BRITTNEY GRINER

It has been 221 days since Brittney Griner was initially detained in Russia and in that time Kim Mulkey, the coach she won a national title for at Baylor, has not said anything about it. "I just want to get your thoughts on the Brittney Griner situation," Diaz said. Griner, who turns 32 next month, played for Mulkey at Baylor from 2009-13. Mulkey and Griner had a falling out nearly a decade ago and the star's relationship with Baylor has been strained. Griner's relationship with Mulkey, BaylorMulkey's silence on Griner's detainment and recent sentencing has been noted widely in college basketball circles.

Thomas had 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in her debut for the Americans, who beat Belgium 87-72 in the tournament opener on Thursday. After finding out she'd be on the U.S. roster, she never gave any thought to skipping the World Cup. These teams met in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup, with the Americans using a big third quarter to pull away and win by 16. She had four against the U.S, which has now won 23 consecutive World Cup games since losing in the 2006 semifinals to Russia. SCOREBOARDPuerto Rico beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 82-58 for the country's first World Cup win.

Breanna Stewart scored 22 points and Alyssa Thomas had 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in her debut for the United States, which beat Belgium 87-72 in its World Cup opener.

SYDNEY — (AP) — Brittney Griner's absence is weighing on the minds of her USA Basketball teammates, who are trying to fill the void created by her absence as they prepare for the FIBA World Cup. “The best way to honor her was to not give her number out,” USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley told The Associated Press. “It’s really, really heavy, especially as we participate in this USA Basketball competition. Kia Nurse, Griner's teammate with the Phoenix Mercury and a member of Team Canada for the World Cup, was brought to tears when discussing Griner in a media availability this week. “BG is the best of the best when it comes to human beings,” she said of the eight-time All-Star.

Brittney Griner’s absence is weighing on the minds of her USA Basketball teammates, who are trying to fill the void created by her absence as they prepare for the FIBA World Cup that begins Thursday in Australia.

WNBA stars have for years spent their offseasons playing in Russian pro leagues, lured by seven-figure paydays that trump their salaries back home. With Brittney Griner detained in a Russian prison and the war in Ukraine still raging, WNBA players are sitting this season out. Breanna Stewart, a four-time WNBA All-Star and a former teammate of Griner's on Russia's UMMC Ekaterinburg, explained her decision to the Associated Press. It's easy to understand why WNBA stars made the offseason trek to Russia on a yearly basis. Commissioner Cathy Englebert addressed the issue ahead of the recently concluded WNBA Finals while calling Griner's ongoing detainment "unacceptable."

WNBA players often compete in Russia because of the high salaries, but they are skipping out due to Brittney Griner's imprisonment.

SYDNEY — (AP) — Brittney Griner's highly publicized legal woes in Russia and the country's invasion of Ukraine has the top WNBA players opting to take their talents elsewhere this offseason. For the past few decades, Russia has been the preferred offseason destination for WNBA players to compete because of the high salaries that can exceed $1 million and the resources and amenities teams offered them. Nearly a dozen WNBA players competed in Russia last winter and none of them are heading back this year. Like Stewart, Vandersloot also isn't headed back to Russia, choosing to play in Hungary where she obtained citizenship in 2016. The Griner situation also is weighing heavily on the minds of young WNBA players.

SYDNEY — (AP) — Brittney Griner's highly publicized legal woes in Russia and the country's invasion of Ukraine has the top WNBA players opting to take their talents elsewhere this offseason. For the past few decades, Russia has been the preferred offseason destination for WNBA players to compete because of the high salaries that can exceed $1 million and the resources and amenities teams offered them. Nearly a dozen WNBA players competed in Russia last winter and none of them are heading back this year. Like Stewart, Vandersloot also isn't headed back to Russia, choosing to play in Hungary where she obtained citizenship in 2016. The Griner situation also is weighing heavily on the minds of young WNBA players.

Top WNBA players are finding other places to compete this winter, not wanting to go back to Russia after the arrest and conviction of Brittney Griner on drug possession charges and the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Brittney Griner's highly publicized legal woes in Russia and the country's invasion of Ukraine has the top WNBA players opting to take their talents elsewhere this offseason. For the past few decades, Russia has been the preferred offseason destination for WNBA players to compete because of the high salaries that can exceed $1 million – nearly quadruple the base salary of top WNBA players -- and the resources and amenities teams offered them. “Honestly my time in Russia has been wonderful, but especially with BG still wrongfully detained there, nobody’s going to go there until she’s home,” said Breanna Stewart, a Griner teammate on the Russian team that paid the duo millions.

