📰 BREAKING: Russian Court Extends Brittney Griner’s Detention Yet Again — Star WNBA Player to Remain in Custody Until at Least July 2nd

Another devastating update has emerged in the case of Brittney Griner, the American WNBA superstar detained in Russia. On June 14, 2022, a court in Khimki, a Moscow suburb, ordered that Griner’s pre-trial detention be extended for the third time, keeping her in custody until at least July 2 (NPR).

Background on the Arrest

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most dominant players in women’s basketball, was arrested in mid-February 2022 at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow. Russian customs officials alleged they found vape cartridges containing hash oil in her luggage, a substance illegal under Russian law. If convicted, she faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison (Wikipedia).

Since the beginning, her arrest has raised international concern and suspicion, especially due to the timing—just days before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Many see Griner’s detainment as politically motivated, intended to serve as leverage in Russia’s rising confrontation with the West.

In May 2022, the U.S. State Department officially reclassified Griner as “wrongfully detained”, a designation that moved her case to the office of the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA), currently headed by Roger Carstens (Wikipedia).

A Pattern of Detention Extensions

Griner’s detention has now been extended three times:

First extension: Until May 19, 2022

Second extension: Until June 18, 2022

Third extension: Now set to July 2, 2022

Each extension has come without much notice, and in many cases, U.S. officials have learned about them through Russian state media, rather than through diplomatic channels. This has been described as both troubling and highly irregular by U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price (AP).

Detention Conditions and U.S. Access

According to Russian media and a prison monitoring commission, Griner is being held in a cell with two other women also charged with drug offenses. She reportedly has access to daily walks, two sauna visits per week, and is allowed to watch TV and read books. However, her height—6’9″ (206 cm)—makes the bed and cell facilities deeply uncomfortable.

U.S. diplomats were finally granted consular access to Griner in May, and according to their report, she was “as well as could be expected under such circumstances” (People).

Growing Calls for Action from the U.S. and Sports World

The extension has fueled public outcry across the U.S., with both political figures and sports icons demanding faster intervention.

The WNBA, along with top NBA players like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Jaylen Brown, have all called for her immediate release. During the NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics wore “WE ARE BG” shirts to show solidarity and raise awareness.

Griner’s team, the Phoenix Mercury, and her wife Cherelle Griner have been vocal in urging the Biden administration to act decisively. The WNBA has also continued paying her full salary while organizing public campaigns and pressuring lawmakers to push for her return (CBS News).

Is Griner Being Used as a Political Pawn?

Many U.S. officials and international observers now believe Griner is being used as a bargaining chip by Russia, a strategic hostage in the middle of a growing diplomatic standoff.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has made clear that no prisoner swap would be discussed until all “legal proceedings” in Griner’s case are completed. It’s a move seen by many as a way to stall and increase Russia’s negotiating power.

The proposed exchange would involve trading Griner for Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death“, who is currently serving a 25-year sentence in a U.S. federal prison. Bout was convicted in 2011 for conspiring to kill Americans and support terrorist organizations through arms deals.

Although there have been ongoing rumors and quiet negotiations, Russia has so far refused to confirm any deal. Meanwhile, calls in the U.S. to prioritize Griner’s release—even if it means freeing Bout—remain controversial. Critics argue such a trade would set a dangerous precedent, possibly encouraging future hostage diplomacy.

Where Do Things Stand?

For now, Brittney Griner remains in Russian custody, her future still hanging in the balance. The next steps are uncertain, but a few things are clear:

Legal proceedings must conclude before Russia will consider any swap. That means a possible guilty plea, trial, and sentencing could be used as preconditions for a release.

The U.S. must decide whether to pursue a 1-for-1 deal (Griner for Bout) or push for a more comprehensive exchange, possibly including Paul Whelan, another American detained in Russia on espionage charges.

Russia may be intentionally stalling to maximize diplomatic gains or to test U.S. resolve.

Observers also warn that if Griner is convicted, she could be sent to one of Russia’s notorious penal colonies—a move that would dramatically escalate pressure on the U.S. to act quickly.

The Bigger Picture: Griner and Global Politics

Griner’s case isn’t just about one athlete—it’s become a reflection of a new Cold War dynamic, where U.S. citizens abroad could face increasing risk in hostile territories.

Much like the case of Trevor Reed, a U.S. Marine who was recently freed in a Russia-U.S. prisoner exchange, Griner’s fate may depend less on legal proceedings and more on high-stakes diplomacy.

The U.S. has already secured the support of third-party intermediaries, like the United Arab Emirates, who helped broker the Griner-Bout exchange in December 2022. Similar backchannels may be vital for resolving future detentions.

Conclusion

As Brittney Griner’s detention stretches on, concern continues to mount. Her July 2 court date is now the next major milestone—but even then, nothing is guaranteed.

The world watches as a celebrated athlete becomes entangled in one of the most dangerous geopolitical conflicts in decades. Whether justice will prevail—or whether politics will continue to dictate her fate—remains to be seen.

For now, Brittney Griner waits in a Russian cell, and the United States scrambles to answer one critical question:

How far will it go to bring her home?