NBA working with WNBA on Brittney Griner case

Yesterday on the sidelines of the draft lottery, Adam Silver mentioned the case Brittney Griner, still detained in Russia. NBA commissioner said he works alongside WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to try to bring the player back to the United States.

“We are in contact with the White House, State Department, hostage negotiators, all levels of government and also through the private sector,” Silver said. “Our number one priority is her health and safety and making sure she leaves Russia. »

The State Department also said Tuesday it was still pushing to have regular contact with the Phoenix Mercury star. A consulate official was able to meet Griner last week, when his pretrial detention in Russia was extended for a month.

“This consulate official left with the impression that Brittney Griner is doing as well as one would expect under conditions that can only be described as extremely difficult,” the Department of Health spokesperson said. State Ned Price in Washington. “But sporadic contact is not satisfactory. It may also be inconsistent with the Vienna Convention to which Russia is a party. »

Griner is charged with drug trafficking and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The WNBA and the American authorities are working on his release, but the case does not seem to be making any progress.

Via ESPN