WNBA

Brittney Griner Urges Fans To Support Paul Whelan

by

Brittney Griner is finally back home following a long and grueling 10 months in a Russian prison. Of course, Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport with a weed cartridge in her bag. Consequently, Griner was hit with a nine-year prison sentence.

Subsequently, the United States government was able to negotiate a prisoner swap to bring her home. This was great news, especially since it is Christmas this weekend. Her family wanted her home for the Holidays, and that is exactly what they got.

Center Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury attempts to shoot after being fouled by forward Nia Coffey #12 of the Los Angeles Sparks at Los Angeles Convention Center on June 16, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

Brittney Griner Writers To Paul Whelan

During Griner’s time in Russia, the U.S. government was also trying to bring home former marine, Paul Whelan. Unfortunately, Russia played hardball with Whelan as he is in prison on espionage charges. Regardless, Griner has not forgotten about Whelan, and she is urging her fans to support him, any way they can.

In the Instagram post below, Griner wrote a letter to the fans who wrote her letters in prison. Griner now wants fans to direct that energy to Whelan and the various other families that have been ripped apart overseason.

“My family is whole and now, thanks to you, we are fortunate to get to spend the holidays together. However, there remain too many families with loved ones wrongfully detained,” she wrote. […] “I hope you’ll join me in writing to Paul Whelan and continuing to advocate for other Americans to be rescued and returned to their families.”

It remains to be seen when Whelan will be brought home, however, it is good to see Griner offering her support. She is now dedicating her time and effort to other Americans abroad, which is beautiful to see.

Stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates on this developing story.

[Via]

Brittney Griner To Make Big Decision On WNBA Future

by

Brittney Griner is currently making massive headlines thanks to the fact that she was officially released from prison last Thursday. The WNBA superstar had been in Russia for 10 months due to drug possession. Of course, she simply had a small weed cartridge on her, however, the Russian system made an example out of her.

Luckily, Griner is back home and is spending some much-needed time surrounded by family. This is great news for the basketball world, as Griner is a huge pioneer for the WNBA. Overall, fans are very excited to see her back on a court soon.

Brittney Griner #42 and Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts to a foul call in the second half during the game against the Chicago Sky at Footprint Center on October 10, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Mattina/Getty Images)

Brittney Griner Remains Undecided

In a report from ESPN, it was revealed by BG’s agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas that she had yet to make a decision on whether or not she will play again. While Griner did participate in a workout this weekend, the WNBA star still has a lot on her mind.

“If she wants to play, it will be for her to share. She has the holidays to rest and decide what’s next without any pressure,” Colas said. “She’s doing really, really well. She seems to have endured this in pretty incredible ways.

“There’s no timeline on her return at this point. She’s reintegrating into a world that has changed for her now. From a pure security standpoint she’s not going to be able to move in the world the way she did. It’s not a fate that she asked for, but I think she’s going to try to utilize her fame for good.”

Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury prepares for game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Footprint Center on October 10, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Mattina/Getty Images)

While many want to see her back on the court, it makes sense for her to want to focus on other avenues right now. She has been through a lot, and there is no doubt the Phoenix Mercury will allow her some time to process all of this.

Stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates on this developing story.

[Via]

Brittney Griner Ditched Her Locs To Endure Winter Weather In Russia

by

WNBA star Britney Griner is finally free after being arrested this past February and sent to a Russian labor camp. Now back in the states, many were shocked to find that the famed athlete no longer had locs and was instead sporting a low cut.

According to her lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, the decision to cut her hair was due to the cold weather in Russia. 

Per ESPN, the attorney shared that the Phoenix Mercury player shaved her hair weeks ago, saying, “It’s very cold in there and every time she washed her hair she got cold and would get a chill.”

“She should have waited until New Year’s Day,” Blagovolina added, also revealing that Griner was sick with the flu recently.

READ MORE: Trump Calls Brittney Griner Release “Unpatriotic” & “Stupid”

Griner was released this past Thursday (Dec. 8) after spending 10 months in custody overseas. The Houston native was sentenced to nine years behind bars after cannabis vape cartridges were found in her luggage while at an airport in Moscow. 

TOPSHOT – US Women National Basketball Association’s (WNBA) basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport and later charged with illegal possession of cannabis, leaves the courtroom before the court’s final decision in Khimki outside Moscow, on August 4, 2022. – Russian prosecutors requested that US basketball star Brittney Griner be sentenced to nine and a half years in prison on drug smuggling charges. Her hearing comes with tensions soaring between Moscow and Washington over Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine that has sparked international condemnation and a litany of Western sanctions. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / POOL / AFP) (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Biden Administration successfully performed a prison swap, trading Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Often referred to as the “Merchant of Death,” Bout was sentenced to 25 years in prison back in 2012.

Cherelle Griner, the basketball star’s wife, had been working to bring her back home for months. On Thursday morning, she was invited over to the White House where she met with Biden. The U.S. president then delivered the good news that her spouse was soon on her way back.

He also took to Twitter to announce the deal.

