American Basketball Player Brittney Griner Reportedly Detained in Russia

WNBA player Brittney Griner has reportedly been detained in Russia.

According to a report from the New York Times on Saturday (March 5), the Russian Federal Customs Service alleged that vape cartridges were found in a luggage search that allegedly contained oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The customs service added that the person arrested was a player for the U.S. women’s team and did not specify the date of her arrest. They also released a video that appears to be of Brittney going through airport security.

Click inside to read more…

“We are aware of the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representation in Russia, her family, her teams, and the WNBA and NBA,” Brittney‘s agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas told ESPN in a statment. “As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are not able to comment further on the specifics of her case but can confirm that as we work to get her home, her mental and physical health remain our primary concern.”

“Brittney Griner has the WNBA’s full support and our main priority is her swift and safe return to the United States,” the league added in a statement to ESPN. USA Basketball also said in a statement, “Brittney has always handled herself with the utmost professionalism during her long tenure with USA Basketball and her safety and wellbeing are our primary concerns.”

As the New York Times notes, many WNBA players compete in Russia during the American league’s off-season, as the salaries are more lucrative. On January 23, the State Department issued a “do not travel” advisory for Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine and urged all U.S. citizens to exit the country immediately.