Phoenix Mercury

Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, urged President Joe Biden to become more involved in the efforts to release the Phoenix Mercury star from her detainment in Russia.

"There is one person that can go get her, and that's our president," Griner said during an interview with ABC's Good Morning America (h/t Mechelle Voepel of ESPN) on Wednesday. "He has that power. You know, I'm just like, 'Why are we not using it? Like, urgently, use it.' We're expecting him to use his power to get it done."

International relations with Russia have deteriorated during the country's invasion of Ukraine, which began around the same time as Griner's detainment in late February.

Voepel noted Russian authorities said Griner's luggage at a Moscow airport contained vape cartridges with hashish oil. She could face a 10-year prison sentence, although the Biden administration has declared her as wrongfully detained.

Cherelle Griner also suggested there would be more urgency from the United States government if it was an NBA player being detained instead of a WNBA player.

"We do live in a world that, the bigger the platform, the bigger the urgency," she said.

Former United Nations ambassador Bill Richardson is working on the case. He helped negotiate the release of former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed from Russia in April. U.S. Reps. Greg Stanton (Arizona), Colin Allred (Texas) and Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas) have also introduced a resolution calling for Griner's release.

"Brittney Griner has the WNBA's full support and our main priority is her swift and safe return to the United States," the league said in a statement in March, when news of Griner's detainment became public. The league also put decals with her "BG" initials on its courts prior to the start of the 2022 season in early May.

Griner has spent her entire WNBA career with the Mercury after they selected her with the No. 1 pick of the 2013 draft. The seven-time All-Star has helped lead them to two WNBA Finals, helping them win the WNBA title in 2014.

WNBA star Brittney Griner was visited Thursday by a consular official for the second time in a week, the State Department said Friday, according to ESPN.

Griner, who has been detained in Russia since February, is "continuing to do as well as could be expected under these exceedingly challenging circumstances," State Department representative Ned Price said in a briefing. 

"But again, our message is a clear and simple one—we continue to insist that Russia allow consistent and timely consular access to all U.S. citizen detainees. One-off visits are not sufficient, and we will continue to call on Moscow to uphold its commitments under the Vienna Convention for consistent and timely access as well."

ESPN reports Griner has been visited by her lawyers at least once a week while detained. The 31-year-old appeared in court earlier this month and had her pretrial detention extended into June, per the Associated Press. 

Russian officials detained Griner in February at a Moscow airport after they allegedly found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. It happened just before Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, which is ongoing. 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in March the United States would provide assistance to any citizen being detained in Russia and that U.S. officials are "doing everything we can" to protect the rights of those detained.

The Biden administration has since reclassified Griner as being "wrongfully detained," meaning it is not waiting for her case to play out in the Russian legal system and will instead negotiate her release. 

Griner is one of a number of WNBA stars who play overseas during the offseason. She last played for Russia's UMMC Ekaterinburg in January. 

The Phoenix Mercury selected Griner first overall in the 2013 WNBA draft, and she has gone on to have a successful career, averaging 17.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 254 games across nine seasons. 

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday he is working "side by side" with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to bring home Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia since February 17 because of accusations that she attempted to take vape cartridges with cannabis oil through airport security.

Silver made his remarks to ESPN's Malika Andrews in a brief televised interview before the NBA draft lottery aired:

"We've been in touch with the White House, the State Department, hostage negotiators, at every level of government and also through the private sector as well," Silver said (h/t ESPN News Services). "Our No. 1 priority is her health and safety and making sure that she gets out of Russia."

Griner has also played with UMMC Ekaterinburg of the Russian Women's Basketball Premier League since 2014 and was attempting to return home.

The State Department said May 3 that Griner is being wrongfully detained and that the "U.S. government will continue to undertake efforts to provide appropriate support to Ms. Griner."

Russian state news agency TASS (h/t Jason Hanna and Anna Chernova of CNN) reported Friday that Griner's pretrial detention had been extended by a month. She now can be held until June 18, per TASS's relaying of a Khimki court report.

