Urges Russia to Free Brittney Griner, Cathy Engelbert: She's an Important Part of the WNBA Family

Britney Yevette Griner (Instagram @brittneyyevettegriner)

JAKARTA - WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has urged Russia to release Moscow imprisoned American basketball star, Brittney Griner.

Engelbert said the League had to step in to get a deal with Russia. Then, finalize the deal and bring the Griner home safely before the league starts.

"So as we prepare to kick off this great series, it's important to reiterate that we always have Brittney Griner in mind and our commitment to bringing her home safely and as quickly as possible", Engelbert said.

"It does not waver. We continue to work with the State Department and the US government and administration and others on this very complex situation. I recently received a handwritten letter from BG and I was deeply inspired by his courage in the face of great adversity.

"We are completely focused on bringing him home safely and he remains such an important part of the WNBA family."

Speaking on Sunday in Las Vegas ahead of the opening match of the 2022 WNBA Finals, Engelbert revealed that he had received a handwritten letter from Griner.

In the letter, Griner said he was grateful for the efforts of the league and the United States government to secure his release and that he was "remaining strong".

"It's sincere. He's very grateful. He knows the effort I personally and the League put into trying to get him home safely and as soon as possible and he ended it with, 'I'm staying strong.' got goosebumps now just saying that, he ended with, 'You should know I'm staying strong, and thank you.'

"(The letter) was short and handwritten and very inspiring to me considering how dire the situation was."

Griner, a Phoenix Mercury center and two-time Olympic gold medalist was arrested in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport after a vape canister containing marijuana oil was found in his luggage.

The 31-year-old, who had played for the women's basketball team in Yekaterinburg during the WNBA season, was found guilty in a Russian court on August 4 and sentenced to nine years in prison.