On Tuesday, a Moscow tribunal rejected Brittney Griner's appeal of her nine-year sentence connected cause charges, a wholly anticipated effect successful a proceedings that U.S. and planetary officials person called an illegitimate proceeding -- arsenic reported by ESPN's T.J. Quinn.
U.S. officials person said they judge Russia volition yet nonstop the WNBA prima location successful a captive swap but person expressed vexation implicit what they accidental is Russia's nonaccomplishment to respond to the "significant" connection the United States made successful June.
Griner's lack has continued to measurement connected each those successful the hoops assemblage who cognize and attraction astir her arsenic each milestone day has passed successful 2022.
So overmuch clip has passed. Griner has missed the commencement of the WNBA season, the All-Star Game, the opening of the playoffs and the FIBA World Championship. She was expected to beryllium portion of each of it, conscionable arsenic she had been for the past decennary arsenic a prima halfway for the Phoenix Mercury and the U.S. women's nationalist team.
Instead, the 2013 No. 1 draught prime and NCAA, WNBA and Olympic champion has been detained successful Russia since being arrested successful February connected charges that she brought vape cartridges carrying a tiny magnitude of cannabis lipid into the country. Griner was sentenced to 9 years successful situation successful August, and her entreaty was denied Oct. 25, 250 days since she was arrested.
The United States continues to effort to negociate for her freedom, on with that of chap American captive Paul Whelan. Griner's chap nonrecreational hoops players, successful some the WNBA and NBA, support saying her name. NBA Finals MVP Stephen Curry gave nationalist enactment to Griner connected Oct. 18, her 32nd day and the nighttime of the Golden State Warriors' ringing ceremony, telling the crowd, "We anticipation that she comes location soon, and that everybody's doing their portion to get her home."
Griner's ordeal began arsenic she was returning to Russia to decorativeness her overseas play there. When it volition extremity -- and however the lengthy detention volition impact the remainder of her beingness and vocation -- is unknown. Here is simply a look astatine the events of the past 8 months portion Griner has been imprisoned, and however the White House and those closest to her, person tried to bash each they tin to bring her home.
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Sparks subordinate and WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike reacts to Brittney Griner's nine-year situation condemnation being upheld.
February 17: Mercury prima is detained
While traveling to Russia to play overseas successful the offseason, Griner is detained astatine Sheremetyevo Airport extracurricular of Moscow aft customs officials allege they recovered vape cartridges that contained lipid derived from cannabis successful her luggage. Griner was returning to play for nine squad UMMC Ekaterinburg successful Russia, wherever she has competed successful the WNBA offseason since 2014. There is nary nationalist announcement of her arrest.
February 24: Russia invades Ukraine
Russian subject forces, connected the orders of Vladimir Putin, invade Ukraine, triggering a bid of harsh economical sanctions from the United States and different occidental nations that complicate efforts by U.S. officials to bring Griner home.
March 5: News breaks of Griner's detainment
The Russian Federal Customs Service, arsenic archetypal reported by the New York Times, announces it has Griner successful custody connected cause charges. The WNBA and Griner's cause accidental they are moving to get her home. Griner faces a maximum condemnation of 10 years; Russia has harsh cause laws with nary exceptions for cannabis nether immoderate circumstances.
March 6: U.S. Secretary of State discusses Griner's detainment
Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the United States volition "provide each imaginable assistance" to citizens who are being held successful overseas countries. "We person an embassy squad that's moving connected the cases of different Americans who are detained successful Russia," helium adds. "We're doing everything we tin to spot to it that their rights are upheld and respected."
March 17: Griner's detention extended
Russian media reports that Griner's detention has been extended until May 19, which means she volition beryllium held astatine slightest 3 months earlier her lawsuit is resolved. The authoritative requested the detention to proceed investigating Griner's case.
March 17: U.S. State Dept. tells ESPN it has not had entree to Griner
Although she has been detained a month, U.S. officials accidental they inactive haven't spoken to Griner since she was arrested. A State Department authoritative issues a connection to ESPN, saying, "We importune the Russian authorities supply consular entree to each U.S. national detainees successful Russia, including those successful pre-trial detention, arsenic Brittney Griner is."
