Appearing on ABC’s pre-game coverage, Adam Silver addressed Brittney Griner’s detainment in Russia before Game 3 of the Finals. Griner remains wrongfully detained in Russia after four months.
Silver explained that they were previously told to keep a low profile because the U.S. government didn’t want Russia to see her as “a high-value asset”. Griner has been detained for 111 days after Russian officials arrested her in a Moscow airport,
She was arrested for allegedly carrying vape cartridges with cannabis oil inside her luggage. Griner was playing in Russia during the WNBA offseason before got arrested in the Moscow airport.
The two-time WNBA scoring champion faces drug smuggling charges that carry a maximum 10-year sentence. Both the NBA and WNBA are trying to bring awareness of Griner’s situation once the U.S. government officially classified her as wrongfully detained.
“At this point, for all of us, we have to bring as much attention to her case as possible and get her home safely as quickly as possible,” Silver said.
The Boston Celtics have worn “We are BG” shirts to raise awareness, and the WNBA has deployed that rallying cry. LeBron James and Stephen Curry have also used the voice to demand Griner’s safe return to the United States.
