Posts Tagged: Brittney Griner

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Tekashi 6ix9ine Says ‘F*** Brittney Griner’ After Landing In Russia To Perform

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Tekashi 6ix9ine sparked outrage on social media when he whispered "f--- Brittney Griner" after landing in Russia, where he's set to perform in concert.

A YouTube video shows the washed-up rapper dissing Griner while sight-seeing in Russia.

"You know we out here," he said in the video. "Sh** is crazy." He then stepped closer to the camera, raised his sunglasses and whispered "F*ck Brittney Griner."
 

 

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The WNBA star was sentenced to 9 years in a women's prison for smuggling drugs into Russia earlier this year.

Tekashi69 flew to Russia despite a travel advisory from the U.S. State Department warning Americans to stay out of the communist country.

Tekashi69 saw his rap career fade into obscurity following his 2018 arrest on federal RICO and weapons charges.

He accepted a plea deal in exchange for testifying against his fellow gang members, the Nine Trey Gangsters.

Tekashi is blackballed in the music industry and lives in constant fear for his life. He is forced to travel out of the country to earn money to feed his family.

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Dennis Rodman cancels trip to Russia to help Brittney Griner after White House said he didn’t have permission

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Dennis Rodman says he won't travel to Russia to help free WNBA star Brittney Griner from prison.

The former Chicago Bulls star changed his mind after the White House said he did not have permission to go.

On Saturday, Rodman told NBC News he was making the trip to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But Rodman, 61, backtracked on Tuesday, saying he will not travel to the Communist country after all.

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Griner, 31, was convicted of smuggling cannabis oil into Russia and sentenced to 9 years in prison on August 4.
 
RELATED: Brittney Griner Sentenced to 9 Years in Russian Prison
 
The White House frowned on Rodman's plans to travel to Russia, despite his claims that he had permission to go to Russia "to help that girl."

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U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price told ABC News on Monday that Rodman "would not be traveling on behalf of the U.S. government."

The US offered to swap a Russian arms dealer for Griner and another American prisoner.

"We believe that anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder those release efforts," Price said.

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Rodman has a history of acting as an informal ambassador to the United States and interfering in foreign affairs.

The NBA Hall of Famer is credited with helping to secure the release of American prisoner Kenneth Bae from North Korea in 2014. Rodman is pictured with Kim Jong-un (right) in North Korea in 2014.

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U.S. government disapproves of Dennis Rodman going to Russia to rescue Brittney Griner

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The Biden administration disapproves of Dennis Rodman's travel plans to Russia to negotiate for Brittney Griner's release from prison.

Over the weekend, Rodman, 61, told NBC News that he plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to ask for Griner's release.

"I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl," Rodman told NBC News in Washington DC on Saturday. "I'm trying to go this week."

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Griner, 31, was recently sentenced to serve 9 years in prison for smuggling cannabis oil into Russia in mid-February. She began serving her sentence on August 4.
 
RELATED: Dennis Rodman is heading to Russia to negotiate Brittney Griner’s release
 
It isn't clear who granted Rodman's approval to travel to Russia. The US State Department issued a travel advisory warning Americans not to travel to Russia.

A senior official with the Biden administration made it clear the White House did not approve of Rodman's travel plans.

"It is public information that the administration has made a significant offer to the Russians and anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder release efforts," the official said.

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According to Yahoo! Sports, Rodman is very familiar with Putin.

The former NBA star traveled to Russia in 2014 at President Vladimir Putin's invitation. He later called Putin "cool."

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Griner is pictured leaving a Russian court after her sentencing on August 4.

The US State Department offered to swap a Russian arms dealer for Griner and ex-Marine Paul Whelan who has been incarcerated in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges.

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Dennis Rodman is heading to Russia to negotiate Brittney Griner’s release

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Dennis Rodman is flexing his diplomacy skills once again. Rodman is planning to travel to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin to ask for WNBA star Britney Griner's release from prison.

"I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl," Rodman, 61, told NBC News in Washington DC on Saturday. "I'm trying to go this week."
 
RELATED: Kanye West heads to North Korea with Dennis Rodman to meet Kim Jong-un
 
The former NBA star says he knows the Russian president "too well."

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Griner, 31, was recently sentenced to serve 9 years in prison for smuggling cannabis oil into Russia in mid-February.

Attorneys for Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, filed an appeal of her prison sentence.

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Griner is pictured leaving a Russian court after her sentencing on August 4.

According to the New York Post, it isn't clear who gave Rodman permission to travel to Russian.

An approved visa is required to enter Russia. The US State Department issued a travel advisory warning Americans not to travel to Russia, which is at war with Ukraine.