The root adjacent to Griner said they person gotten predominant updates connected her from her squad of Russian attorneys. "I wouldn't accidental she's 'good,' but she's OK," the root said.
The connection marks a flimsy but important alteration successful the government's code erstwhile it comes to Griner. Until present the authorities has deliberately kept a debased illustration with her case, hoping not to summation her illustration to the constituent wherever she mightiness go a invaluable governmental plus to the Russian government. It mostly has avoided commenting astatine all, and erstwhile Blinken was asked astir Griner astatine a quality league past week helium gave a tepid connection that did not notation her by name.
Based connected State Department guidance, Griner's representatives person asked the WNBA, NBA, the media and Griner's supporters mostly to support immoderate attraction to her lawsuit "on a debased simmer," arsenic 1 root said.
March 23: U.S. officials conscionable with Griner
U.S. consular officials visit with Griner successful Russia for the archetypal time, reporting she is doing "well." The U.S. State Department had said Russian officials were denying them entree to Griner and 2 American men who are successful custody, contrary to planetary instrumentality requirements.
March 30: WNBA players interruption soundlessness connected Griner
Hesitant to speech astir Griner's detention and perchance wounded her case, WNBA players person said small since her arrest, but Breanna Stewart and Angel McCoughtry sermon WNBA salaries and why a fistful of players caput to Russia each offseason.
"The large happening is the information that we person to spell implicit there. It was BG, but it could person been anybody," Breanna Stewart, who earns implicit $1 cardinal to play successful Russia, told The Associated Press. "WNBA players request to beryllium valued successful their state and they won't person to play overseas."
Per the WNBA's corporate bargaining agreement, which runs done 2027, players are paid an mean of $130,000, with apical players capable to gain much than $500,000 done salary, selling agreements, an in-season tourney and bonuses.
April 11: WNBA commissioner assures league moving toward Griner's return
Ahead of the 2022 WNBA draft, Cathy Engelbert said the league is doing each it can to "bring her home."
"This is an unimaginable concern for BG to beryllium in," the WNBA commissioner said. "She continues to person our afloat support. Certainly, we're trying everything we can, each angle, moving with her ineligible representation, her agent, elected leaders, the administration. Just everybody successful our ecosystem to effort and find ways to get her location safely and arsenic rapidly arsenic we can."
Engelbert besides announces that Griner's "BG's Heart and Sole" footwear drive, which has collected caller and mildly utilized shoes for stateless radical successful Phoenix, volition beryllium held successful each 12 WNBA cities passim the upcoming season.
April 27: Former U.S. Marine released from Russian custody successful captive exchange
Trevor Reed, a erstwhile U.S. Marine who has been held successful Russia since August 2019, is unexpectedly released from Russian custody successful speech for Russian nationalist Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was serving a 20-year condemnation successful the United States for smuggling drugs. The speech is the archetypal hopeful motion for Griner's household that a diplomatic transmission remains unfastened betwixt the 2 countries contempt the warfare successful Ukraine.
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Michele Steele reports connected the adjacent steps for Brittney Griner present that the United States authorities has reclassified her arsenic "wrongfully detained" by Russia.
May 3: U.S. Department of State declares Griner a wrongful detainee
The U.S. authorities present considers Griner to beryllium "wrongfully detained" by the Russian government, signaling a important displacement successful however officials volition effort to get her home. The United States volition question to negociate her merchandise alternatively than hold for the Russian lawsuit against her to travel to a conclusion.
Additionally, Griner's supporters person kept a debased illustration up to this constituent successful the lawsuit she mightiness beryllium released earlier facing trial. But aft the announcement, they actively property the White House to bring her home. Sources accidental Bill Richardson, the erstwhile U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (and erstwhile governor, furniture subordinate and congressman), is moving with his enactment to unafraid Griner's release.
May 3: WNBA announces it volition grant Griner with season-long tribute
Just days up of the 2022 play openers, the WNBA says a decal with Griner's initials and No. 42 jersey number volition beryllium installed connected each tribunal astir the league.
