Brittney Griner's detention in Russia extended as team fights for release

Representatives from WNBA's Phoenix Mercury consulting with US State Department on basketball player's status

• 

  Phoenix Mercury centre Brittney Griner during the first half of Game 2 of the WNBA Finals against the Chicago Sky. AP

• 

  Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil. AFP

• 

  Griner leaving a courtroom after a hearing in May. The Phoenix Mercury star, considered in some polls to be the US’s most gifted female athlete, could face 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs. AP

• 

  Griner asked US President Joe Biden to free her from a Russian prison in a handwritten letter on July 4, 2022, portions of which were made public by her family. AFP

• 

  Grineris escorted before a court hearing in Khimki outside Moscow, Russia on July 1, 2022. Reuters

• 

  The US stepped up its push in March for consular access to Griner, who is detained in Russia on allegations of drug smuggling. AP

• 

  Griner at the White House alongside teammates. Photo: US National Archives

• 

  Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates with fans. Getty Images North America / AFP

• 

  A man holds a sign for Brittney Griner Home during the first half of the WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. EPA

• 

  Griner, a player of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury team was arrested in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport after some hash oil was detected and found in her luggage, for which she now could face a prison sentence of up to ten years. EPA

• 

  Fans hold signs Griner during the first half of the WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. EPA

• 

  A sign for Griner is displayed during a game between Portland Thorns FC and Angel City FC at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images / AFP

• 

  The Khimki City Court reportedly had extended Greiner's detention for the duration of her trial on charges of drug smuggling that started on 01 July. EPA

• 

  Griner gestures during a game against Australia at Saitama Super Arena in their Tokyo 2020 Olympic women's basketball quarterfinal game in Saitama, Japan August 4, 2021. Reuters

• 

  Dallas Wings' Marina Mabrey wears shoes that have a "BG" logo on them, a reference to Brittney Griner, during the second half of the team's WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. AP

• 

  "We Are BG 42" is displayed on the exterior of Footprint Center before the WNBA game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx on June 21, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. Getty Images / AFP

• 

  Minnesota Lynx's Aerial Powers wears a shirt in support of Griner during introductions for the team's WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm. Star Tribune / AP

• 

  Griner poses with her gold medal in Women's Basketball at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, August 8, 2021. Reuters

• 

  Brittney Griner with teammates Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins posing for pictures with their gold medals on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's basketball competition of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. AFP

A court has extended the detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner in Russia through at least July 2, Russian state news agency Tass reported on Tuesday.

This was the latest extension handed down by Russia, where Griner was arrested in February.

While at an airport near Moscow, she was reportedly found to have been illegally transporting cartridges of hashish oil, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

US officials have classified her arrest as “wrongful detainment”.

As such, it is being overseen by the office of the US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens.

On Monday, officials from the State Department and Mr Carstens's office met members of the Phoenix Mercury while they were in town to play the Washington Mystics.

Sheila Jackson Lee and Greg Stanton, US representatives from Texas and Arizona, respectively, were also present. Griner is from Houston, Texas.

“We are on day 116 since [Griner] has been wrongfully detained,” Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard said on Twitter.

“It was great to hear from the State Department that we should continue to amplify that message and that we should continue to press all those who have any influence or power to help bring [her] home.

“She's our teammate, she's an American and we want her back home.”

Griner was arrested while on her way back to the US for the start of a training camp with the Mercury. She has played for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia during her offseason for six years.

She and many other WNBA players participate in foreign leagues for financial reasons.

Griner has won two Olympic gold medals, an NCAA title and a WNBA championship.