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One hundred and sixty-eight days after Brittney Griner was arrested at an airport outside of Moscow, the WNBA star was found guilty of charges that she tried to smuggle drugs into Russia and was sentenced to nine years as her trial concluded Thursday.
Griner's guilty verdict and sentence were expected, but now that the trial is over, negotiations for her release are expected to accelerate between the Russian and United States governments.
MORE: Griner found guilty, sentenced to nine years | Timeline
Griner was arrested and taken into custody on Feb. 17 on her way to play for Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg, where she has played during WNBA offseasons since 2014. Customs officials say they discovered vape cartridges containing hashish oil. In early May, the U.S. Department of State declared Griner a wrongful detainee, opening the way for the United States to negotiate her release.
In early June, the United States secretly offered to trade convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner and Paul Whelan, another American considered to be wrongfully detained. But Griner's trial started July 1, and she pleaded guilty July 7, saying she never intended to break the law -- a strategy from Griner's legal team in the hopes the judge would be lenient during sentencing.
News of Griner's verdict and sentencing put the sports world on alert, and many WNBA players as well as athletes and coaches took to social media to react to the news.
#FreeBrittneyGriner we will not stop advocating for you release. Hold on to God unchanging hand. We love you, BG! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley)
FREE BG❗️— Paige Bueckers (@paigebueckers1)
No way they did that to BG!!!! No way!!!! God be with her please— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas)
Please @POTUS @VP Bring @brittneygriner home🙏🏾 Please go get her! We will not stop advocating and standing in the gap for her... God put a hedge of protection around her mind and spirit...— Swin Cash (@SwinCash)
FREE BG 🧡💜— Jaden Ivey (@IveyJaden)
Omg 💔💔 This can't be real! We love you BG!— stefanie dolson (@bigmamastef)
Another example of the unequal treatment of humans in this world! You have criminals walking around who hurt others and she gets 9 years for them accusing her of hurting herself! History repeats itself again for political gain! 🙏🏿 for Brittney she is a wonderful person! https://t.co/yjPfwkR7kk— Eddie A Johnson (@Jumpshot8)
Ain't gone lie 9 years is crazyyyyyy— Bones Hyland (@BizzyBones11)
My heart goes out to BG's family and her wife! ❤️ Today hit a little different man like that's our sister! I can't even imagine how her family feels! I pray God is protecting her mental but more importantly keep fighting BG. ...gotta bring you home!— Erica Wheeler (@EWeezy_For3eezy)
No way! 9 years? Bring our sister and friend home. #FREEBG— Grant Williams (@Grant2Will)
❤️ BG pic.twitter.com/pCB21HjMXl— USA Basketball (@usabasketball)
Many WNBA players tweeted about watching a live feed of the trial and the impact of seeing Griner behind bars, listening as the sentence was quietly translated to her.
Seeing BG behind these bars is breaking my heart. Praying hard for her today— Diamond DeShields (@diamonddoesit1)
i just.. watching that live of BG...💔💔— Amanda Zahui B. (@AmandaZahuiB)