While on her flight back home, Griner appeared to be in good spirits, simply commenting, “I’m happy.”

[Via]

Brittney Griner Gives Update Following Prison Release: “I’m Happy”

by

Brittney Griner is finally a free woman. After serving 294 days in a Russian prison, she’s on her way back home to the United States.

Previously, the WNBA star made headlines due to her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession in the foreign country. She was arrested on February 17 for attempting to bring cannabis with her on a trip.

Phoenix Mercury fan Carley Givens takes a photo of a “Black Lives Matter” mural depicting Brittney Griner outside the Footprint Center on December 08, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. ((Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The sentence was not far off from the maximum that she was facing. Prosecutors had asked for a 9.5 year sentence in the trial. 

Four months later, the 32-year-old is on her way back home after a prison swap got official approval.

President Joe Biden consequently made the announcement yesterday (December 8) via Twitter. In the photos, POTUS and Vice President Kamala Harris are seen talking with the athlete’s wife, Cherelle Griner, in the White House. 

In a video of newly-released Griner en route back home on the plane, the Phoenix Mercury star looks undoubtedly thrilled. When asked about her mood, she simply responds “I’m happy” with a smile.

Rumours surrounding a possible prison swap in order to get Griner home previously began going around for a few months now.

The exchange between the U.S. and Russia was a one-for-one swap. Surprisingly, international arms dealer Viktor Bout was freed by the U.S. in order to bring Griner home.

In Russian footage, the world was witness to the trade taking place on the tarmac of a United Arab Emirates airport.

The Russian arms dealer has a gruesome nickname – “Merchant of Death.” Of course, this has sparked some debate about the fairness of the exchange.

Others have chimed in, suggesting that another detained American should have been freed instead of the WNBA player. Paul Whelan is a former U.S. marine, who was detained by Russian authorities in 2018.

Two years, later he was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his alleged involvement in an intelligence operation. However, he is still presently serving this time.

Nonetheless, the U.S. is standing by the swap. Officials are indicating that the country didn’t have a choice of which American to bring home.

Let us know your thoughts on the trade down below. Additionally, make sure to stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates on Griner’s return home.

[via][via][via][via]

LeBron James Reacts To Brittney Griner’s Release

by

LeBron James is one of the most vocal players in the NBA when it comes to social issues. He has always made sure to be politically conscious. Subsequently, this has led to numerous statements on Brittney Griner. During her incarceration, LeBron was one of the loudest voices demanding that we bring her home.

On Thursday, Griner was officially released via prisoner swap. Last night, Griner was able to land in the United States, and she appeared to be in good spirits. Overall, it is a positive story for the basketball world as Griner will now get to be with her family again.

LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers runs down court during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on December 06, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

LeBron James Speaks

Last night, LeBron got to speak on the Griner release during a special Thursday Night Football edition of The Shop. As you can imagine, LeBron James was very excited about Griner’s release. Moreover, he noted that the U.S. needs to work on bringing even more people home.

“I think it’s a great day for us as Americans having BG back,”  LeBron explained. “In the sports world, just having her presence back. Her wife misses her. Her family misses her. Club misses her here in Phoenix. To have her a part of the basketball brother and sisterhood once again, it’s a big day for us and what we do. Kudos to the President. Kudos (to) Kamala Harris and everyone who had something to do with it.

“Like Mav said, there’s a lot of people that’s wrongfully detained right now. We hope we can get them all back.”

At this point, many are trying to get Paul Whelan home as well. The former marine is currently being held on espionage chargers, and the Russian government won’t let him go. Needless to say, many are up in arms over this situation.

Stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest news on this developing story.

[Via]

Brittney Griner’s College Coach Refuses To Give Her Opinion On Griner’s Imprisonment

by

Brittney Griner is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence in Russia after being convicted of drug possession and smuggling. In the eyes of many, this sentence is a massive injustice that needs to be fixed immediately. The United States is looking into a prisoner swap, but for now, nothing is set in stone.

Most of Griner’s former teammates have spoken about this injustice, except for her former Baylor Coach Kim Mulkey. Today, Mulkey was asked directly about Griner’s imprisonment, to which she said that she would not be commenting on the story, at all.

This was a pitiful response when you consider how Griner helped Mulkey win a National Championship while also bringing her to two final fours. Her career at Baylor was phenomenal, and Mulkey owes much of her success to the WNBA champion. Queen Ego, a former Baylor player, commented on Mulkey’s remarks, noting that it is pretty despicable.

“A player that built Baylor, 2 national titles, & a 40-0 record,” Egbo wrote. “Yet her former coach refuses to say anything or simply just show any kind of support. Keep that in mind when you’re choosing schools.”

Interestingly enough, the current coach for Baylor Nicki Colleen had a much better answer when asked about Griner. As you can see, Colleen noted that Griner means a lot to the Baylor program and that she sees Griner as a human first. Colleen also believes 10 years is way too long for a simple mistake of this magnitude.

