WNBA’s Britney Greener reportedly detained in Russia after officials found hashish oil in luggage

WNBA player Britney Greener is detained in Russia after officials found hashish oil in her luggage at a Moscow airport, reports report in the New York Times on saturday.

The newspaper cites a statement by the Federal Customs Service of Russia, which published a video in which a person, similar to 6 feet tall Greener, walks through the airport security service.

“We are aware of the situation with Britney Griner in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representation in Russia, her family, her teams, as well as the WNBA and NBA,” said Lindsay Kagawa Kolas, Griner’s agent at Wasserman Group. ESPN through a statement on Saturday. “As this is an ongoing legal case, we cannot comment further on the specifics of her case, but we can confirm that as long as we work to bring her home, her mental and physical health remains our main concern.”

Like many WNBA players, the 31-year-old Greener has long played abroad in the winter months, most recently in Russia.

“Britney Greener has the full support of the WNBA, and our top priority is her speedy and safe return to the United States,” the league said in a statement to ESPN.

She played nine seasons for Phoenix Mercury, which lost in the WNBA Finals last October in Chicago. She won the championship with Mercury in 2014 and gold medals with the United States at the 2016 and 2021 Olympics.

During the last week, WNBA players in Russia left the country after the invasion of Ukraine.

“We are aware of the situation in Russia with regard to one of our members, Britney Greener. Our main concern is the safety and well-being of BG,” the WNBA players’ union said in a statement to ESPN on Saturday. “On behalf of The 144 we are sending our love and support. We will continue to closely monitor her return to the United States and look forward to her return. “

Mercury of the WNBA said they are “in constant contact” with the Greener family, its representation and both the WNBA and the NBA.

“We love and support Britney, and at this time our main concern is her safety, physical and mental health, and her safe return home,” Mercury said in a statement to ESPN on Saturday.

Longtime female basketball agent Mike Kand told ESPN on February 27 that players in Russia are urgently working to get out of Russia.

“For me, it’s far from“ considering ”the convention,” Kound said at the time. “I talked on the phone with two players in the last few minutes while developing flights. Now it’s very important because the number of flights leaving Russia is decreasing and it will be difficult to get them soon.”