“I need to apologize to my teammates, my membership, my followers, and town of [Yekaterinburg] for my mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I introduced on them,” Griner mentioned in her assertion. “I need to additionally apologize to my mother and father, my siblings, the Phoenix Mercury group again at residence, the superb girls of the WNBA, and my superb partner again at residence.”
Responding to her sentence, President Joe Biden slammed Russia for “wrongfully detaining” Griner, saying he would “pursue each doable avenue” to convey her residence.
“It’s unacceptable, and I name on Russia to launch her instantly so she will be together with her spouse, family members, mates, and teammates,” Biden mentioned in a assertion. “My administration will proceed to work tirelessly and pursue each doable avenue to convey Brittney and Paul Whelan residence safely as quickly as doable.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver additionally launched a joint assertion condemning the decision.
“Immediately’s verdict and sentencing is unjustified and unlucky, however not sudden and Brittney Griner stays wrongly detained,” they mentioned. “The WNBA and NBA’s dedication to her secure return has not wavered and it’s our hope that we’re close to the top of this means of lastly bringing BG residence to the United States.”
Griner beforehand testified that she used hashish oil prescribed by her physician to deal with ache from sports activities accidents, however had packed her luggage in a rush and didn’t imply to convey them to Russia, the place she was enjoying within the WNBA offseason. “As they ended up in my luggage by chance, I take accountability, however I didn’t intend to smuggle or plan to smuggle [illegal substances] to Russia,” she had testified on July 27.
Griner additionally complained that her rights weren’t learn to her when she was first arrested and that she didn’t obtain correct translation providers in the course of the investigation.
In a letter written to Biden final month, Griner mentioned she was “terrified” she is perhaps held in a Russian jail perpetually.
“I understand you might be coping with a lot, however please don’t overlook about me and the opposite American Detainees,” she mentioned. “Please do all you possibly can to convey us residence.”
Colas, Griner’s agent, mentioned they appreciated the Biden administration’s efforts to convey basketball star and Whelan again to the US.
“Bringing Brittney and Paul house is the only goal, and as such, we must always use all out there instruments,” Colas mentioned. “We should stay targeted and unified. It is a time for compassion and a shared understanding that getting a deal carried out to convey Individuals residence can be arduous, however it’s pressing and it’s the proper factor to do.”
