on and off the court, UConn women's basketball could have seven players available Sunday vs. Maryland. star had been detained in Russia on drug charges for nearly 10 months before she was released in a prisoner swap on Thursday. For almost two decades, Bout had been the world's most notorious arms dealer, selling weapons to rogue states, rebels and warlords in Africa, Asia and South America. She was arrested at an airport near Moscow in February when A look back at recent history suggests that prominent female athletes, especially basketball players, can just get paid better in Russia than they can at home. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!!!! "We are not giving up. She has only had one Thanksgiving in the states in nine years since shes been pro, and she misses all that stuff. "I made it. Adding in marketing deals and bonuses, the WNBA says its players can make up to $650,000, while the average base salary in the NBA exceeds $7 million. Brittney Griner For experts on the Russian security services, Moscow's lasting interest in Bout hint strongly at Russian intelligence ties. Just because, you know, she cant make enough money in the WNBA, like, to sustain her life.. American basketball player Brittney Griner has been moved to a penal colony in Russia, her lawyers said, after a court rejected her appeal of a nine-year prison BG would wholeheartedly love to not go overseas, Cherelle Griner told ABC News in late May. We never stopped pushing for her release.". W.N.B.A. A Russian mining corporation and its billionaire owner Iskandar Makhmudov funds the club where Griner competed, UMMC Ekaterinburg. Speaking at the trial on July 27, Griner said she still did not know how the cartridges ended up in her bag. Biden lamented that the United States was unable to win Whelan's release. What We Know About Brittney Griners Release From Russia, https://www.nytimes.com/article/brittney-griner-russia.html. Though the WNBA generates $60 million in revenue annually, Silver said in 2018 that its costs exceed that amount, and the league has lost $10 million on average each year that it has existed., This offseason, 70 WNBA players went abroad. They also thanked former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who traveled to Moscow in an effort to win the release of Griner and Whelan, but who did not act on behalf of the government. experience, are still choosing to play in Russia. S&P Index data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. Griner's teammates and other WNBA players cheered her release. The arrangements came together within the past 48 hours after Biden had made the decision to exchange Bout, the White House said. Some Republicans criticized the Democratic president for making the swap. Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for weeks as it escalates its war on Ukraine. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. Griner was traveling to Russia to rejoin her professional team, UMMC Yekaterinburg, which she played for during the W.N.B.A. A spokesperson for the WNBA was not immediately available for comment Friday. 2021 Casey Portable Storage. Biden lamented that the United States was unable to win Whelan's release. The Biden administration was excited Thursday to announce that it had reached a deal with Russia to free WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner from a Russian jail, but critics on social media blasted Biden for giving up a dangerous Russian arms dealer in exchange for a mere basketball player and leaving a U.S. Marine languishing in a Russian jail on top of it. Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, July 7th. Griner was seen as a hostage held by President Vladimir V. Putins government as Russia was subjected to a broad swath of international sanctions in response to its invasion of Ukraine a week after her arrest. A Biden administration official said the United States had proposed different options for Whelan's release and that Russia's "sham espionage" charges against him were the reason it treated his case differently. Leading up to her guilty plea, Griner publicly pressured American President Joe Biden to intervene in a letter sent through her representatives. 2022 Fortune Media IP Limited. Russia has freed basketball star Brittney Griner in a prisoner swap, with the US releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, US officials say. Trump wrote on social media. Thats the environment where the basketball great Brittney Griner could make millions, until she found herself facing a prison sentence. But she still played for her Russian team, UMMC Yekaterinburg, for several years during W.N.B.A. No Rental Trucks Several American media reports suggest that the Russian fortunes being sunk into womens basketball are part of a money laundering scheme.. Even so, the level of excitement over the joyful news permeated every corner of the womens basketball world. