After the Russian court convicted WNBA star Brittney Griner for smuggling illegal drugs and sentenced her to nine years of jail time, several people have opposed the decision. While Griner’s lawyers appealed the sentencing, players of both NBA and WNBA have expressed their opinions on the case. Furthermore, Warriors player Stephen Curry recently claimed that he tried talking to the Biden administration to help Griner but was turned down.

In addition, former NBA player Dennis Rodman too had announced that he would be going to Russia to help Griner. However, during a press conference, the US State Department said that taking a different action would further complicate the matter. The statement, hinted toward Rodman, meant that the US government would not tolerate a third person’s interference in the matter.

Stephen Curry attempts to help Brittney Griner but gets rejected

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Stephen Curry revealed that he had talked to his contacts in the Biden administration, but they had turned down his attempt to help in Brittney Griner’s release.

Curry said “They were telling us, ‘Don?t say anything,'”

The Russian authorities arrested Brittney Griner in February at Moscow airport with drug smuggling charges. Griner was carrying cannabis oil cartridges. The government released the news of Griner’s imprisonment in March, after which the pressure to release Griner started increasing rapidly. In an interview with ESPN, the Warriors player expressed his displeasure with the situation and called it a tragedy.

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“— she needs to be home, she needs to be safe, she needs to be with her family,” Curry added.

Curry was not the only one who has been vocal about Griner’s case. He, along with WNBA players Skyler Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike, addressed the audience at the 2022 ESPY Awards regarding Griner.

“—we hope for the best, we urge the entire sports community to continue to stay energized on her behalf—she’s one of us. We cannot stop fighting for her, we cannot stop believing for her and we will not stop hoping for the day when we can welcome her home safely,” said Curry.

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However, it is not just Curry who is pushing for Griner’s freedom. Additionally, the NBA and WNBA had earlier released a joint statement calling the sentencing ‘unjustified and unfortunate’.

What do you think of Brittney Griner’s conviction? Let us know in the comments!