"They face the reality of poor nutrition, sometimes no access to fresh air or actual daylight," one expert told Newsy.

WASHINGTON — (AP) — President Joe Biden met Friday with family members of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American detained in Russia, Paul Whelan, the first face-to-face encounter that the president has had with the relatives. Whelan is serving a 16-year sentence on espionage-related charges that he and his family say are false. The U.S. government regards both as wrongfully detained, placing their cases with the office of its top hostage negotiator. Biden sat down with Elizabeth Whelan, the sister of Paul Whelan. Then the president met with Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, as well as the player's agent, Lindsay Colas, according to the White House.

President Biden met with the families of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan to discuss bringing them back to the U.S. They are serving sentences in a Russian prison.

WASHINGTON — (AP) — President Joe Biden is meeting Friday with family members of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American detained in Russia, Paul Whelan. The meetings at the White House are the first face-to-face encounter between the president and the relatives of Griner and Whelan. The meetings, held in the Oval Office, began shortly before 5 p.m. on Friday, the White House said. Biden is sitting down with Elizabeth Whelan, the sister of Paul Whelan. In a separate session, the president is meeting with Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, as well as the player's agent, Lindsay Colas, according to the White House.

President Joe Biden met with family members of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American detained in Russia, Paul Whelan.

The White House on Friday revealed that Russia has not yet responded to a "substantial proposal" the U.S. made back in July for the release of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.

For the first time since their loved ones were detained in Russia, the families of American basketball star Brittney Griner and Marine veteran Paul Whelan will have the chance to speak to President Joe Biden in person. Biden plans to meet with Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, and Whelan's sister, Elizabeth Whelan, at the White House on Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday. In late July, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that the Biden Administration had made a “substantial proposal” to the Kremlin in hopes of securing the release of Griner and Whelan. The fact that Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan still remain separated from their families in detention in Russia is a testament to that.”Biden had previously spoken at least once by phone with Cherelle Griner and Elizabeth Whelan. During her trial, Griner confessed to inadvertently violating Russian law , telling the Russian judge she packed in a hurry and mistakenly brought the vape cartridges with her.

After more than 200 days in a Russian prison, new details are coming out on efforts to free WNBA star Brittney Griner.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet for the first time Friday with family members of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, two Americans who are classified as having been wrongfully detained in Russia. >> Read more trending newsWhite House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that Biden will meet with Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, and Whelan’s sister, Elizabeth Whelan, at the White House. They will talk about the president’s commitment to bring the pair home safely, Jean-Pierre said. “As we have said before, we believe that Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney and Paul under intolerable circumstances,” Jean-Pierre said. She emphasized that officials brought a “significant offer” to Russia months ago in an effort to secure Griner and Whelan’s release.

Joe Biden has said Griner and Whelan are wrongfully detained in Russia. Griner, a WNBA star, was convicted of marijuana possession, and Whelan, an ex-Marine, was convicted of espionage.

The meeting will be Biden's first in-person visit with the athlete's wife since she was arrested at the Moscow airport in February on drug charges.

President Biden will meet at the White House with the families of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, both of whom remain jailed in Russia, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Thursday. Biden will meet with Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, and Paul Whelan's sister, Elizabeth Whelan, to “discuss his continuing commitment to bringing their family members home safely,” Jean-Pierre told reporters. “As we have said before, we believe that Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney and Paul under intolerable circumstances,” Jean-Pierre said. The swap followed a meeting Biden had with Reed’s parents at the White House in March. We won’t stop until Paul Whelan and others join Trevor in the loving arms of family and friends.”

Biden will hold meetings at the White House with Griner’s wife and Whalen's sister to discuss bringing home their family members, who have been held in Russia.

The separate meetings are to be the first in-person encounter between President Biden and the families.

Senior administration officials say President Joe Biden plans to meet at the White House on Friday with the families of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, both of whom remain jailed in Russia.

The administration said in July that it had made a "substantial proposal" to get them home, but despite plans for the White House meetings, there is no sign that a breakthrough is imminent. Since then, the administration has followed up in multiple ways to press its offer and get serious negotiations underway, one of the administration officials said Thursday. Biden spoke by phone in July with Griner's wife, Cherelle, and with Whelan's sister, Elizabeth, but both families have also requested in-person meetings. On Friday, Biden plans to speak at the White House with Cherelle Griner and with the player's agent in one meeting and with Elizabeth Whelan in the other. Biden met in the Oval Office in March with Reed's parents after the Texas couple stood with a large sign outside the White House calling for their son's release.