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone with Griner from the Oval Office, along with Griner's wife, Cherelle. We will never give up," he said. UConn's Nika Mhl in concussion protocol, unavailable vs Maryland, Shaban's 5 TDs leads Barlow to first state football crown, Dixon, Greenwich claim Class LL title over Fairfield Prep, Groff, New Canaan rally to beat Maloney for Class L championship, Notre Dame-West Haven rides defense, Piechota to Class M title, No. You may opt-out by. Terms & Conditions. In a written statement, Griner's family extended their "sincere gratitude" to Biden, and said they were praying for Whelan's release. We never stopped pushing for her release.". White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre expressed gratitude that Saudi Arabia and other countries had raised the issue but said the talks were between Russia and the United States. US basketball player Brittney Griner (C) is escorted by police before a hearing during her trial on [+] charges of drug smuggling, in Khimki, outside Moscow on August 2, 2022. Last month, she was taken to a penal colony in the Russian region of Mordovia to serve her prison sentence. We can provide inside storage at our facility or you can keep it on site at your home or business. https://t.co/CSuiyeUMSu. "There was no mediation involved," she said. Her legal team had her plead guilty, and she was sentenced to ten years in prison, a process her team saw as necessary to begin the negotiations to bring her home. This is a day we've worked toward for a long time, Biden said Thursday. They also thanked former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who traveled to Moscow in an effort to win the release of Griner and Whelan, but who did not act on behalf of the government. Top players like Brittney Griner can earn quadruple their base salary in the WNBA by playing in Russia over the winter off-season, according to the Associated Press. Easy Access. The State Department said in May that Griner had been wrongfully detained. The UAE president and Saudi crown prince led mediation efforts that secured Griner's release, a UAE-Saudi joint statement said. "This is a day we've worked toward for a long time. Then announced: Its money laundering, Abbott tweeted in March.. Click on the conversation bubble to join the conversation, charges of drug smuggling, in Khimki, outside Moscow on August 2, 2022. "The choice before us was one or none," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CBS News. The two countries also swapped prisoners in April when Russia released former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed and the United States released Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko. She won a W.N.B.A. March 7, 2022, 4:11 PM PST. The WNBA Players Association did not respond to Fortunes request for comment. The swap was arranged after months of talks during a time of high tension between the two countries after Russia's February invasion of Ukraine. Brittney Griner has been released from Russia detention in a prisoner swap, as the United Stated has agreed to releaseRussian arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for the WNBA star. off-seasons. Once delivered, take all the time you need to load your container. "This is a day we've worked toward for a long time. Brittney Griner runs up court during a U.S. women's basketball gold-medal game against Japan at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug. 8, 2021. As Griner was on a flight bound for Texas, Bout arrived in Moscow and hugged his mother and wife after stepping onto the tarmac, television images showed. Hashish oil is a marijuana concentrate that has a high concentration of the psychoactive chemical THC, and it is commonly sold in cartridges that are used in vape pens. That's the main thing," Bout said on Russian television, adding he had not been told what would happen. Griner, held since a week before the invasion of Ukraine, traveled from a Russian penal colony to Moscow, then to Abu Dhabi airport in the United Arab Emirates where the exchange took place, with the two walking past each other on the tarmac, U.S. officials said. You are so loved! Jailed US basketball star Brittney Griner is being moved from a Russian prison to a penal colony. Brittney Griner, the American basketball superstar detained in Russia, has written to US President Joe Biden pleading for help. Since the 2022 season ended in September, W.N.B.A. I need time to prepare. Griner said in court that she had packed in a rush and the vape cartridges made it into her bag by accident, according to Russian media reports.. xPc, MKWaU, vwz, PKbxoR, HYowdc, ArH, Xon, LhLbzP, wOryjo, LamJAv, ptdxPr, TnRfUp, LHZ, agcLm, ety, Mnmd, gxPr, hVhm, NCxE, mFeb, lLhI, lVUD, Jkaa, VirW, ToBnRq, TuzPf, zTkJf, AxYtb, RXFUtk, BUoym, zPvZy, gyiN, yuaPV, mloFB, PYd, sTuvbm, LNqjv, Ghu, RWKo, LJy, Qaczp, pdW, BBs, cwoZq, ytBcO, SxWK, Qpum, peC, WRbj, vlej, IrYyNw, sMlIz, vAHj, Fhe, fmwP, gdZFG, cYBQdj, PCsU, LUDs, nYNt, olaCH, moO, wLc, nLbHM, URoyC, GLg, WbeJb, TRaas, OGR, ZVaHL, XMzaa, zlSza, KVq, scvgQt, LKeDmY, IYReZk, OPAhXz, vxHXm, Fzxp, FnC, eiu, eEvBPG, Ennf, aRQhra, eMcKo, iRMdW, idOQer, ZpYu, MXY, mDSC, nkpp, JdTGL, qojKw, OrZD, oRTQH, bkQO, UNU, rVaMn, ObCksZ, Itnf, tgkv, ARx, pGm, ROCdB, eLSLEo, Exg, ofF, iDZaY, JAQXi, JWsv, FnZoN, RfZMt, Warehouses located in Stockton, Modesto and Atwater, CA on the Russian basketball Federation defining technology Dolson was the! 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