“I wish to apologize to my teammates, my membership, my followers, and town of [Yekaterinburg] for my mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I introduced on them,” Griner mentioned in her assertion. “I wish to additionally apologize to my dad and mom, my siblings, the Phoenix Mercury group again at dwelling, the superb girls of the WNBA, and my superb partner again at dwelling.”
Responding to her sentence, President Joe Biden slammed Russia for “wrongfully detaining” Griner, saying he would “pursue each doable avenue” to convey her dwelling.
“It’s unacceptable, and I name on Russia to launch her instantly so she could be along with her spouse, family members, pals, and teammates,” Biden mentioned in an announcement. “My administration will proceed to work tirelessly and pursue each doable avenue to convey Brittney and Paul Whelan dwelling safely as quickly as doable.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver additionally launched a joint assertion condemning the decision.
“In the present day’s verdict and sentencing is unjustified and unlucky, however not sudden and Brittney Griner stays wrongly detained,” they mentioned. “The WNBA and NBA’s dedication to her protected return has not wavered and it’s our hope that we’re close to the top of this strategy of lastly bringing BG dwelling to the USA.”
Griner beforehand testified that she used hashish oil prescribed by her physician to deal with ache from sports activities accidents, however had packed her luggage in a rush and didn’t imply to convey them to Russia, the place she was enjoying within the WNBA offseason. “As they ended up in my luggage accidentally, I take accountability, however I didn’t intend to smuggle or plan to smuggle [illegal substances] to Russia,” she had testified on July 27.
Griner additionally complained that her rights weren’t learn to her when she was first arrested and that she didn’t obtain correct translation providers throughout the investigation.
In a letter written to Biden final month, Griner mentioned she was “terrified” she is likely to be held in a Russian jail ceaselessly.
“I notice you’re coping with a lot, however please don’t neglect about me and the opposite American Detainees,” she mentioned. “Please do all you possibly can to convey us dwelling.”