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Rodman is credited with helping to prevent World War III by traveling to North Korea to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (left).

Rodman helped secure the release of American prisoner Kenneth Bae from North Korea in 2014.

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Justin Bieber Offers to Help WNBA Star Brittney Griner

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A Russian judge sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to 9 years in prison on Thursday for smuggling several vape cartridges containing cannabis oil into Russia on February 17.

Judge Anna Sotnikova reduced Griner's 9.5 year sentence by 6 months for time already served.

The judge also ordered Griner to pay 1 million rubles ($16,700 USD) for intentionally breaking Russian law.

Griner stared blankly at the judge when her sentence was translated into English by an interpreter.

The Phoenix Mercury center told the judge she understood she had the right to appeal her conviction.

Rappers 50 Cent, Boosie Badazz, Meek Mill and others reacted to Griner's harsh sentence on social media.

Pop singer Justin Bieber also responded to her conviction and sentencing by offering to help free her.

The Grammy Award winner took to Instagram and asked his followers for suggestions to help him free Griner.

He shared an image of Griner on her way to court. "This hurts. If anyone knows of anyway I can help please let me know," he wrote.

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Griner, who has been detained since her arrest at a Moscow airport, pled guilty on July 7 to accelerate her drug trial.

The Biden administration had offered to swap convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan who was arrested in 2018 and charged with spying for the US.

Sources say Griner knew that any prisoner swap could not occur until her trial was completed. Griner's drug trial, which began in June, was expected to last 6 months under Russian law.

Viktor Bout was convicted in New York of conspiracy to kill Americans in 2012 and sentenced to serve 12 years.

But Russian officials did not express interest in a prisoner exchange for Bout.

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Brittney Griner Sentenced to 9 Years in Russian Prison

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A Russian judge sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to 9 years in prison on Thursday. Griner pleaded guilty last month to smuggling cannabis oil in vape pens into Russia.

Griner's attorneys asked for leniency, but the judge agreed with the prosecution's recommendation for a sentence of 9.5 years.

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Judge Anna Sotnikova reduced the sentence by 6 months for time served, since Griner has been in custody since her arrest in February.

Griner stared blankly at the judge when her sentence was translated into English.

Griner, 31, previously said she was rushing to pack and didn't realize the vape pens were in her luggage.

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The Biden administration has not responded to Griner's quick sentencing. Her trial, which began in June, was expected to last 6 months.

The Biden administration had offered to swap Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan who was arrested in 2018 and charged with spying for the US.

But former President Donald Trump objected to the prisoner swap. Trump called Griner "spoiled", and he said she should remain in Russia if a prisoner exchange meant endangering American lives.

Griner will be transferred from the detention center to a woman's prison to begin serving her sentence.

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Trump calls Brittney Griner ‘spoiled’ and says prisoner swap for ‘Merchant of Death’ is not a very good trade

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Former President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. should not swap detained WNBA star Brittney Griner for a Russian arms dealer.

Trump made the statement during an interview on the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show. He insinuated that he would not swap "spoiled" Griner for the "Merchant of Death" Viktor Bout because it "doesn't seem like a very good trade."

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Griner was detained at a Moscow airport on February 17 after officials discovered vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. She pled guilty in July.

"She knew you don't go in there loaded up with drugs, and she admitted it," Trump said. "I assume she admitted it without too much force because it is what it is, and it certainly doesn't seem like a very good trade, does it? He's absolutely one of the worst in the world, and he's gonna be given his freedom because a potentially spoiled person goes into Russia loaded up with drugs."

Viktor Bout was accused of conspiracy to kill Americans. He was convicted in New York in 2012 and sentenced to 25 years in a federal prison.

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Trump continued: "She went in there loaded up with drugs into a hostile territory where they're very vigilant about drugs. They don't like drugs. And she got caught. And now we're supposed to get her out — and she makes, you know, a lot of money, I guess. We're supposed to get her out for an absolute killer and one of the biggest arms dealers in the world. Killed many Americans. Killed many people."

In 2017, Trump asked China's president to help UCLA men's basketball player LiAngelo Ball and two other players who were caught stealing from a Louis Vuitton store.

After they returned to the US, the three athletes held a press conference where Ball thanked Trump for his help.
 

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Russia Says No Deal Yet for Brittney Griner Prisoner Exchange

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Russian officials say no deal has been reached with the US to swap WNBA star Brittney Griner and another detainee for a Russian arms dealer.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the Biden administration made an offer to Moscow, Russia "weeks ago" to secure the release of Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan.

Whelan was arrested in Russia in 2018 and charged with spying.

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After months of inaction, the Biden administration offered to exchange Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner and Whelan.