Per ESPN, a consular official met with Griner last week, and State Department spokesman Ned Price relayed a report:

That consular official came away with the impression that Brittney Griner is doing as well as might be expected under conditions that can only be described as exceedingly difficult. But sporadic contact is not satisfactory. It also may not be consistent with the Vienna Convention to which Russia has subscribed.

Griner is one of the most accomplished basketball players in the sport's history. She's a seven-time WNBA All-Star who has averaged 17.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks over a nine-year pro career.

That's in addition to a pair of Olympic gold medals with Team USA, the 2012 NCAA championship with Baylor and the 2014 WNBA title with the Mercury. She was also named to the WNBA's 25th Anniversary Team last year.

Phoenix Mercury guard Skylar Diggins-Smith said her team will be focused on more than just basketball this season.

"We didn't forget about her," she said of teammate Brittney Griner, per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. "We think about her every day. We love her and we're gonna continue to carry her legacy, her voice and play in her honor until she gets back here with us."

The Mercury aren't the only ones who will be honoring Griner, who remains detained in Russia.

WNBA commissioner Kathy Englebert said the league will keep Griner "at the forefront of what we do" during the season with plans to include a decal with her initials and No. 42 on the home courts of all 12 teams.

T.J. Quinn of ESPN reported Tuesday the United States government changed Griner's designation to someone who has been "wrongfully detained" by the Russian government. That means U.S. officials no longer have to wait for her case to unfold in Russia's legal system and will instead actively work to bring her home.

Griner is scheduled for a May 19 hearing after she was arrested in February at a Moscow airport. While she has not been formally charged, Russian prosecutors claim she was illegally in possession of vape cartridges with hashish oil.

"Brittney has been detained for 75 days and our expectation is that the White House do whatever is necessary to bring her home," Griner's agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Quinn also reported that former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson is now working on the case. Richardson has worked as an international hostage negotiator in the past.

Griner has been with the Mercury her entire WNBA career since they selected her with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2013 draft. The seven-time All-Star figured to be a key part of their championship pursuit this season prior to her detainment.

Phoenix begins its season Friday against the Las Vegas Aces.

The WNBA will honor Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner with a floor decal that will be displayed throughout the 2022 season, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss.

The design will include Griner's initials and her jersey number (No. 42).

The seven-time All-Star remains detained in Russia, having been taken into custody in February after customs officials said she was carrying vape cartridges that contained cannabis oil through airport security.

TASS, a Russian state-owned news agency, reported in March that Griner was due to remain in custody until at least May 19. ESPN's T.J. Quinn spoke with Tom Firestone, a former legal adviser for the U.S. embassy in Moscow, and he said Griner could remain in Russia for as many as 12 to 18 months before she's put on trial.

Firestone laid out to Quinn and Mechelle Voepel of ESPN how her situation was especially delicate given the politics at play:

Sometimes cases like this are better off handled in a low-key approach through the criminal justice system. I think the concern is, if it becomes too high-profile, if it becomes political, then the Russian government may dig into their position. It may make it difficult for her to get a good resolution of the case, and she could become a pawn in a bigger political battle.

The New York Times' Kurt Streeter reported that players around the WNBA have been purposefully mum on the matter on the advice of those close to Griner, "who have determined it best to let behind-the-scenes diplomacy work."

Mercury guard Kia Nurse offered her perspective to Streeter.

"We are absolutely outspoken about everything that we can possibly be," she said. "But we are also very good at admitting that we don't know everything, and we are not the experts on every topic."

The WNBA's gesture to honor Griner may not receive universal acclaim because her arrest has once again called attention to how many of the league's top stars play elsewhere for financial reasons.

"One of the narratives that the players have to go overseas is a little bit outdated and inaccurate," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told reporters on April 11.

Minnesota Lynx wing Aerial Powers offered a counter when she told Voepel, "We go over there to make a living."

