Who Is Brittney Griner? Gold Medalist American Basketball Player Detained In Russia

Brittney Yevette Griner is a professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for the team Phoenix Mercury. She is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist, guiding her team to success in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. The WNBA star was arrested and detained by Russian customs for possession of cannabis oil when she was in Russia to play for the Russian Premier League. Detained since February, Brittney's trial began on July 1, 2022, and is set to resume on Thursday.

“It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year," the letter read, where she pleaded to President Joe Biden to not forget about her and the other American detainees. The letter was passed down to the White House by her representatives. Brittney's agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas revealed that the letter was delivered to the president on Monday.

Who Is Brittney Griner? WNBA Star Detained In Russian Prison.

While the contents of the letter were kept confidential, few lines have been shared by her representatives with the media. The letter read- ″…As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever.” She also added-  “Please do all you can to bring us home. I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore,” Griner said “I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home."

Brittney expressed her fear of being stuck there forever and rightfully so, as Paul Whelan, a former Marine, and security director has been wrongfully detained in Russia, and is currently serving a 16-year sentence on an espionage conviction. After the White House confirmed receiving the letter, NSC spokeswoman Adrienne Watson stated- “We believe the Russian Federation is wrongfully detaining Brittney Griner, President Biden has been clear about the need to see all U.S. nationals who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad released, including Brittney Griner. The U.S. government continues to work aggressively – using every available means – to bring her home.”