Viktor Bout, who is dubbed "the merchant of death, is serving a 25-year prison sentence for "conspiracy to kill Americans." He was convicted in New York in 2012.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that "so far, there is no agreement" to swap Griner or Whelan for a prisoner in the US.

His statement may be an indication that Bout is not as valuable to the Russians as Griner or Whelan.

Blinken said he plans to speak with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in the coming days to discuss the prisoner swap.

"I plan to raise an issue that's a top priority for us: the release of Americans Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner, who have been wrongfully detained and must be allowed to come home," Blinken said. "We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release. Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal."

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U.S. Made Offer to Moscow to Free Brittney Griner ‘Weeks Ago’

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the Biden administration made an offer to Moscow, Russia "weeks ago" to secure the release of detained WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American.

Blinken said the U.S. offered a "substantial proposal" to Russia "weeks ago" for the release of Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.

Whelan was arrested in Russia on December 28, 2018, and accused of spying.

"We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release," Blinken told reporters during a press briefing at the U.S. State Department on Tuesday.

"In the coming days, I expect to speak with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov for the first time since the [Ukraine] war began," Blinken said. "I plan to raise an issue that's a top priority for us: the release of Americans Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner, who have been wrongfully detained and must be allowed to come home. We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release. Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal."

Meanwhile, Russian officials paraded Griner in front of the cameras on day 6 of her drug trial on Tuesday.

She testified in her own defense for the first time in open court. Griner complained that a Russian translator didn't explain everything to her during her arrest at a Moscow airport on February 17.

Griner was detained after vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were discovered in her luggage.

Griner said an interpreter translated a small portion of what was said during her questioning at the airport.

She said officials instructed her to sign documents without providing an explanation of what she was signing on February 17.

Griner said she was aware of a state department advisory warning Americans not to travel to Russia or Ukraine. But she said she wanted to help her Russian basketball team win another championship.

She previously pled guilty to carrying illegal drugs into the country, but she said she was rushing to pack and didn't realize the drugs were in her luggage.

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Brittney Griner wears Black Lives Matter Hoodie to Court On Day 5 of Drug Trial

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Brittney Griner's drug trial resumed on Tuesday, July 26. The slow-moving trial began on July 1 and is expected to drag on for five months, according to reports.

For her courtroom attire, Griner chose the same Cross Colours Black Lives Matter hoodie she wore when she was arrested at a Moscow airport in mid-February.

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The black hoodie features the words "Cross Colours" on the sleeves and "Black Lives For Peace" on the back.

In an earlier trial, Griner acknowledged carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage when she arrived in Moscow, Russia on Feb. 17.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist and Phoenix Mercury center said she rushed to pack and did not realize the vape pens were in her luggage.

Her attorney presented a letter from a doctor who suggested she use cannabis oil for pre-existing conditions such as ADHD.

The US State Department has officially declared Griner a political prisoner who is "wrongfully detained".

But the Russian government rejected the designation, according to the NY Post.

"If a U.S. citizen was taken in connection with the fact that she was smuggling drugs, and she does not deny this, then this should be commensurate with our Russian local laws, and not with those adopted in San Francisco, New York and Washington," spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

She added: "If drugs are legalized in the United States, in a number of states, and this is done for a long time and now the whole country will become drug-addicted, this does not mean that all other countries are following the same path."

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Brittney Griner Had Doctor’s Letter for Marijuana Use

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An attorney for WNBA star Brittney Griner said she had a doctor's letter recommending medical cannabis (marijuana extract) for pain.

Griner, 31, was all smiles inside a defendants' cage where she visited with her attorneys during a hearing at the Khimki Courthouse outside Moscow on Friday.

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The defense produced a letter from a doctor recommending she use medical cannabis for pain.

"Among the medical documents is a doctor's appointment for the substance that Brittney Griner inadvertently left among her belongings when crossing the border," said attorney Maria Blagovolin.

"The attending physician gave Brittney recommendations for the use of medical cannabis. The permission was issued on behalf of the Arizona Department of Health."

The defense also submitted drug tests the Phoenix Mercury All-Star center underwent before she traveled to Russia which didn't detect any illegal substances in her system.

Griner was arrested in mid-February after Moscow airport officials discovered vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.

Griner's trial has been adjourned for 11 days as the defense requested more time to prepare, NBC News reported.

She recently pleaded guilty to drug smuggling and could face a 10-year prison sentence if convicted.

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Brittney Griner Returns to Russian Court After Pleading Guilty

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Brittney Griner was back in court on Thursday after pleading guilty on Tuesday.

Last week, Griner pled guilty to smuggling a small amount of cannabis oil into Russia back in February.

The WNBA star did not testify on the third day of her trial, but character witnesses testified on her behalf.

