WNBA star Brittney Griner has her pretrial detainment in Russia expended for one month earlier this week. On Tuesday night, NBA commissioner Adam Silver revealed he is working alongside WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert in an effort to bring Griner home.
Silver was on hand at the NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago where he spoke to ESPN‘s Malika Andrews and revealed the league is assisting, but listening to experts to not attempt an aggressive approach.
“We’ve been in touch with the White House, the State Department, hostage negotiators, every level of government and also through the private sector as well,” Silver said. “Our No. 1 priority is her health and safety and making sure that she gets out of Russia.”
Griner is believed to be wrongfully detained in Russia after allegedly being in possession of vape cartridges containing cannabis oil.
“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,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in Washington. “But sporadic contact is not satisfactory. It also may not be consistent with the Vienna Convention to which Russia has subscribed.”
