BRITTNEY GRINER

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.

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

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.

Griner has been held in Russia since February on drug-related charges. She was sentenced last month to nine years in prison after pleading guilty and has appealed the punishment.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Griner has been held in Russia since February on drug-related charges. She was sentenced last month to nine years in prison after pleading guilty and has appealed the punishment.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

WNBA star Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia since February and recently received a nine-year prison sentence.

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.

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.

Former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard slammed Vice-President Kamala Harris in response to her tweet condemning Russia on WNBA star Brittney Griner's imprisonment.

Rice University's Richard Stoll said the odds of a prisoner swap are in Griner's favor, but he remains concerned about the basketball star's well-being.

"The U.S. already has made mistakes, trying to solve such problems via 'microphone diplomacy.' They are not solved that way," Kremlin spokesman said.

Russia will discuss a prisoner exchange involving the basketball star but not in public, said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Griner's teammates say they approached Thursday's game "with a heavy heart": "It's like you're just waiting for a bomb to drop."

On Friday's show: An international relations expert explains what it might take for the United States to arrange for Griner's release after her guilty verdict and sentencing. Then, we discuss how a recent ruling limiting the EPA's power might affect Houston. And Indian composer and violinist L. Subramaniam talks about his concert in Houston this weekend celebrating 75 years of Indian independence.

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.

The White House has urged Russia to accept its offer of a deal for the release of Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan

The WNBA player was detained in February and accused of drug smuggling after officials said they found cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage.

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.

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.

The White House says it is "willing to take every step necessary" to free American basketball star Brittney Griner from a Russian jail. Griner was convicted and sentenced Thursday to nine years in prison for drug possession and smuggling. (Aug. 4)

On Aug. 4, WNBA star Brittney Griner learned her fate after spending nearly six months in a Russian prison, following accusations that she had smuggled drugs into the country.

WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested nearly six months ago at a Moscow airport over cannabis vape cartridges found in her luggage.

Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in Russian prison on Thursday after being found guilty of drug smuggling with criminal intent.

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.

WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was convicted and received a 9-year sentence from a Russian judge for drug possession and smuggling.

The Houston native was found guilty of drug possession and smuggling in Russia...

Russia will regard any prisoner swap as a propaganda win. But the real message we can proclaim is about American values.

WNBA star Brittney Griner has been sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison for drug charges.

Griner’s allies remain hopeful President Joe Biden will secure a prisoner swap, much like he did earlier this year with another Texan, ex-Marine Trevor Reed.

Brittney Griner has been sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison for drug possession.

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.

CNN reported Wednesday that the U.S. has offered a prisoner exchange in order to bring the WNBA player and Paul Whelan home. Biden reportedly backs such a deal.

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.

Brittney Griner is expected to testify in a Russian court on Wednesday, a potentially key moment in her trial on drugs charges that could see the American basketball star face up to 10 years in prison.

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.

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 wore Brittney Griner’s name and her No. 42 on the back of their jerseys for the second half of Team Wilson’s 134-112 victory over Team Stewart.

A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and the rest of the WNBA All-Stars wore Brittney Griner’s name and her No. 42 on the back of their jerseys for the second half of Team Wilson’s 134-112 victory over Team Stewart.

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 and Houston native Brittney Griner has pleaded guilty to drug charges in a Russian court near Moscow, CNN said her lawyers confirmed on Thursday.

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.

The Houston native was arrested in Russia in mid-February, and her trial starts Friday. State department officials say Griner was “wrongfully detained.”