President Joe Biden plans to meet at the White House on Friday with the families of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, both of whom remain jailed in Russia.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced in July that the U.S. had made a “substantial proposal” to Russia to facilitate a swap. In in interview with The Associated Press last month, Richardson said he was hopeful about the chances of a two-for-two prisoner swap. The person who confirmed Richardson's visit insisted on anonymity to discuss private negotiations. The Richardson Center for Global Engagement, which Richardson founded, issued a statement declining to comment on his visit. CNN was first to report Richardson's visit.

Bill Richardson, who has worked to secure the releases of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, visited Moscow this week and held meetings with Russian leaders.

There are over 50 Americans that are wrongfully detained in several countries, and many wonder why is it hard to negotiate their release.

Black athletes who bridge sports and social justice have always found themselves targeted by pundits for voicing dissatisfaction with the status quo.

The U.S. Marine veteran said Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan are likely to be kept in "terrible" conditions.

Viewership for WNBA games rose 16% compared to last year, along with increasing social media and website traffic for the league.

On "The Takeout" podcast this week, Geltzer talks with host Major Garrett about the Biden administration's efforts to bring home Americans wrongfully detained abroad.

Just two days after former NBA player Dennis Rodman told a news outlet that he was going abroad because he […] The post Dennis Rodman reverses course, says he’s not going to Russia to seek Brittney Griner’s release appeared first on TheGrio.

The former NBA superstar has said he intends to travel to Russia to seek the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from prison.

WASHINGTON — Basketball Hall of Famer star Dennis Rodman hopes to take his bad boy persona to Russia and get WNBA star Brittney Griner released from prison. Former NBA player Dennis Rodman says he plans to visit Russia to seek the release of Brittney Griner. "I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl," Rodman told @NBCNews at a restaurant in D.C. "I'm trying to go this week. Russian media reported on Aug. 15 that attorney Maria Blagovolina, one of the lawyers representing Griner, confirmed that the appeal had been filed. “I know Putin too well,” Rodman, who was in the nation’s capital for a sneaker convention, told the news outlet.

The Chicago Sky are attempting to become the first team in 20 years to win back-to-back championships. And Seattle Storm star Sue Bird will be retiring after a 19-year career in the league.

Direct descendants of the Soviet Union's Gulag system, Russian penal colonies are prison labor camps notorious for human rights abuses and corruption.

A rumor that NBA player Anthony Davis and WNBA player Brittney Griner used to be engaged has resurfaced after

Three children ages 11, 13, and 14 and an 18-year-old have been accused in the beating and robbing of a 70-year-old Asian woman who was attacked last month inside her San Francisco apartment building, police announced Monday. (Aug. 15)

Catch up on key developments and the latest in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The comparison was made by a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry as lawyers for Brittney Griner appealed her prison sentence.

APTOPIX Russia Ukraine War Russian rockets launch against Ukraine from Russia's Belgorod region are seen at dawn in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Belikov) (Vadim Belikov)KYIV, Ukraine — (AP) — At least three Ukrainian civilians have been killed and nearly 20 others wounded in the latest artillery barrages from the Russian military, Ukrainian officials said Monday. The Russian forces also struck several other regions of Ukraine with rockets and artillery. For their part, the Ukrainian military claimed to have destroyed more than 10 Russian warehouses with ammunition and military equipment in the past week. In other developments Monday:__ Lawyers for American basketball star Brittney Griner filed an appeal against her nine-year Russian prison sentence for drug possession, Russian news agencies reported.

The Ukrainian military says it has repelled more than a dozen Russian attacks in the country’s east and north, including attempts to advance on key cities in the eastern industrial heartland known as the Donbas.

Russia Griner FILE - US Basketball player Brittney Griner looks through bars as she listens to the verdict standing in a cage in a courtroom in Khimki, outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. Lawyers for American basketball star Brittney Griner on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022 filed an appeal of her nine-year Russian prison sentence for drugs possession. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photo via AP, File) (Evgenia Novozhenina)MOSCOW — (AP) — Lawyers for American basketball star Brittney Griner filed an appeal Monday of her nine-year Russian prison sentence for drug possession, Russian news agencies reported, in a case denounced by the United States that could lead to a high-profile prisoner swap. The nine-year sentence was close to the maximum of 10 years, and Blagovolina and co-counsel Alexander Boykov said after the conviction that the punishment was excessive. Before her conviction, the U.S. State Department declared Griner to be “wrongfully detained" — a charge that Russia has sharply rejected.