May 13: Griner detention extended 30 days; Russian authorities media says Griner mightiness beryllium traded for convicted Russian arms dealer
Griner appears successful tribunal successful Moscow arsenic her pretrial detention is extended by 1 month.
At the aforesaid time, the Russian authorities quality bureau TASS publishes a communicative saying determination were negotiations betwixt the United States and Russia to speech Griner for Viktor Bout, a Russian antheral serving a 25-year condemnation successful the United States for financing terrorism. American authorities officials, speaking to ESPN, explicit skepticism astir the reporting, saying it was apt a maneuver to unit the U.S. government.
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NBA commissioner Adam Silver details the league's efforts to effort and assistance Brittney Griner's merchandise from Russia.
May 17: NBA commissioner says league moving to bring Griner home
NBA commissioner Adam Silver tells ESPN's Malika Andrews that the league is moving "side by side" with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to bring Griner home, adding that the NBA was pursuing the proposal of experts erstwhile it did not instrumentality an assertive attack during the aboriginal stages of Griner's detention successful Russia.
"We've been successful interaction with the White House, the State Department, hostage negotiators, each level of authorities and besides done the backstage assemblage arsenic well," Silver said. "Our No. 1 precedence is her wellness and information and making definite that she gets retired of Russia."
May 20: State Department continues to propulsion for regular interaction with Griner
For the 2nd clip successful a week, a consular serviceman gains entree to Griner, but the State Department maintains that sporadic visits with the WNBA prima are not sufficient.
"Our connection is simply a wide and elemental one: We proceed to importune that Russia let accordant and timely consular entree to each U.S. national detainees," State Department typical Ned Price said. "One-off visits are not sufficient, and we volition proceed to telephone connected Moscow to uphold its commitments nether the Vienna Convention for accordant and timely entree arsenic well."
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Cherelle Griner opens up astir however she has been dealing with Brittney Griner's detention successful Russia.
May 25: Cherelle Griner calls connected President Biden to assistance bring Griner home
In her archetypal televised interviews since Griner was detained, Cherelle Griner says she hasn't spoken to woman Brittney Griner since Feb. 17, the time the WNBA prima was arrested successful Russia.
"There is 1 idiosyncratic that tin spell get her, and that's our president," Griner told Angela Rye successful an interrogation connected ESPN. "He has that power. You know, I'm conscionable like, 'Why are we not utilizing it? Like, urgently, usage it.' We're expecting him to usage his powerfulness to get it done."
Cherelle Griner besides spoke with Robin Roberts connected "Good Morning America" the aforesaid day.
Early June: United States secretly offers Russia a commercialized for Griner's release
The United States secretly offers to commercialized Bout for Griner and Paul Wheln -- different American considered to beryllium wrongfully detained and who has been successful Russian custody connected espionage charges since December 2018. The connection is not reported until precocious July.
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Wife of WNBA prima Brittney Griner claims nary 1 was determination to prime up Griner's calls due to the fact that the phones astatine the U.S. Embassy were unstaffed.
June 20: Cherelle Griner: 'Zero spot successful our government' aft Griner's calls spell unanswered owed to logistical errors
More than 4 months since they past spoke connected the phone, Griner was expected to telephone woman Cherelle Griner connected the couple's 4th wedding day connected June 18. But much than a dozen calls from Griner went unanswered done the U.S. Embassy successful Moscow, which the mates had been told would spot the telephone done to Cherelle Griner successful Phoenix. Instead, the calls went unanswered due to the fact that the table astatine the embassy wherever the telephone rang was seemingly unstaffed Saturday, Cherelle Griner said.
"We profoundly regret that Brittney Griner was incapable to talk with her woman due to the fact that of a logistical error," the State Department said Monday.
"I find it unacceptable and I person zero spot successful our authorities close now," Cherelle Griner told The Associated Press. "If I can't spot you to drawback a Saturday telephone extracurricular of concern hours, however tin I spot you to really beryllium negotiating connected my wife's behalf to travel home?"
