Brittney Griner Remains ‘Top Priority’ As Russia Releases Trevor Reed

Topline

A State Department spokesman said WNBA player Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia in February and faces up to 10 years in prison in the country on drug charges, remains a “top priority” as another U.S. prisoner, Marine veteran Trevor Reed, was released Wednesday as part of a prisoner swap between the two countries.

Key Facts

State spokesman Ned Price told CNN the State Department is in “regular contact” with Griner’s team and are working with the Russian embassy to “to see to it that she’s treated fairly” and they have “consistent access to her.”

President Joe Biden said Wednesday he “won’t stop until Paul Whelan and others” are released from Russia, referencing another U.S. citizen who has been detained there since 2018 on espionage charges, though Biden did not mention Griner by name.

Concerns for Griner were raised on social media Wednesday as news of Reed’s release broke.

Surprising Fact

Last month, Reed’s family spoke to the Wall Street Journal about their son’s and Griner’s cases. Paula and Joey Reed told the outlet they employed silence as a strategy in the months after Trevor’s arrest, a strategy the WNBA and Griner’s team also seem to be using. Nneka Ogwumike, president of the WNBA Players Association, recently said it was important for players to be “intentional” about what they said about Griner’s case and WNBA player Lisa Leslie said the basketball community was urged to not make a big deal about it so Griner couldn’t be used “as a pawn.” The Reeds changed strategies after speaking with Whelan’s family, and launched a website and other initiatives to bring Reed home. “As horrible as it is for [Griner]
to be detained there, we believe that may be the only way for our government to begin negotiation,” Joey Reed said in March. “She’s brought a lot more attention to all this than the two Marines ever received.”

Key Background

Griner, a star player for the Phoenix Mercury, was arrested in February but news of her detainment was not known until March 5. After playing a season abroad in Russia, a common practice among WNBA players who can often make more overseas than in the U.S., hash oil was allegedly discovered in Griner’s luggage when departing the country. In March, Griner’s detention in Russia was extended until May 19.

Tangent

Griner’s agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas penned a column Tuesday for the Los Angeles Times about Griner’s case and the circumstances that led her to play in Russia, writing she spends “hours in communication every day with a dedicated group of people who are working to get BG home.” Colas, who could not delve into the details of Griner’s case, wrote Griner’s supporters have “confidence in the White House’s commitment to doing everything in their power to bring Brittney home.”

Further Reading

WNBA Players, Commissioner Call For Brittney Griner’s Return From Russia (Forbes)

Brittney Griner In ‘Good Condition,’ U.S. Reports After Finally Visiting With WNBA Star (Forbes)

U.S. Pushes For Consular Access To WNBA Player Brittney Griner (Forbes)

WNBA Star Brittney Griner’s Detention In Russia Reportedly Extended Until May (Forbes)

WNBA Player Brittney Griner Reportedly Detained In Russia On Drug Charges (Forbes)

Why It Seems Like The World Has Abandoned Brittney Griner (Forbes)