Brittney Griner takes sabbatical for 'mental health' purposes, but what’s really going on?



Brittany Griner has had a tough couple of years.

After being detained in a Russian prison for nearly ten months, she was released in December 2022 and returned to the U.S. to continue her professional basketball career.

But things don’t seem to be going so well, especially considering the Phoenix Mercury, the team Griner plays for, is currently 6-18.

While a tough season in the WNBA certainly is better than living in a foreign penitentiary, Griner may be struggling to cope, and she’s not traveling with the team for the next couple of weeks.

“She’s cracking under the pressure,” says Jason Whitlock to Steve Kim.

But what exactly is causing the pressure? Is it performance anxiety? Post-traumatic stress disorder from her days in prison?

Jason and Steve think they have the answer.

Giner’s “victim mentality,” as well as the assertion that the team is “oppressed,” has caused the 6’8” superstar to experience “emotional [and] mental issues,” says Jason.

Add to that the fact that she’s also become “a spokesman for imprisoned people overseas,” and it’s no wonder Griner is taking time off.

Being a top-tier athlete and a social justice warrior is a heavy burden to carry.

“It doesn’t surprise me that she’s cracked, that the team has cracked, that the head coach had to be fired nine [or] ten games into the season – none of this surprises me,” Jason says.

Steve agrees, adding, “being a victim all the time or wallowing in the victim Olympics – that in itself can bring about depression and mental issues.”

“I believe she legitimately has mental health issues because they forced her into a role she’s not meant to play,” Jason says.

"Just let her play basketball."


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Why Brittney Griner Is Getting Special Treatment | @Jason Whitlock

Why Brittney Griner Is Getting Special Treatment | @Jason Whitlock

Russian court sentences Brittney Griner to 9 years in prison, Biden demands Moscow release WNBA player 'immediately'



On Thursday, a Russian court sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison for smuggling illegal drugs into the country.

On Feb. 17, Griner was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport after she was caught with vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. Prosecutors argued that the 0.720 grams of cannabis found in Griner's luggage was a "significant amount."

Griner admitted that she brought the banned substances to Russia, but claimed that she accidentally packed the vape cartridges on the trip to Russia to play for the UMMC Ekaterinburg basketball team.

Griner pleaded guilty in court, but maintained that she had no criminal intent in bringing the illegal drugs into Russia. The basketball player said she made "an honest mistake."

Griner's lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, insisted Griner packed the cannabis oil in haste and emphasized that medical cannabis is legal in Arizona.

Prosecutor Nikolai Vlasenko asserted that Griner deliberately packed the cannabis oil in her luggage.

Before she was sentenced, Griner told the court, "I hope in your ruling it does not end my life."

Judge Anna Sotnikova sentenced Griner to nine years in a Russian penal colony. The Russian judge also fined the Women's National Basketball Association player 1 million rubles – which is about $16,700.

President Joe Biden issued a statement on Griner's prison sentence.

"Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney," Biden stated. "It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates."

"My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible," President Biden concluded.

Paul Whelan is an American and former Marine convicted of espionage in Russia.

Since the 31-year-old Phoenix Mercury center was detained in Russia, the Biden administration has been attempting to set her free. The Biden administration has even proposed a prisoner swap with Russia to free Griner.

Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed a potential prisoner swap with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Washington proposed a prisoner swap in which Russia would free Griner and Whelan in exchange for the release of convicted arms trafficker Viktor Bout, who is a former Soviet military officer and KGB agent. Bout was a notorious international arms trafficker known as the "Merchant of Death." Bout's story inspired the 2005 movie "Lord of War" starring Nicolas Cage.

On Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Moscow had made a "bad faith" response to Washington's offer. Jean-Pierre said the counteroffer was "not serious."

"Clearly, not going to negotiate from here," Jean-Pierre said. "I’m not going to get into any specific details."

Brittney Griner’s Prolonged Detention Isn’t Racism, But The Limits Of American Diplomacy

Brittney Griner and other Americans abroad need to understand they will be held accountable for breaking foreign laws.

Russia extends sentence of imprisoned WNBA star Brittney Griner



Russia has extended WNBA star and former Olympian Brittney Griner's arrest and detention for at least another 60 days, the Daily Mail reported on Thursday.

Russian authorities took the basketball player into custody in February after it was reported that she had a cannabis-filled vape pen on her person while traveling in the country in February.

What are the details?

A Moscow court announced that it opted to extend Griner's arrest until May 19.

"The court granted the request of the investigation and extended the period of detention of the U.S. citizen Griner until May 19," CNN reported, citing Russian state news agency TASS.

According to the Daily Mail report, Griner — who was seen for the first time on Thursday — appeared at a Moscow courthouse after authorities extended her prison stay to at least May 19.

Video footage showed Griner walking through what appeared to be a courthouse and giving a backward glance to a stationary camera.

Griner, the outlet noted, pleaded not guilty to drug charges.

Ekaterina Kalugina — member of the Public Monitoring Commission, a human rights watchdog group with access to Russian prisons — said that Griner, who is 6'9", has only complained thus far about small beds. She added that the jail facility — which remains unnamed at the time of this reporting — has not seen any visits from the U.S. consulate and can't fathom why the consulate has yet to schedule any visits with Griner.

"[F]or an unknown reason, the U.S. consul does not come to [see Griner], although the administration of the pre-trial detention center is ready to create all conditions for a visit," Kalugina stated, adding that Griner's current cellmates have no previous convictions and have also been charged with drug-related offenses.

Her English-speaking cellmates, Kalugina states, have helped her order books, including those by Fyodor Dostoevsky and more.

In an early statement on Griner's arrest, the athlete's wife — Cherelle Griner — called for the basketball star's release.

"I love my wife wholeheartedly, so this message comes during one of the weakest moments of my life," she said at the time. "I understand that many of you have grown to love BG over the years and have concerns and want details. Please honor our privacy as we continue to work on getting my wife home safely. Your prayers, and support are greatly appreciated."

Earlier this month, Eveyln Farkas, former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia and Ukraine, said that she has fears that Russia may try to use Griner as a "high-profile hostage" and insisted that if the U.S. wants Griner out of jail, "Russia is going to have some terms."

"It could be a prisoner swap," Farkas explained. "They could also use it as an implicit threat or blackmail to get us to do something or not do something. Either way, they find it useful."