The WNBA star's attorneys say the nine-year prison sentence is excessive.

As the WNBA star's lawyers appeal her 9-year jail sentence, a Russian official has confirmed ongoing talks with the U.S. about a potential prisoner swap.

Lawyers for American basketball star Brittney Griner on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022 filed an appeal of her nine-year Russian prison sentence for drugs possession. Griner, a center for the Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was convicted on Aug. 4. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photo via AP, File) (Evgenia Novozhenina)MOSCOW — (AP) — Lawyers for American basketball star Brittney Griner on Monday filed an appeal against her nine-year Russian prison sentence for drug possession, Russian news agencies reported Monday. Griner, a center for the Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was convicted on Aug. 4. Lawyer Maria Blagovolina was quoted by Russian news agencies on Monday as saying the appeal was filed, but the grounds of the appeal weren't immediately clear.

Brittney Griner: What you need to know WNBA star Brittney Griner was detained in Russia in February. (NCD)MOSCOW — Lawyers for WNBA star Brittney Griner have appealed her conviction on drug charges in Russia, multiple news outlets are reporting. >> Read more trending newsAccording to The Associated Press, Russian media reported Monday that attorney Maria Blagovolina, one of the lawyers representing the 31-year-old Griner, confirmed that the appeal had been filed. – The Associated Press contributed to this report. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)©2022 Cox Media Group

MOSCOW — (AP) — Lawyers for American basketball star Brittney Griner on Monday filed an appeal against her 9-year Russian prison sentence for drugs possession, Russian news agencies reported. Griner, a center for the Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was convicted on Aug. 4. She was arrested in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport after vape canisters containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage. Lawyer Maria Blagovolina was quoted by Russian news agencies on Monday as saying the appeal was filed, but the grounds of the appeal were not immediately clear. “This quite sensitive issue of the swap of convicted Russian and US citizens is being discussed through the channels defined by our presidents.

Griner's attorney was quoted by Russian news agencies on Monday as saying the appeal was filed, but the grounds of the appeal were not immediately clear.

Russian news agencies reported that lawyers for American basketball star Brittney Griner have filed an appeal of her nine-year Russian prison sentence for drug possession.

Plenty of Americans don't support the US government's efforts to bring Brittney Griner home. A hostage taking and recovery expert tells Insider why.

The U.S. and Russia are trying to work out a prisoner exchange that involves basketball star Brittney Griner. While they've done deals for decades, the trading usually involves spies for spies.

Russia Griner WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted from a court room ater a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. A judge in Russia has convicted American basketball star Brittney Griner of drug possession and smuggling and sentenced her to nine years in prison. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (Alexander Zemlianichenko)WASHINGTON — (AP) — Bill Richardson, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a frequent emissary in hostage negotiations, said Tuesday he was hopeful about the chances of a two-for-two prisoner swap that could result in Russia's release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan. “And that is why I think a two-for-two deal is hopefully a likely outcome,” Richardson said. Though Richardson said he was cautiously optimistic, and even though there is recent precedent for prisoner swaps, such deals aren't easy.

Bill Richardson, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a frequent emissary in hostage negotiations, says he's hopeful about the chances of a two-for-two prisoner swap that could result in the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan.

Catch up on key developments and the latest in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremlin says it’s open to talking about a possible prisoner exchange involving American basketball star Brittney Griner but strongly warned Washington against publicizing the issue.

Following Brittney Griner’s sentencing in Russia to nine years in prison Thursday, WNBA players, coaches and fans locked arms and tried to send the American basketball star strength during a moment of silence.

Now that WNBA star Brittney Griner has been convicted of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison, attention turns to the prospect of a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia that could get her home.

A judge in Russia convicted American basketball star Brittney Griner of drug possession and smuggling.

American basketball star Brittney Griner is back in court for her trial for cannabis possession amid U.S. diplomatic efforts to secure her release.

