Brittney Griner made a direct appeal to President Joe Biden for her freedom Monday in a letter passed on through her representatives, writing, “I’m terrified I might be here forever.”
“I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other detainees,” an excerpt released by the WNBA star’s representatives said. “Please do all you can to bring us home.”
The letter, described as handwritten, also notes her father’s military service.
“On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those men who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran,” another excerpt read. “It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”
Griner’s trial on charges that she tried to smuggle vape cartridges with hashish oil into Russia began Friday. Legal experts and U.S. officials have described the proceeding as a “show trial” that is certain to end in a conviction and lengthy sentence. The trial has been described as a negotiating tactic by the Russian government to exchange her in a prisoner swap.
A representative for Griner said they would not release the entire letter or detail how it got from Griner’s jail cell outside Moscow to the White House. Griner, detained since mid-February, has been able to send and receive notes to friends and family through her Russian attorneys, although all the messages have been monitored by Russian officials.
The White House National Security Council confirmed the White House has received Griner’s letter.
“We believe the Russian Federation is wrongfully detaining Brittney Griner,” NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said Monday. “President Biden has been clear about the need to see all U.S. nationals who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad released, including Brittney Griner. The U.S. government continues to work aggressively — using every available means — to bring her home.”
Griner’s wife, Cherelle, said Tuesday morning that she has not had any direct communication with Biden since the letter was delivered to the White House.
“I still have not heard from him, and honestly, it’s very disheartening,” Cherelle Griner said on “CBS Mornings.”
Griner’s family and supporters have tried to ratchet up pressure on the White House and the U.S. State Department to negotiate a trade that would bring her home. Russian state media outlets, which typically operate under direct instruction from the government, have reported that there are discussions about trading Griner for a Russian man named Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence for financing terrorism. U.S. officials have also said they are trying to secure the release of another American, Paul Whelan, who has been in Russian custody since December 2018.
Griner’s trial is scheduled to continue Thursday. She has yet to enter a plea, but sources familiar with her case said there is a strong chance she will plead guilty, knowing that Russian officials would require an admission of guilt as part of any deal to send her home.
Other portions in the letter read: “As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever.”
She also wrote, “I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore. I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”
Cherelle Griner said for Brittney to reach out directly to Biden is an indication of just how afraid her wife is about what’s next.
“BG is probably the strongest person that I know. So she doesn’t say words like that lightly,” Cherelle said. “That means she truly is terrified that she may never see us again. And you know I share those same sentiments. … I’m sure she was like, ‘I’m gonna write him now because … my family has tried and to no avail. So I’m going do it myself.'”
All-Star captains A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces and Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm drafted their respective teams and finalized rosters Saturday for the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game on July 10 (1 p.m. ET, ABC) at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
The Chicago Sky‘s Candace Parker was selected No. 1 overall by Wilson on the WNBA All-Star Team Selection Special and Stewart drafted Jackie Young of the Aces with the No. 2 pick.
As the recipient of the most fan votes, Wilson was awarded the first pick of the first round, which comprised the remaining six All-Star starters, and Stewart made the first pick of the second round, which featured the 12 reserves.
All-Star starters were decided by fans, current WNBA players and the media, while the reserves were chosen by the league’s coaches.
WNBA legends Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles, who are both retiring at the end of the 2022 season, were previously deemed starters and co-captains alongside Wilson and Stewart, respectively.
“I think the strength of my team is our size and our versatility,” Stewart said. “We’re going to come out and make sure we set the tone early and try to get this win.”
“I look at my list and I see nothing but vet, vet, vet,” Wilson added. “When it comes to wisdom, I got ’em.”
After the draft was completed, Wilson suggested trading Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks for the New York Liberty‘s Sabrina Ionescu, and Stewart proposed swapping co-captains; Bird is now part of Team Stewart, while Fowles is teaming up with Wilson.
“We can do legend for legend. OK, I got that. I’m good with that,” Wilson said. “We’re back on track. That was a good one.”
Team Wilson will be coached by Becky Hammon, Wilson’s coach on the Aces. Team Stewart will be led by James Wade, coach of the defending champion Sky.
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