For years, Brittney Griner was WNBA's most high-profile athlete, known for her 6-foot-9 nine stature, her 7-foot wingspan and her NCAA record-breaking slam dunks. She was even the first openly gay athlete to be endorsed by Nike. But in 2022, the basketball player's life was catapulted to the international stage.
Griner, who played basketball in Russia during her off-season from the WNBA, was detained in a Russian airport after a cannabis vape cartridge was found in her belongings. The athlete was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony after being found guilty of drug smuggling and possession charges.
