By: Sarah Zhong

The Phoenix Mercury, a basketball team, was set to have a game at 7 p.m., but no one showed up. Instead, the players were in their locker room, watching their teammate Brittney Griner’s conviction in a Russian court.

“It was like you’re waiting for a bomb to drop,” said Diamond Deshields, a guard for the Mercury.

They watched as Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison and fined 1 million rubles, which is about $16,000 in the U.S.

“And we’re still supposed to play this game. Nobody even wanted to play today. How are we even supposed to approach the game and approach the court with a clear mind when the whole group is crying before the game?” Skylar Diggins-Smith, another guard, said.

Their coach, Vanessa Nygaard, said the team had gone through a “version” of the shoot-around, but nothing about the day or game felt normal. Players, coaches, and referees linked arms in solidarity for 42 seconds-matching the number on Griner’s jersey. Fans chanted “We are B.G.” and “Bring her home.”

“I even linked arms with a referee, so you know you’re never going to see that again,” said Nygaard, smiling.

Griner has been detained in Russia since February 17 after officials said they found hashish oil, a cannabis derivative, in Griner’s luggage at an airport close to Moscow. She was traveling to the country to play for UMMC Yekaterinburg, a professional women’s basketball team. Griner said during her trial on drug charges that the hashish oil had been packed by mistake. Players for the WNBA and other professional athletes have campaigned for her freedom. In May, the U.S. State Department said it had determined that Griner was “wrongfully detained” and that its officials would try to free her. Experts said the most likely path for Griner’s release is a prisoner swap.

The whole team is close with Griner, and seeing her locked up is making them emotional. They just want her to come home. The future is uncertain, though Griner might be able to come home during a prisoner swap.