"Today's verdict and sentencing is unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected and Brittney Griner remains wrongfully detained," said WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a joint statement. Griner's WNBA team the Phoenix Mercury called her conviction a grave step in the two-time Olympic champion's "nightmare" detention. While Griner stars for the Mercury, like many WNBA players, she competes in an overseas league as well. A prisoner swap was also discussed during a call between Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday. Terri Carmichael, executive director of the WNBA players' union the WNBPA, urged Blinken to keep that process moving.

Source: The Star August 05, 2022 01:43 UTC