Lisa Leslie Expresses Deep Concern Over Brittney Griner’s Detention in Russia

Date: July 28, 2025 — “Top 5 Plays of the Day.”
WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, who starred for the Los Angeles Sparks from 1997 to 2009, recently joined the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast with Brandon Marshall, Chad Ochocinco, and Chantel Tremitiere. During the conversation, Leslie revealed that when Brittney Griner—a Phoenix Mercury star—was arrested in February 2022 at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport for allegedly carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, WNBA players were quietly advised to “not make a big fuss” about her detention. This guidance, she explained, came via hearsay within the women’s basketball community and was meant to avoid turning Griner into a political pawn amid escalating tensions with Russia over the Ukraine war Reddit+15CNN国际+15TMZ+15.

📌 Background on Brittney Griner’s Arrest

On February 17, 2022, Griner was detained by Russian Federal Customs after officials discovered vape cartridges containing hash oil in her luggage. The substance, legal in the U.S. when medically prescribed, is strictly illegal in Russia Them+2Wikipedia+2BET+2.

News of her arrest remained under wraps until early March 2022, igniting confusion and concern among fans, the WNBA, and U.S. officials REVOLT.

Griner faced possible penalties of up to 10 years in prison, given the legal framework in Russia governing controlled substances Reddit+15REVOLT+15The New Yorker+15.

🧍‍♀️ What Leslie Said on the Podcast

In the teaser clip, Leslie stated:

“What we were told—and again this is all sort of passed along through hearsay—is to not make a big fuss about it so that they could not use her as a pawn, so to speak, in this situation in the war… don’t make it like ‘Free Brittney’ and we start this campaign, and then it becomes something they can use.” VICE+14REVOLT+14BET+14

She emphasized that she doesn’t know who initially passed this advice but that the sentiment circulated widely across the women’s basketball world: “That’s what we were ‘told’…” Fox News+5hotnewhiphop.com+5TMZ+5

Reflecting on the emotional toll, Leslie added:

“It’s heartbreaking for all of us. … Should we all use our social media platform and get behind it or not? Nobody really [knows]. This is the first time we’re in this situation, and we don’t know what to do.” Reddit+13REVOLT+13hotnewhiphop.com+13

She described daily discussions with Dawn Staley and other close contacts:

“We talk about it daily … ‘What’s she doing now? They cut off her hair? Does she have a bed long enough to fit? Her parents got to be sick.’ What’s the right thing to do about it?” Reddit+10TMZ+10CNN国际+10REVOLT+1TMZ+1

😓 Emotional Turmoil Within the WNBA Community

Leslie’s remarks paint a picture of deep anxiety and moral conflict among WNBA players:

They wrestled with whether speaking publicly would help or inadvertently harm Griner’s prospects of release.

The silence wasn’t indifference—it reflected strategic caution aimed at preventing Russia from exploiting any public campaign Wikipedia+14VICE+14Them+14.

🇺🇸 Coordination Behind the Scenes

Former WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert later confirmed in press remarks that Griner’s team, league officials, and U.S. government representatives were coordinating quietly every day—with “say less, push harder privately” as the operating principle Them+1Fox News+1.

The U.S. State Department was also reportedly advising restraint, so Russia wouldn’t inflate Griner’s significance as political leverage The HillVICE.

📅 Timeline of the Case

Late March 2022: A Russian court extended Griner’s detention until at least May 19, raising concerns that her detention could drag on without trial (which indeed occurred) REVOLT+9Them+9washingtontimes.com+9.

August 4, 2022: Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison and fined more than 1 million rubles—a surprisingly harsh penalty given case circumstances Them+15Wikipedia+15Reddit+15.

November 2022: She was transferred to IK‑2, a notorious penal colony in Mordovia, where living conditions were harsh and emotionally draining Wikipedia.

December 8, 2022: Griner was released in a prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout and returned to the U.S., ending nearly 10 months of detention Wikipedia+1Reddit+1.

🧠 Life During Detention

After her release, Griner revealed shocking details about her time in Russian captivity:

She contemplated suicide due to isolation, degradation, and lack of sanitation, describing days filled with cleaning, reflection, and prayer to maintain hope The New YorkerWikipedia.

She bonded with other inmates—including one woman named Alena—whose companionship helped preserve her mental health amid emotional upheaval The New YorkerWikipedia.

🏀 Her Return and Symbolic Significance

Griner rejoined the WNBA in May 2023, receiving a standing ovation and eventually earning an All-Star selection again in her first season back The Shadow League+11Wikipedia+11Them+11.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she represented Team USA and earned her third straight Olympic gold medal. When the national anthem played, she was visibly emotional—a powerful symbol of survival and resilience WikipediaThe New Yorker.

💬 Unresolved Questions and Broader Issues

Should communities exploit social media and public pressure, or rely entirely on diplomacy?
The #FreeBrittney movement risked inflaming Russia’s leverage rather than helping her cause.

Who exactly issued the “don’t make a big fuss” guidance?
Leslie only described it as hearsay; it might have originated from U.S. diplomats, Griner’s legal team, or WNBA leadership Reddit+15The Nation+15Reddit+15Them+8The Shadow League+8VICE+8.

Did the strategy of restraint actually work?
Griner was eventually released—some say the quiet diplomacy succeeded, others argue that broader awareness may have influenced the outcome.

What does this case reveal about women’s sports and global visibility?
Observers noted that Griner’s status as a Black, queer female athlete both amplified and muted her international visibility. Her identity made her a potential political tool, while institutional silence sought to avoid inflaming the situation rather than boosting her platform washingtontimes.com+5Reddit+5Reddit+5.

🌟 Conclusion

Lisa Leslie—a three‑time WNBA MVP, two‑time Defensive Player of the Year, and respected Hall of Famer—spoke publicly to share a charged contradiction: the WNBA community was advised to stay quiet about a teammate’s arrest, to prevent turning her into a geopolitical pawn. The advice came as hearsay, but resonated across players who felt torn between activism and strategic restraint.

Through nearly a year of detention, Griner endured deprivation, fear, and personal trauma—but emerged home. Her story underscores not just resilience, but the complex interplay between athletics, diplomacy, identity, and media. It raises a critical reflection: in crises where human rights and politics mix, what’s the right balance between vocal protest and cautious negotiation?

Summary of Key Facts:

Griner was arrested on February 17, 2022, at Moscow airport for vape cartridges containing cannabis oil—legal in the U.S. but illegal in Russia BET+7CNN国际+7TMZ+7TMZ+7Them+7The New Yorker+7.

She was advised (via hearsay) that WNBA players should not make a big fuss, to avoid turning her into a pawn in Russia–Ukraine conflict dynamics REVOLTThe NationBET.

Leslie described the emotional confusion among athletes about whether public protest would help or hinder Griner’s safety REVOLT.

Detention was extended to May 19, she was sentenced to nine years, transferred to IK‑2 penal colony, and eventually released in a December 2022 prisoner swap Wikipedia.

Griner returned to the WNBA in May 2023 and competed in Olympic Paris 2024, solidifying her as a symbol of triumph and endurance—while prompting broader reflection on political silence vs. activism in athlete communities