Brittney Griner's coach in WNBA: 'If it was LeBron, he'd be home, right?' / News - Basketnews.com

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Brittney Griner's Phoenix Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard believes that if her star player was named LeBron James, her detention in Russia would have ended already.

LeBron James

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Following Mercury's loss against the Los Angeles Sparks, Nygaard spoke to the media about the message that's being sent by not bringing WNBA star Brittney Griner home.

"If it was LeBron, he'd be home, right?" Nygaard asked. "It's a statement about the value of women. It's a statement about the value of a Black person. It's a statement about the value of a gay person. All of those things. We know it, and so that's what hurts a little more."

A couple of days ago, Griner wrote a letter to President Joe Biden, pleading for him to not "forget about her and the other American Detainees."

Following the received handwritten letter, US President said bringing home Griner is a top priority, the White House announced. The executives added the president has read a letter himself as it was delivered on Monday.

"He takes this to heart," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. "He takes this job very seriously, especially when it comes to bringing home U.S. nationals who are wrongfully detained."

Griner's trial on charges that she tried to smuggle vape cartridges with hashish oil into Russia began last Friday.She could face 10 years in prison if convicted on charges.

According to The Associated Press, fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in the U.S., acquittals can be overturned.

Brittney Griner, a 6-foot-9 (2.06 m) center, won an NCAA title at Baylor in 2012; a WNBA title with Phoenix, her current team, in 2014; and gold medals with the U.S. women's team at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.

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