Since Brittney Griner last appeared in her trial for cannabis possession, the question of her fate has expanded from a cramped courtroom on Moscow’s outskirts to the highest level of Russia-U.S. diplomacy.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he has spoken to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and urged Moscow to accept a U.S. proposal to release WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American detainee, Paul Whelan.

Russia's top diplomat says he’s open to a call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss a possible prisoner swap involving American basketball star Brittney Griner.

The Kremlin has warned that a possible prisoner swap with the United States involving American basketball star Brittney Griner needs to be negotiated quietly without fanfare.

The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan.

WNBA star Brittney Griner testified at her drug possession trial in Russia that an interpreter translated only a fraction of what was said during questioning when she was detained at Moscow’s airport in February and officials told her to sign documents without giving an explanation.

The latest Russian court hearing in the drug trial of American basketball star Brittney Griner has focused on testimony about countries that regard cannabis as having legitimate medicinal uses.

The spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry says the United States has shown disrespect for Russian law by characterizing basketball star Brittney Griner’s jailing on drug charges as “wrongful detention.”.

Detained WNBA star Brittney Griner was front and center at The ESPYS.

The Las Vegas Aces have come out of the All-Star break on a roll, winning three road games and scoring more than 100 points in two of victories.

A lawyer for WNBA star Brittney Griner at her drug possession trial has given a Russian court a letter from a U.S. doctor recommending she use cannabis to treat pain.

The drug possession trial of WNBA star Brittney Griner has resumed, with the head of the Russian club she plays for in the offseason and a teammate from that squad testifying in support of her character and what she has meant for women’s basketball in the country.

A Russian arms dealer labeled the “Merchant of Death” and who once inspired a Hollywood movie is back in the headlines again.

LeBron James is publicly criticizing the United States’ handling of WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner’s case in a trailer for an upcoming episode of his television show: “The Shop: Uninterrupted.”.

WNBA enters final month of the season with 11 of 12 teams in contention for playoff spots and five franchises within three games of each other atop the standings.

A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and the rest of the WNBA All-Stars lined up along the sideline after halftime, the No. 42 and the name Griner on the back of all of their jerseys.

Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles are playing in the WNBA All-Star Game for the last time.

Nneka Ogwumike says Brittney Griner is an American hero.

President Joe Biden has spoken by phone with the sister of Paul Whelan, an American who has been imprisoned in Russia for more than three years.

When Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug possession in a Russian court, hopes rose that her months of detention may soon be over, either through a U.S.-Russia prisoner swap or a pardon from President Vladimir Putin.

Brittney Griner's guilty plea has not lessened the support the Olympic gold medalist continues to receive from her WNBA peers.

WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug possession charges on the second day of her trial in a Russian court in a case that could see her sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

They shared laughs, smiles, memories.

The White House says President Joe Biden has called the wife of WNBA player Brittney Griner, who is detained in Russia, and has pledged he's working to win her release as soon as possible.

Brittney Griner’s appeal to President Joe Biden in a handwritten letter continued to garner reaction Tuesday after the WNBA All-Star acknowledged she feared never returning home and asked Biden not “forget about me and the other American Detainees.”.

WNBA star Brittney Griner has gone on trial in a Russian court on charges of possessing cannabis oil.

WNBA star Brittney Griner appeared in a court near Moscow that ordered her trial on cannabis possession charges to begin Friday, about 4 1/2 months after she was arrested at an airport while returning to play for a Russian team.

Brittney Griner will have a place at the WNBA All-Star Game.

The White House says a phone call between jailed WNBA star Brittney Griner and her wife has been rescheduled after an earlier attempt to connect on the couple’s anniversary failed because of an “unfortunate mistake."

WNBA star Brittney Griner tried to call her wife nearly a dozen times through the American embassy in Russia on the couple’s fourth anniversary Saturday, but they never connected since the phone line at the embassy was not staffed.

U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner will remain in Russian custody through at least July 2 after her detention was extended for a third time, Russian state-run media has reported.

State Department officials have met with representatives of Brittney Griner’s WNBA team about the Phoenix Mercury star’s monthslong detention in Russia and the Biden administration’s efforts to secure her release.

Penny Taylor used her induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame to call for the release of her former Phoenix Mercury teammate Brittney Griner.

WNBA star Brittney Griner is easily the most prominent American locked up by a foreign country.

Brittney Griner hasn’t been forgotten at the NBA Finals.

Brittney Griner has been able to receive emails and letters from WNBA players to an account Griner’s agent set up to allow them to communicate with her.