Team sends signal to Brittney Griner convicted in Russia

Nine years in prison: The verdict against US basketball player Brittney Griner in Russia moves the sports world. Your team sends a signal.

The North American professional basketball leagues WNBA and NBA have sharply criticized the Russian verdict against US star Brittney Griner. The nine-year prison sentence imposed by a court in Khimki near Moscow for drug smuggling was “unfair and regrettable,” the two leagues said in a joint statement. The verdict was “foreseeable”, but the 31-year-old remains “wrongly” imprisoned, it said.

According to this, the WNBA and NBA want to “undiminishly work for a safe return” for the American to the USA. There is hope for an end soon.

Statement of solidarity for 42 seconds

Griner’s WNBA team Phoenix Mercury spoke of a “sobering milestone” within the “nightmare” for their own player. “We know that the process that was supposed to bring our friend home was never lawful,” the club wrote. One is “heartbroken”, at the same time there is great trust in the officials “who work every day to bring her back to her family and us”.

Before the Mercury game at the Connecticut Sun on Thursday (local time), the players of both teams lined up in the center circle, linked their arms and, following Griner’s number, were silent for 42 seconds. Tears came to some. Then they called “bring her home” (translated: bring her home; editor’s note).

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