WNBA superstar Brittney Griner was detained by Russia while attempting to move through a Moscow airport, the New York Times reports. League veteran Angel McCoughtry shared that Griner had been detained for three weeks already by the time the story hit the Times. 

Griner is a beloved global citizen who has used her platform since her entry into the WNBA to help others. 

Griner was in Russia for work: playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg, where in 2021 she helped the team win its fifth EuroLeague Women championship. Like many athletes competing in the WNBA, Griner plays abroad during the WNBA offseason because her salary is exponentially higher in other countries.

Professional athletes never know when their careers will come to an end. Thus, they must complete today with tomorrow's financial security in mind. For WNBA players, that means playing abroad, while NBA rookies who haven't played a professional game yet are handed salaries many-times higher that what title-winning, All-Star designated WNBA veterans could ever hope for.  

These realities are not the fault of the players. They simply want to be paid their worth like their male counterparts, and they do not deserve to be entangled in geopolitical turmoil for doing so. 

Thus, we call on elected officials in this country to secure the safe and swift return of Brittney Griner to the U.S.:

Arizona Senators                                                           

Kyrsten Sinema (202) 224-2235

Mark Kelly (202) 224-2235

Senate Foreign Relations Committee's               

Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation 

Majority Members:

Shaheen, Jeanne (NH), Chairman
Cardin, Benjamin L. (MD)
Murphy, Christopher (CT)
Van Hollen, Chris (MD)
Coons, Christopher A. (DE)
Menendez, Robert (NJ), Ex Officio

Minority Members:

Johnson, Ron (WI), Ranking Member
Barrasso, John (WY)
Romney, Mitt (UT)
Portman, Rob (OH)
Young, Todd (IN)
Risch, James E. (ID), Ex Officio

House Foreign Affairs Committee

Gregory Meeks, Chairman

Phone: (202) 225-3461

Email: Melissa.Barosy@mail.house.gov

Europe, Energy, the Environment, and Cyber Subcommittee

William Keating, Chair, (202) 225-3111

Brian Fitzpatrick, Ranking Member, (202) 225-4276

US Ambassador to Russia                                               

John J. Sullivan,+7 (495) 728-5000