Nov 09 Biden says he hopes Putin will negotiate WNBA star Brittney Griner's release By Associated Press President Joe Biden says he hopes Russian President Vladimir Putin will be more willing to negotiate the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner now that the U.S. midterm elections are over. Continue reading
Oct 03 Russian court sets Brittney Griner's appeal date for Oct. 25 By Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press She was convicted Aug. 4 after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. Continue reading
Sep 20 After Brittney Griner conviction, WNBA players avoid Russia during offseason By Doug Feinberg, Associated Press Top WNBA players are finding other places to compete this winter, not wanting to go back to Russia after the arrest and conviction of Brittney Griner on drug possession charges and the country's invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading
Sep 19 Watch 4:22 News Wrap: Taliban frees American in prisoner swap, judge orders release of Adnan Syed In our news wrap Monday, the Taliban freed American engineer Mark Frerichs in a prisoner swap, a judge in Pakistan ordered police to drop terrorism charges against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Russian fire hit close to another nuclear power… Continue watching
Sep 07 Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird, all-time WNBA leader in games played and assists, retires By Tim Booth, Associated Press Sue Bird's career came to an end as Chelsea Gray scored 15 of her 31 points in the fourth quarter, and the Las Vegas Aces advanced to the WNBA Finals with a 97-92 win over the Seattle Storm in Game… Continue reading
Aug 15 WNBA star Brittney Griner appeals her Russian prison sentence for cannabis By Jim Heintz, Associated Press Russian news agencies reported that lawyers for American basketball star Brittney Griner have filed an appeal of her nine-year Russian prison sentence for drug possession. Continue reading
Aug 04 Russian judge sentences Brittney Griner to 9 years in prison, ruling she illegally carried drugs By Jim Heintz, Associated Press Griner had told the court she had no intention to break the law by bringing vape cartridges with cannabis oil when she flew to Moscow in February. A prosecutor urged that she be sentenced to 9 1/2 years in prison. Continue reading
Aug 04 Griner says she 'made an honest mistake,' as Russian court prepares to give verdict By Jim Heintz, Associated Press American basketball star Brittney Griner apologized to her family and her team as a Russian court heard closing arguments in her drug possession trial said it expected to deliver a verdict Thursday. Continue reading
Jul 27 Watch 9:12 White House offers Russia deal to release WNBA star Brittney Griner, former Marine The U.S. is now offering to trade prisoners with Russia to bring home basketball star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine from Michigan. Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia during the Obama administration, and Jonathan Franks,… Continue watching
Jul 15 WNBA star Brittney Griner had a doctor's note for cannabis, lawyer says By Jim Heintz, Associated Press A lawyer for WNBA star Brittney Griner at her drug possession trial has given a Russian court a letter from a U.S. doctor recommending she use cannabis to treat pain. Continue reading