Brittney Griner. (Photo by Lorie Shaull, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
A Russian court May 13 extended WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention for another month.
Griner — a center for the Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist who is a lesbian and married to her wife — was taken into custody at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in February. Russian officials said customs inspectors found hashish oil in her luggage.
Griner is among the WNBA players who play in Russia during the league’s off-season.
The State Department earlier this month determined Russia “wrongfully detained” Griner. The National Black Justice Coalition is among the groups that have also criticized Russia over Griner’s detention.
Griner appeared in court May 13 in the Moscow suburb of Khimki. Griner’s lawyer, Alexander Boikov, told the Associated Press that her trial could begin soon.
Griner faces up to 10 years in prison.