Journalists were denied access to the courtroom. But the director of the team Griner plays for was allowed to take the witness stand.

"Our task today was to tell the court about her characteristics as an athlete, as a person — tell about how she played a big role in the success of the Ektaerinburg club and Russian women's basketball as a whole," said UMMC Ekaterinburg club director Maxim Rybakov.

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"Today is the first day when we have seen our basketball player since February. Thank God, she feels well, looks good," Rybakov said.

Griner's Russian teammate Evgenia Belyakova testified that "Brittney has always been a very good teammate, so my role here is just to be with her, to support her."

"We miss her very much, we miss her energy," Belyakova added. "I was very happy to see her, and I hope this trial will be over soon and with a positive outcome."

Griner joked with Rybakov and Belyakova as she was led into court.

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A team doctor said Griner had some medical conditions, including ADHD, that were alleviated by cannabis oil.

The doctor said ADHD may have caused her to be distracted when she was packing her bag and she didn't realize the cannabis oil was in there.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA All-Star, is expected to be questioned by the prosecution and the defense when her trial resumes on Friday.

A judge ordered her detained until December 20.
 

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LeBron James denies bashing America after saying Brittney Griner should stay in Russia

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LeBron James walked back statements he made about WNBA star Brittney Griner who is locked up in Russia.

James made the comments in a trailer for an episode of "The Shop: Uninterrupted." He said he would question returning to the United States if he was stuck in a Russian jail.

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Griner was arrested in mid-February at a Moscow-area airport after officials found vape pens containing cannabis oil in her luggage.

She pled guilty to smuggling drugs, and she threw herself on the mercy of the court.

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James suggested Russia may be a better alternative to the United States where Black lawbreakers are gunned down by police before they can get their day in court.

"She's been there over 110 days," he said in the video trailer. "Now, how can she feel like America has her back? I would be feeling like, 'Do I even want to go back to America?'"

James now say he was not bashing the United States by questioning how long it is taking to bring Griner back to American soil.

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Even though both James and Griner have criticized America as racist, James now calls America a "beautiful country."

"[I] wasn't knocking our beautiful country," the Los Angeles Lakers star tweeted Tuesday.

"I was simply saying how she's probably feeling emotionally along with so many other emotions, thoughts, etc inside that cage she's been in for over 100+ days! Long story short #BringHerHome."

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LeBron James Says Brittney Griner Should Stay in Russia (video)

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LeBron James says he would question returning to the United States if he was stuck in a Russian jail like Brittney Griner.

The NBA star made the comments during a recent taping of "The Shop" according to TMZ.

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James said Griner has been in jail too long and he'd question returning to America if he was her. He said he wouldn't consider coming back to a country that is taking too long to bring him home.

"Now, how can she feel like America has her back? I would be feeling like, 'Do I even want to go back to America?'"

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James and Griner are among the "woke" NBA and WNBA players who kneeled before games to protest police shootings of Black men.

Both athletes have been heavily criticized for turning their backs on the American flag and military veterans.

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Griner was arrested in mid-February at a Moscow-area airport after officials found vape pens containing cannabis oil in her luggage.

Last week she pled guilty to smuggling drugs into the country and she threw herself on the mercy of the Russian court.

A judge ordered the WNBA All-Star held in detention for at least 6 more months. Her trial is expected to last that long since court is not held there every day.
 

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Brittney Griner pleads guilty to drug charges, begs Russian court for mercy

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Brittney Griner plead guilty on Thursday to carrying cannabis oil into Russia in her luggage in February.

Griner, 31, plead guilty during day 2 of her trial in Khimki, outside Moscow on Thursday, July 7.

"I'd like to plead guilty, your honor. But there was no intent. I didn't want to break the law," Griner said, according to Reuters.

She said she packed her luggage quickly and didn't realize the drugs were in her bag.

"I'd like to give my testimony later. I need time to prepare," she added. Her statement was translated into Russian for the court.

Griner's trial is expected to last several weeks or months, according to reports.

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The two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion wore a red t-shirt with the word "Crenshaw" on the front and red jogging pants to court.

She was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. If convicted, the charge could carry a 10-year prison sentence.

Griner wrote a letter to the Biden administration pleading for help. The letter was delivered to the US President on Monday, July 4.

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Joe Biden spoke to Griner's significant other, Cherelle Griner, on the phone, and assured her that he is working to win her release as soon as possible.

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Fans and players in the WNBA and NBA show support for the political prisoner at every game.

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Her initials "BG" are painted on WNBA and NBA home courts, and players, such as Phoenix Mercury teammate Diana Taurasi and Celtics star Jaylen Brown, wear t-shirts with her name and initials printed on them.