Despite $1.6 Million Lure From Russia, Brittney Griner’s Arrest Forces WNBA Legend to Make Big Decision Involving Turkey
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US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. – 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, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
With Brittney Griner still under imprisonment in Russia, WNBA stars have stood in solidarity in support of her. And many stars, including a WNBA legend, have decided not to go play in Russia in protest of BG’s arrest. Even with a $1.6 million salary, this four-time All-Star has made a big decision to play in Turkey instead.
During the WNBA off-season, many stars go and play in overseas leagues, including Russia, to earn a higher salary. The Russian League offers players multiple times their WNBA salaries and some even offer more than a million dollars. But this time, the league reported that not a single player is going to Russia in the off-season.
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Breanna Stewart refused to go play in Russia with Brittney Griner still in prison
With Griner still detained in Russia, the WNBA community has stood with her and decided to sit the season out. That includes Breanna Stewart, a four-time WNBA All-Star and a teammate of Griner in the Russian league.
Despite Female American Stars Boycotting Russia’s Cash Rich Basketball Leagues, Male Players Continue To Participate After Brittney Griner Arrest
Stewart even released a statement about her decision to not go play in Russia. She said, ” Honestly my time in Russia has been wonderful. But especially with BG still wrongfully detained there, nobody’s going to go there until she’s home.”
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“I think that, you know, now, people want to go overseas, and if the money is not much different, they want to be in a better place.”
Stewart even rejected a $1.5 million salary that she was due to earn in Russia. Instead, she is taking her talents to the Turkish team Fenerbahce, where she will have a six-figure income.
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Brittney Griner has been in Russia for over 210 days now after she was arrested at an airport in February. She was then put on trial and found guilty of smuggling illegal substances. Subsequently, she was sentenced to nine years in prison.
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Griner and a fellow American named Paul Whelan have been at the eye of the storm for a long time now. The US government is reportedly negotiating with Russian authorities to secure their release, but experts have said this would likely take time, due to the strained relations between both nations.
And in the meantime, her fellow WNBA players have stood with her and are forgoing million-dollar contracts.
Written by:
Edited by:
Veer Badani
