Phoenix Mercury meets with State Department as Griner detention continues

June 13 (Reuters) – The Phoenix Mercury met with the U.S. State Department on Monday amid the ongoing detention of seven-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner in Russia, U.S. officials said.

Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport on February 17 when a search of her luggage allegedly revealed several cannabis oil vape cartridges. She faces up to 10 years in prison. Read more

Last month, the State Department determined that the 31-year-old had been wrongfully detained. Read more

“On June 13, department officials, including the Office of the President’s Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA), met with the Phoenix Mercury,” the State Department said in a statement provided to Reuters. , declining further comment.

The Phoenix Mercury did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Hearing directly from the people working to free BG was helpful!!” Griner’s Mercury teammate Brianna Turner wrote on Twitter. “The State Department has told us that it supports us as a team and asked that we continue our efforts to support it publicly.”

One of the brightest stars in the top-level American women’s professional basketball league, Griner’s detention has caused uproar across the Women’s National Basketball Association and the NBA. Read more

Last month, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said bringing Griner home was the “number one priority” for both leagues.

Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Ken Ferris

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