By Unless your name is Patrick Star and you’ve literally been living under a rock, you are aware of the ongoing issues between Russia and Ukraine. To sweeten the pot now, Russia has detained WNBA star, Brittney Griner on what seems to be drug charges stemming from vape cartridges. While the two situations are not related, this does raise a bit of concern considering the timing. Brittney is no stranger to Russia. Like Diana Taurasi, Griner played for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the off-season of the WNBA.
The reason for this is obviously the pay. WNBA players are paid significantly less than their NBA male counterparts. It is only natural that they look for other ways of income. Other countries seem to value our top women basketball players more than their own country. While them traveling and playing abroad, it does seem as though there is motive behind Brittney Griner’s arrest and detention.
The Who, What, and Why?
Brittney Griner was born on October 18, 1990. She’s one of the best players to ever grace a court in the sport of women’s basketball. She played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears in Waco, Texas. Griner is the only NCAA basketball player to both score 2,000 points and block 500 shots. She’s a three-time All-American and was named AP Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.
She’s a big deal.
For UMMC in Russia in the FIBA league. She’s won four championships with her international squad. Looking to start the season up again, she flew to Russia as she always does. This time, she landed in the custody of Russian authorities. She was detained from having hashish oil, a marijuana concentrate that has a high concentration of the plant’s main ingredient, THC. It is believed that Brittney Griner was actually taken into custody several days before the American public ever even knew about it.
Soap Box
Brittney Griner has been playing in Russia for some time now. She’s brought multiple championships to her Russian team. She’s obviously well-known and one has to think, she should be a pretty big star amongst the Russian basketball faithful. What I am getting at is, Brittney certainly be now, knows the laws of Russia. One has to wonder has she always taken her vape with her or was it just this one time? I have a feeling this was not the first time she had her vape in her possession, but rather it’s the first time it’s been made a big deal. Why? The timing could be a factor. If the Russians think Griner is as big of a deal in America as she presumably is in Russia, then maybe it’s a statement.
Some politicians are already thinking Griner will be used as a bargaining chip. In the midst of a dispute between Russia and Ukraine, it isn’t safe for anyone outside of Russia to go there. Russia has extended detainee, Brittney Griner until May 19th. That’s still an entire month. That’s scary to think about.
Praying For A Safe Return
This whole situation is one big domino effect. The WNBA players wouldn’t feel the need to travel abroad if they were compensated more. Whether lack of support or lack of profit, it is a situation whatever the case may be for professional athletes to be paid so little. A top salesman at a car dealership could pull in as much money as a WNBA player. Kudos to that salesman, but the point is, these women dream to be a WNBA player. They work hard, they dedicate their lives to basketball. They deserve to be paid accordingly. As much as the men? In my opinion, no. There are lots of reasons why I have that opinion and it has nothing to do with the athlete themselves. What I will say is that they should be getting paid at least as much as they are getting paid to play for other countries.
We hope that something will be done to get Brittney back home. You have to wonder if this was LeBron or Steph Curry, if the sense of urgency would be higher. This Brittney Griner situation has been handled relatively mild. It is a big deal. She’s an American trapped on Russian soil in a time where it seems World War 3 could break out at any given moment. She’s one of the best athletes ever in her sport. We love our athletes and so she should be treated with that same love and care. Let’s get Brittney Griner home, safe and sound.
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