By: Andrea Yan

Last Thursday, Britney Griner’s teammates were heartbroken as they watched her get sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison.

Britney Griner’s team, the Phoenix Mercury, was scheduled to play the Connecticut Suns. Before the game started, her teammates watched her get sentenced on charges of drug smuggling and possession. All the players, instead of doing their pregame routine, were in the locker room watching the trial.

To honor her, the players, coaches, and referees locked arms for 42 seconds (Griner’s jersey number) before the game. This shows how much of an impact she had on people while she was playing in the league. People from both teams wore shirts that advocated for her release. Griner’s jersey filled the stands, even at an away game.

One Connecticut fan and season ticket holder since 2002 says “[i]t just hurts—I love her as a player, and it’s just a sad situation. She doesn’t need to be there. When she comes home, she doesn’t need to go back. I think none of our players should go over there.”

The final score was 77-64, with the Suns winning. Even though the Mercury lost, the score didn’t matter. Their only concern was for their teammate locked in a penal colony thousands of miles away. The Mercury coach said “[w]e’ll wake up tomorrow and B.G. will still be in Russian jail. It’s day 169 or something tomorrow, and the clock continues, and we just want her to come home.”

There is still hope for Griner to be released before her 9-year sentence is served. The Biden administration is working on a deal with Russian officials to return Griner and another US citizen through a prisoner swap.

Britney Griner has an influence that goes far beyond her team. The whole WNBA league is advocating for her release. Now, the matter is in the hands of the Biden administration if they can bring home this valuable player.

Link to article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1659885796908x620924741241850900/Brittney%20Griner%E2%80%99s%20Tearful%20WNBA%20Teammates%20Play%20On%20After%20Her%20Conviction%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf