On these Christmas dates, Brittany Griner urged citizens to send messages of encouragement. Paul Whelan, a businessman and former US sailor, has been held in a Russian prison since 2018 on felony charges of espionage. Griner knows his difficulties better than anyone. Like him, she was transformed by the regime. Putin turned her into a pawn exchanged with the world’s biggest arms dealer, Victor Bout. In this way, through wartime bargaining, Griner regained the freedom she had lost for months after her arrest at Moscow’s airport on charges related to drug possession and smuggling. The case centered on two cannabis oil vaporizers she carried in a suitcase with a prescription valid in the USA. Marijuana is illegal in Russia.
Griner, arguably the best basketball player of her era, shines beside Stephen Curry and others in the world of men’s and women’s basketball. A dominant athlete standing over six feet tall, she has played a central role in conversations about representation and equal opportunity. She became a headline figure in the American professional league, earning top individual honors and earning a place among the sport’s most influential voices. Nike supported her as a trailblazing openly LGBTQ+ athlete, marking a milestone in sponsorship history.
Yet glory does not always equate to wealth or security. Her contract with the Phoenix Mercury provided a comfortable living, but many players in her position also sought winter opportunities in other leagues abroad. Before the war altered routes for many athletes, Griner had spent winters overseas, including a stint in Russia. She returned to that country on February 17, just days before the broader conflict unfurled in Ukraine, and soon after was arrested and moved to a prison roughly 70 kilometers from Moscow. President Joe Biden called for her immediate release, while Vladimir Putin pursued his own strategic calculation.
on the public agenda
By August, Griner had largely faded from the public spotlight. She could only speak through her attorney, and when she reemerged it was during court proceedings that stirred controversy. The court sentenced her to nine years in prison, but the Russian foreign minister quickly floated the option of a prisoner exchange. Biden sought to include Whelan in any deal, and Putin responded by pushing Griner deeper into custody to press for concessions. In the end, Griner was released while Whelan remained detained.
During this ordeal, Griner’s partner, Cherelle Watson, kept the case in the headlines, applying steady pressure on the US administration. The WNBA joined in support, displaying BG initials and the number 42 as a symbol of solidarity at games last season. In the NBA Finals, players wore jerseys bearing names to show solidarity. LeBron James and other athletes urged the president to act. Hillary Clinton also spoke up.
After a period of medical evaluation at a Texas facility to assess her physical and mental condition, Griner stated her desire to return to the Phoenix Mercury and play again. She also expressed gratitude to everyone who helped secure her release and support in all corners of society. Her experience has given her a broader perspective on the value of advocacy and the power of collective action. In the end, the journey clarified the challenges faced by Whelan and others who remain behind bars, underscoring the human cost of international conflicts and the ongoing pursuit of justice and freedom for all.