The pursuing day, Biden medication officials said the call was rescheduled.
July 1: Griner's proceedings begins
The trial opens successful Khimki, a Moscow suburb, connected charges that Griner tried to smuggle drugs into Russia. The proceedings is adjourned until July 7.
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White House officials person confirmed that President Joe Biden has work the handwritten missive from Brittney Griner appealing for her freedom.
July 4: 'Terrified' Griner sends missive to Biden
White House officials corroborate President Joe Biden received a handwritten missive from Griner appealing for her freedom.
"I'm terrified I mightiness beryllium present forever," Griner writes successful an excerpt released by her representatives. "I recognize you are dealing with truthful much, but delight don't hide astir maine and the different detainees."
Citing her father's subject service, Griner writes the Fourth of July has caller meaning to her. "It hurts reasoning astir however I usually observe this time due to the fact that state means thing wholly antithetic to maine this year."
July 6: Biden, Harris telephone Cherelle Griner
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris talk with Cherelle Griner to reassure her that they are working to triumph Griner's freedom arsenic soon arsenic possible, the White House said.
Cherelle Griner, who besides speaks astatine a rally successful Phoenix aboriginal that day, says, "I americium hopeful successful knowing that the President work my wife's missive and took the clip to respond. I cognize BG volition beryllium capable to find comfortableness successful knowing she has not been forgotten."
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Cherelle Griner speaks astatine a rally astir her wife, Brittney, and however overmuch she wants her to instrumentality home.
July 7: Griner pleads blameworthy to cause charges
Griner pleads guilty but says she accidentally brought hashish lipid into Russia and did not mean to interruption the law. Under Russian law, admitting guilt doesn't automatically extremity a trial, which volition proceed until the full prosecutor's lawsuit is work into the record. Witnesses besides are called. The blameworthy plea is viewed by experts arsenic a strategical determination since the overwhelming bulk of cases extremity successful convictions.
July 10: WNBA honors Griner astatine 2022 WNBA All-Star Game
The WNBA All-Stars each wear Griner's No. 42 jersey successful the 2nd fractional of the midseason showcase. Griner was named an honorary All-Star erstwhile rosters were released June 22.
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The WNBA All-Stars each amusement enactment to Brittney Griner by wearing her No. 42 successful the 2nd half.
Prior to the All-Star Game, Nneka Ogwumike, the president of the WNBA players' association, joined Cherelle Griner, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Seattle Storm prima Sue Bird and national person Terri Jackson for a news league calling for mercy successful Brittney Griner's sentencing and focusing connected her humanity.
July 14: Russian teammate, GM enactment Griner successful court
Griner has been an exemplary subordinate and citizen during her six seasons successful Russia, 2 members of Griner's Russian nine squad archer the justice arsenic they look arsenic quality witnesses successful her trial.
UMMC Ekaterinburg teammate Evgeniya Belyakova and Maxim Ryabkov, the team's wide manager, look during a little day tribunal league portion Griner sat successful the defendants' cage not acold away. Their quality is believed to beryllium the archetypal in-person interaction Griner has had with anyone she knows -- different than the Russian attorneys hired for her lawsuit -- since she was arrested Feb. 17.
July 15: Lawyer argues Griner allowed to usage marijuana for pain
Griner's lawyer gives the tribunal a letter from a U.S. doc recommending she usage aesculapian cannabis to dainty pain. The defence besides submits tests Griner underwent arsenic portion of an anti-doping check, which didn't observe immoderate prohibited substances successful her system.
July 19: President Biden signs enforcement order
The White House announces that President Biden is signing an enforcement order to clasp anyone progressive successful the wrongful detainment of an American national accountable. It is meant to make a deterrence for overseas governments.
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Nneka Ogwumike, Stephen Curry and Skylar Diggins-Smith each present a almighty connection advocating for the state of Brittney Griner.
July 20: Curry, Diggins-Smith, Ogwumike advocator for Griner's merchandise astatine ESPYS
While honoring the WNBA for being recognized arsenic the sports humanitarian league of the year, Nneka Ogwumike, Steph Curry and Skylar Diggins-Smith paused to promote the sports assemblage to proceed to enactment to escaped Griner.
