WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner, in an interview with ABC News, reveals that conditions during her prison stay in Russia made her “feel less than a human.”
Brittney Griner was imprisoned in Russia after being detained at an airport for carrying vape cartridges containing a minuscule amount of cannabis oil in 2022.
This is an illegal act in Russia, and she was found guilty of drug smuggling charges. Griner faced a whopping nine years in prison.
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Brittney Griner Provides Details Of Prison Stay
Griner was subsequently released early by Russia in a 1-for-1 prisoner swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout. The 9-time WNBA All-Star altogether served a nearly 10-month prison term.
Now, she tells ABC anchor Robin Roberts of the harrowing details. In interview excerpts released by the network, she reveals the exact moment she “felt just less than a human.”
“There was a huge knife sitting on the table, and I was just like: ‘Now, this is going to be a ride,’” said Griner. “You got to do what you got to do to survive. The mattress had a huge blood stain on it. I had no soap, no toilet paper.”
EXCLUSIVE: WNBA star Brittney Griner shares her story for the 1st time about her harrowing months-long detention in Russia in exclusive interview with @RobinRoberts. "Prisoner in Russia: The Brittney Griner interview" airs May 1 on @ABC2020 and later on @Hulu #BrittneyGrinerOnABC pic.twitter.com/lZ1JGAGyyt
— 20/20 (@ABC2020) April 23, 2024
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Thought Her Life Was Over
Brittney Griner also relayed her thoughts at the moment she was detained in a Russian airport. The moment she knew she’d be facing prison time.
“My life is over right here,” Griner explains.
“I was just so scared about everything. There was so much unknown,” she tells ABC. “Yeah. I didn’t think I could get through what I needed to get through.”
Griner was selected as the top overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft. She resumed her career with the Phoenix Mercury, her sole WNBA team, in May 2023.
Griner was honored as a league All-Star last season.
The entire interview will air May 1st at 10 pm.