The Arizona Republic's Jeff Metcalfe reported in March 2017 that Griner was earning around $1 million by suiting up for Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg. While the most recent collective bargaining agreement raised player salaries across the board, Griner's supermax contract guarantees her around a quarter ($227,900) of what she makes overseas.

Connecticut Sun star and reigning WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones also made it clear she'll continue to play year-round.

"I'm going to have to deal with it," she said to ESPN's Alexa Philippou. "Because I feel like while the league is making the right and necessary strides to pay us more and ensure that if we don't want to go overseas, we don't have to, I just feel like in my situation, the money is not comparable."

The WNBA's gesture toward Griner—while well-intentioned—will likely again raise questions about what else the league is doing to address the underlying problems that allowed this to happen in the first place.

The 2022 WNBA draft got underway Monday night, but not before commissioner Cathy Engelbert expressed concern and offered her support for Phoenix Mercury veteran Brittney Griner, who remains detained in Russia.

Engelbert said, per ESPN's Mechelle Voepel:

This is an unimaginable situation for BG to be in. She continues to have our full support. Certainly, we're trying everything we can, every angle, working with her legal representation, her agent, elected leaders, the administration. Just everybody in our ecosystem to try and find ways to get her home safely and as quickly as we can.

Engelbert added that the WNBA knows she's safe, but that they "want to get her home," which she noted was the league's "top priority" in her opening comments.

"We're following the advice ... there's not a day that goes by that we're not talking to someone who has views on what we've been doing and how we're moving forward," Engelbert continued.

"I know we're all frustrated, but we do need to be patient. The players have been amazing at following the advice they're getting and we're getting in order not to jeopardize her safety in any way."

Griner was detained by the Russian Federal Customs Service at a Moscow airport in February after they allegedly found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. If convicted, she could spend a maximum of 10 years in prison.

The 31-year-old plays for UMMC Ekaterinburg in the Russian Women's Basketball Premier League during the WNBA offseason. The league took a two-week break in February for FIBA World Cup qualifying games and returned to action February 23.

Griner was selected first overall by the Mercury in the 2013 WNBA draft. She has gone on to have a very successful career, earning seven All-Star selections in nine seasons.

It's unclear when Griner might return to the United States. The WNBA season is slated to begin in May, and the Mercury could be without here. However, Phoenix is expected to receive "some roster relief" from the league, according to ESPN's Holly Rowe.

U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) said Wednesday he has been in contact with the State Department and is working toward a potential solution for the Brittney Griner situation.

Griner, who is a star player for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and plays overseas for the Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg during offseasons, has been detained in Russia on drug charges. The timing is of particular note, as international relations with Russia have largely deteriorated amid the country's invasion of Ukraine.

"My office has been in touch with the State Department, and we're working with them to see what is the best way forward," Allred, who is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said, per Mechelle Voepel of ESPN.

Voepel shared more of his comments:

I know the administration is working hard to try and get access to her and try to be helpful here. But obviously, it's also happening in the context of really strained relations. I do think that it's really unusual that we've not been granted access to her from our embassy and our consular services.

The Russian criminal justice system is very different than ours, very opaque. We don't have a lot of insight into where she is in that process right now. But she's been held for three weeks now, and that's extremely concerning.

His comments come after Russian state TV released a photograph of Griner in custody following her arrest:

"Brittney Griner has the WNBA's full support and our main priority is her swift and safe return to the United States," the WNBA previously said in a statement.

Holly Yan of CNN noted the Russian Federal Customs Service detained Griner at Moscow's airport and said she was found with hash oil. She could face five to 10 years in prison.

Allred played football at Baylor before he suited up for the Tennessee Titans for four seasons in the NFL. Griner also attended Baylor and helped lead the Bears to a national championship during her collegiate career.

He also mentioned the Baylor connection:

Of course for me, there is a Baylor connection. And also being on the Foreign Affairs Committee, and having recently visited Ukraine and being intimately involved with our response to the Russian aggression there. But also the fact that Brittney is a high-profile LGBTQ advocate and icon in many ways.