"BG is simply a WNBA champion. She's an eight-time WNBA All-Star. A nationalist champion successful college. An Olympic golden medalist," Ogwumike said. "(She's an) Athlete who has fans each implicit the world. A quality being whose predicament demands our attention."
Added Curry: "We impulse the full planetary sports assemblage to proceed to enactment energized connected her behalf, due to the fact that Brittney isn't conscionable connected the Phoenix Mercury. She isn't conscionable connected her squad successful Russia. She isn't conscionable an Olympian. She's 1 of us."
July 27: U.S. makes 'significant' connection for captive swap
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announces the United States made a "significant offer" for Griner's release successful June. CNN reports that the connection included trading Bout for Griner and Whelan.
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T.J. Quinn outlines the Biden administration's connection to Russia to bring location WNBA prima Brittney Griner and different jailed American, Paul Whelan.
July 28: Russia responds: Negotiations should beryllium kept quiet
Russian officials accidental that immoderate imaginable captive swap with the United States involving Griner should beryllium conducted without fanfare, and lone aft the completion of Griner's trial.
"Normally, the nationalist learns astir it erstwhile the agreements are already implemented," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Aug. 2: WNBA players volition skip playing successful Russia this offseason
Former UMMC Ekaterinburg players specified arsenic Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart will not play successful Russia this WNBA offseason.
Aug. 4: Griner recovered guilty, sentenced to 9 years
Griner is sentenced to 9 years successful prison. During sentencing, Judge Anna Sotnikova says she had recovered that Griner intentionally broke the instrumentality and besides fined her 1 cardinal rubles (about $16,700). The decision of the proceedings is expected to let negotiations for a captive swap to accelerate.
The nine-year condemnation was adjacent to the maximum of 10 years that Griner had faced nether the charges; prosecutors had asked for a 9½-year sentence.
Griner's defence attorneys accidental they volition appeal.
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Players from the Phoenix Mercury and Connecticut Sun articulation astatine half-court during an affectional ceremonial successful the aftermath of Brittney Griner's sentencing.
That aforesaid nighttime successful the WNBA, members of the Phoenix Mercury and Connecticut Sun basal arm-in-arm successful a ellipse astatine halfcourt anterior to their crippled to observe "a 42-second infinitesimal of solidarity" for Griner.
Aug. 15: Griner's defence squad appeals conviction
In an expected move, Griner's lawyers Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov file an appeal of her nine-year Russian situation condemnation for drugs possession. After Griner's conviction, Blagovolina and Boykov said the condemnation was excessive and that successful akin cases, defendants person received an mean condemnation of astir 5 years, with astir a 3rd of them granted parole.
Sept. 16: President Biden meets with Cherelle Griner astatine White House
President Joe Biden meets with Cherelle Griner and Elizabeth Whelan -- sister of detained erstwhile U.S. Marine Paul Whelan -- successful abstracted meetings successful the Oval Office to reassure the families that the detainees "are astatine beforehand of mind," White House officials say.
Oct. 6: Griner astatine 'weakest moment' successful Russia, woman says
Appearing connected "CBS Mornings," Cherelle Griner says Brittney Griner is astatine her "absolute weakest infinitesimal successful beingness close now" up of her proceeding to entreaty her nine-year situation sentence.
"She's precise acrophobic astir being near and forgotten successful Russia," Cherelle Griner said.
Oct. 25: Russian tribunal rejects Griner's entreaty of nine-year sentence
With Griner appearing via videoconference, a Moscow tribunal rejects her entreaty of her nine-year sentence connected cause charges, an anticipated effect successful a proceedings that U.S. and planetary officials person called an illegitimate proceeding.
Several officials person said successful caller weeks that they judge Russia volition not prosecute earnestly successful negotiations for a captive speech until aft the U.S. midterm elections Nov. 8, not wanting to springiness the Biden medication a governmental victory.
T.J. Quinn, M.A. Voepel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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