While the NBA and WNBA have not yet issued a formal statement about traveling to Russia, players are not eager to go back.
WNBA superstar Brittney Griner remains in Russian custody after she was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Griner had hash oil in her luggage while traveling through a Russian airport. She was doing so in order to play in a Russian professional basketball league to make extra money.
With current WNBA players well aware of the Griner situation, it was fair to wonder if they’d continue to travel overseas to play in other leagues.
Well, according to a report from the New York Times, that answer is “yes.”
However, it’s unclear if any plan to play in Russia.
Here’s more via the NYT:
“Playing overseas remains extremely popular for W.N.B.A. players seeking to earn more money or gain more pro experience, but several agents and players told The New York Times that, because of Griner’s ordeal and the war, they did not know of anyone who would be playing in Russia this off-season. The W.N.B.A. said it did not have a complete list of players going abroad because its playoffs are underway.”
It’s difficult to see any WNBA player choosing to support a Russian professional league given everything that’s happened to Griner.
There is absolutely no logical reason to visit Russia , unless you are protected by diplomatic immunity.
Russia only law is what Putin wants and if he wants hostages, there is nobody beyond his reach.
Why would any American would visit Russia, or N Korea or Cuba is beyond reason as you are putting yourself and your country in jeopardy.
How stupid are you to go to another country and expect to do the same things there as you do here and think that you’re going to get away with it Dumb ASS
No problem! Just leave your drugs at home.
Wonder if she realizes what freedom is and what a real victim looks like? She hates the USA, calls us Racist, won’t play in honor for her free country but now she wants this country to save her? She will come back they will blame Trump working with Putin to keep her there and their supporters with believe it. Sad, so easily brainwashed.