NBA & WNBA Release Joint Statement On Brittney Griner Sentence

BYAlexander Cole4.0K Views
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Brittney Griner
Many are upset with the ruling coming out of Russia today.

Brittney Griner was officially sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison after being convicted of drug possession and smuggling charges. This was a part of a long saga that began back in February when Griner was detained at a Russian airport for having weed oil in her bag. It is a story that has received international headlines, and as you can imagine, people are outraged that she has been hit with such a stiff penalty.

The NBA and WNBA have been keeping very close tabs on this situation, and they have been leading a concerted effort to get Griner home safely. In the aftermath of the decision coming out of Russia, both leagues issued a joint statement on how they are appalled with the ruling that has come down.

NBA & WNBA Release Joint Statement On Brittney Griner Sentence
Mike Mattina/Getty Images

“Today’s verdict and sentencing is unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected and Brittney Griner remains wrongfully detained," Griner said. "The WNBA and NBA’s commitment to her safe return has not wavered and it is our hope that we are near the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States.”


The United States is currently working on a prisoner swap for Griner, although it remains to be seen when that will take place. 

Stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from this developing story.


About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current editor-in-chief of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. It was here where he began to hone his craft, putting his journalism degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, to good use. Since that time, he has documented some of the biggest stories in the hip-hop world. From the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef to the disturbing allegations against Diddy, Alex has helped HotNewHipHop navigate large-scale stories as they happen. In 2021, he went to the Bahamas for the Big 3's Championship Game. It was here where he got to interview legendary figures like Ice Cube, Clyde Drexler, and Stephen Jackson. He has also interviewed other superstar athletes such as Antonio Brown, Damian Lillard, and Paul Pierce. This is in addition to conversations with social media provocateurs like Jake Paul, and younger respected artists like Kaycyy, Lil Tecca, and Jeleel!
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