The WNBA star’s case serves as a reminder of what wrongfully detained Americans continue to experience overseas.
, first stood with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday morning to celebrate the news that the Phoenix Mercury player was officially freed, she confirmed both she and Griner will work to help bring other hostages home.
Whelan is a 52-year-old retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran who, during a visit to Russia in December 2018 to attend a colleague’s wedding, was arrested on espionage charges, which the United States has said are false, and sentenced to 16 years in prison. He remains in Russian custody.Griner’s agent, Lindsay Colas, revealed to Abby Phillip on Tuesday that Griner is personally very concerned about Whelan, and that was “one of the first things” she asked about upon being freed.
“I always say this, the WNBA [players], we are not new to this, we are true to this,” she said on the ESPN show. “I think this true moment just shows you that we always think bigger than ourselves, because our existence primarily as a league that is predominantly full of Black women and allies, we’ve seen that moments like this even when we’re in our deepest struggle, we try to continue to advocate for others.
that WNBA players have grappled with since the inception of the league—an issue that has much to do with why Griner was in Russia in the first place this February. She was there to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg, the Russian team she played for during the WNBA offseason since 2014.Amid Griner’s ordeal, there are still WNBA athletes playing abroad this offseason.
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