The U.S. Government has been working to bring Brittney Griner, but nothing has worked out as of yet and it’s looking like she might have to ride this sentence out until 2023.
A Russian court recently denied Griner’s appeal to reduce her sentence.
WNBA head coach and newly-named ESPN NBA analyst Becky Hammon had something to say about the Phoenix Mercury star being imprisoned in Russia when speaking to ESPN.
“Gut punch,” Hammon said.
“It’s wrong,” Hammon said of Griner’s imprisonment. “It was a gut punch. There’s so many things that are normal over there that I’m like, ‘It’s not normal.’ … She’s been turned into a political pawn and it’s really unfortunate. The international world really needs to pay attention.”
Not many people know that Hammond is also a naturalized Russian citizen of 15 years after playing for them in the 2008 Olympics.
WNBA players and coaches have spoken out for Griner on many occasions since she was detained, however, Hammond’s words mark the first time an athlete or celebrity with ties to Russia has spoken out against Griner’s imprisonment.
‘If this was LeBron James, is LeBron James still sitting over there? I don’t think so,’ Hammon said. ‘And that’s the unfortunate part about all of this.
‘I think there would be an absolute uproar, craziness, pandemonium. And [Griner’s case] got a lot of attention and it’s still getting some attention.’
‘But there’s days where it’s like, ‘Man, she’s still over there. Night after night after night.’ We’ve got to get her back as soon as possible.’
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Following the appeal decision, Griner’s wife Cherelle Griner also said that she feels that her mental health is deteriorating while in prison.
