NBC Could Get In On College Football Playoffs
WNBA star Brittney Griner will remain in custody in Russia through at least July 2 after a Russian court extended her detention.
Russian state news agency TASS reported Tuesday that the 31-year-old Griner, who has been officially classified as “wrongly detained” by the U.S. State Department, has had her detention extended another 18 days by the Khimki Court of the Moscow Region.
Griner was arrested Feb. 17 at Sheremetyevo International Airport for allegedly having vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her bag. It is illegal to possess hashish oil in Russia. She has spent 117 days in a Russian prison.
Griner had been in Russia to play for the Russian Premier League team UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA offseason.
On Monday, the Phoenix Mercury announced that members of the organization had met with State Department officials regarding the Biden administration’s efforts to secure Griner’s release.
The WNBA is honoring Griner with a decal with her initials and No. 42 on all 12 of its courts.