I'm sure her lawyer in Russia is working through the process. But every day for anyone being held, particularly being held overseas, is a lifetime. I recognize that for her friends and family, this must be an incredibly difficult time. And for her, I'm sure the uncertainty about what's happening is probably just terrible. And so, hopefully, whatever happens, we can get this moving quickly and get her out.

Griner has been with the Mercury her entire WNBA career since the team selected her with the No. 1 pick of the 2013 draft.

Tina Charles is headed to Phoenix.

The veteran center signed a contract with the Phoenix Mercury on Friday, joining Skylar Diggins-Smith, Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner on the star-laden roster.

Charles, 33, spent the 2021 season with the Washington Mystics after being medically excused in 2020 because of a preexisting condition that made her more vulnerable to serious COVID-19 infection.

The eight-time All-Star led the WNBA in scoring last year with 23.4 points per game and tied for third with 9.6 rebounds. She should combine with Griner next season to give the Mercury the league's best one-two interior punch. Phoenix made a similarly daring all-in push two years ago when it acquired Diggins-Smith to pair with Taurasi in an All-Star backcourt.

The Mercury are coming off a WNBA Finals appearance and likely view Charles as the final piece to the puzzle. The franchise has not won a championship since the 2014 season but will arguably walk into 2022 as the favorite. 

Sandy Brondello is moving on from the Phoenix Mercury after eight seasons.

The team announced Monday that Brondello, whose contract expired following the 2021 WNBA season, won't be back on the sideline next year:

The 53-year-old compiled a 150-108 record in Phoenix. She guided the Mercury to a title in 2014 and a runner-up finish in 2021 in eight straight playoff appearances.

The timing of her departure is likely to raise questions.

Earlier in the day, the New York Liberty announced they let head coach Walt Hopkins go after two seasons. That move seemingly signaled a desire to take a big step forward in 2022, and hiring a proven coach such as Brondello would align with that goal.

There are also implications for the Mercury's future.

Phoenix is firmly in win-now mode with a roster centered around Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith, and all three are under contract for 2022. At the very least, the Mercury are poised to make at least one more run at a title.

However, Brondello might have felt the time was right to cash out.

Following the 2017 season, Bill Laimbeer left the New York Liberty after they wrapped up a third straight playoff appearance. The Liberty proceeded to win seven games in 2018.

The Mercury shouldn't have a similar collapse next year, but they may have already hit their ceiling under Brondello. If Breanna Stewart had been healthy for the Seattle Storm, then Phoenix could easily have suffered a second-round postseason exit for the second straight year.

The franchise is relying on an aging Big Three (Taurasi turned 39 in June, while Griner and Diggins-Smith are both 31.) and building around those three stars makes it difficult to fill out the rest of the roster when they account for so much of the salary cap.

In November, Bleacher Report's Jackie Powell outlined how the Mercury need to identify some targets on the wing this offseason, a weakness that was exacerbated when Kia Nurse suffered a torn ACL in October.

As much as Brondello could've questioned the Mercury's potential, a coaching change is the easiest way to reshuffle the deck should general manager Jim Pitman have doubts about what he can achieve through trades or free agency this coming spring.

But if the front office began losing faith in Brondello, one would've expected her departure to come much closer to the end of the 2021 season. There's nothing that has transpired since then to change anything for the Mercury.

Now, Pitman is tasked with finding a successor who can deliver immediate returns and maximize Phoenix's championship window.

The Chicago Sky aren't done beating down the Phoenix Mercury just yet.

The Sky trolled Diana Taurasi during Tuesday's championship parade by bringing and displaying the door that the Mercury star allegedly broke at Wintrust Arena.

The Mercury declined to participate in a media session following their Game 4 loss to Chicago, and Taurasi gave only a tongue-in-cheek response to reports she broke a door in the locker room when asked by media this week.

"There were a lot of doors in there," Taurasi said, per Meredith Cash of Business Insider.

While there's no way of knowing whether Taurasi actually took down the door, it's pretty clear the Sky players view the broken door as a symbol of their triumph.