“No one’s saying she didn’t make a mistake. None of us are perfect,” Colleen said. “But I guess I would wanna know if I did something and was stuck in a foreign country, what it was, what it wasn’t. I think we all know that 10 years is a long time. I see her as a mother, as a sister, as a spouse, as a daughter, as an unbelievable ambassador for the game of basketball.”

Griner’s Phoenix Mercury were instrumental in the efforts to get her home and we’re sure they will continue that fight.

Stay tuned to HNHH for updates on this developing story.

NBA 2K23 Announces New Gameplay Features and Updates for The W, Including WNBA All-Star Game

by
NBA2K23 The W Key Art

New features and enhancements for The WNBA in NBA® 2K23 for PlayStation® 5 (PS5TM) and Xbox Series X|S gamers were announced by 2K today. The W will provide further brand-new content, community challenges, and new ways to manage the league’s growth.

“The WNBA is quickly growing and evolving, and we are ensuring that we also expand the breadth and scope of The W mode to bring fans of the WNBA more ways to experience it,” said Felicia Steenhouse, Senior Producer at Visual Concepts. “This year The W provides an even more authentic WNBA experience that players can enjoy, from choosing how to expand the league to leading the community to new heights.” 

The W mode will have community goals, which the community can cooperate to achieve six weekly goals. Every NBA 2K23 player will be rewarded if the community meets the objective in four of the Season’s six weeks.

For full details on the new updates coming to The W in NBA 2K23 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles, check out the latest Courtside Report.

You can see glimpses of The W in NBA 2K23 below.

NBA2K23 The W Player Boosts
NBA2K23 The W Player Boosts
NBA 2K23 The W Screenshot 2
NBA 2K23 The W
NBA 2K23 The W Screenshot 1

The post NBA 2K23 Announces New Gameplay Features and Updates for The W, Including WNBA All-Star Game appeared first on The Source.

“Griner Shouldn’t Be Political Pawn” WNBA Players Exec Director Terri Jackson To Biden Admin

by
Britteny

Monday night, Women’s National Basketball Players Association Executive Director, Terri Jackson was interviewed on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Jackson spoke to Trevor about Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia for five months. 

The Phoenix Mercury star entered a guilty plea over a week ago while saying she “didn’t want to break the law.”  The guilty plea aids as a pre-condition for consideration of a negotiated release and possible prisoner exchange between Russia and the U.S.

READ MORE: WNBA Star Brittney Griner Pleads Guilty To Moscow Drug Charges

 Griner is facing up to 10 years in prison on the charge of large-scale transportation of drugs. Less than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, which can be overturned.

Jakson explains why the WNBA was told not to respond or comment publicly when Griner was first detained. She also shared comments that many people feel Griner is being used as a political pawn. Griner “should not be a political pawn,” Jackson continued. “We are BG,” calling on the Biden administration, what comes next and much more in the clip below.

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

The post “Griner Shouldn’t Be Political Pawn” WNBA Players Exec Director Terri Jackson To Biden Admin appeared first on The Source.

WNBA Players Exec Director Terri Jackson Calls On Biden Admin To Bring Brittney Griner Home

by
brittney griner wnba russia detained wrongfully

Last night, Women’s National Basketball Players Association Executive Director, Terri Jackson was interviewed on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Jackson spoke to Trevor about Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia for five months. 

The Phoenix Mercury star entered a guilty plea over a week ago while saying she “didn’t want to break the law.”  The guilty plea aids as a pre-condition for consideration of a negotiated release and possible prisoner exchange between Russia and the U.S.

READ MORE: WNBA Star Brittney Griner Pleads Guilty To Moscow Drug Charges

 Griner is facing up to 10 years in prison on the charge of large-scale transportation of drugs. Less than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, which can be overturned.

Jakson explains why the WNBA was told not to respond or comment publicly when Griner was first detained. She also shared comments that many people feel Griner is being used as a political pawn. Griner “should not be a political pawn,” Jackson continued. “We are BG,” calling on the Biden administration, what comes next and much more in the clip below.

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

The post WNBA Players Exec Director Terri Jackson Calls On Biden Admin To Bring Brittney Griner Home appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Twitter Clowns WNBA For Low Budget All-Star MVP Trophy

by
trophy

You know Black Twitter doesn’t miss a thing and now they are dragging the WNBA for its less than stellar WNBA All-Star Most Valuable Player trophy.

The WNBA was dragged on the social media platform for its low-budget MVP hardware in comparison to the trophy the NBA splurges on.

Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum, of Team Wilson, was presented with the pint-size MVP trophy during the 2022 AT&T WNBA All-Star game at the Wintrust Arena on July 10, 2022 in Chicago.

Kelsey led her team to a 134-112 victory over Team Stewart. She scored 30 points to match the All-Star scoring record set by Maya Moore in 2015.

One Twitter user wrote, “The WNBA could have gone to Amazon and bought a better looking trophy.”

Other Twitter users decided to chip in and buy Kelsey a fancier MVP trophy with her name on it.

Do you think the WNBA could have done better?

The post [WATCH] Twitter Clowns WNBA For Low Budget All-Star MVP Trophy appeared first on The Source.