Is Brittney Griner slowly being forgotten? Because that’s what the WNBA star had once said. The Nation’s Dave Zirin recently published an article that addressed the concerns over the WNBA superstar. Notably, Griner is currently serving her nine-year prison sentence in IK-2 Mordovia. Zirin talked about the gradually dying voices of Griner’s supporters. Furthermore, he discussed how the situation would have been entirely different had it been someone like Derek Jeter or Tom Brady in her place.

It has not been so long since Brittney Griner reached the penal colony in Mordovia. However, based on the chilling details revealed by ex-inmates, it is safe to say that even a day would feel like years in prison. Olga Romanova, head of Rus Sidyashchaya organization, said while Griner is still in talks about negotiation, she would be taken care of. However, she revealed that “ if negotiations stop, then she will be in danger.” Furthermore, there are added issues that Romanova feel is concerning.

In October, Griner reportedly told her wife Cherelle about being scared and forgotten to be left behind. Sports commentator John Feinstein shared his concerns about Griner and stated that some people didn’t care about her because of her identity. Dave Zirin stressed how Griner had become a ‘totem’ in the culture war. Furthermore, he stated that instead of demanding her release, some people preferred to see her punished.

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“If this was Tom Brady or Derek Jeter in a prison camp for nine years, the outrage would become an unholy din,” wrote Zirin. Notably, Zirin meant that had it been someone notable, like Brady or Jeter, the entire scenario would have been totally different.

Brittney Griner is in one of the harshest penal colony

The location of Brittney Griner’s isolated prison colony was recently revealed. Turned out, things just got worse for the WNBA star. Ex-inmate Nadya Tolokonnikova revealed that IK-2 Mordovia is one of the harshest colonies in the entire Russian prison system. Forced labor, torture, and beatings were an everyday occurrence. In a recent interview with MSNBC, Tolokonnikova shared the terrifying information and also talked about her concerns for Griner.

Furthermore, she lent a piece of advice meant for Griner, “What I would suggest to Brittney if I could [would be] to not work at the sweatshops. You might think for a second that if I’m gonna follow the rules, then my life is gonna be better. But in fact, those conditions are horrific.”

The female inmates were forced to sew uniforms for the Russian army. However, the inmates would often get injured due to the old sewing machine. Tolokonnikova recalled how she had to continue sewing despite having injured herself on the finger.

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Given that the American officials are currently working on the prisoner exchange, one can only hope for Griner’s safe return.