Phoenix Mercury coach says State Dept. will brief team on Brittney Griner

The coach of the Phoenix Mercury said on Thursday that the State Department would be briefing her team on the case of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia since February.

“When we go to [Washington,] D.C. next week, we play two games in D.C., we are getting a briefing from the State Department,” who Vanessa Nygaard said will be “briefing our team on the issue,” according to footage shared by KPNX sports anchor Cameron Cox.

“We hope that that means there’s … serious action on that issue as well,” Nygaard added.

The Phoenix Mercury are currently scheduled to play against the Washington Mystics on Sunday and next Tuesday. 

A State Department spokesperson said they did not have anything further to offer regarding private meetings. 

“We are closely engaged on this case and in frequent contact with Ms. Griner’s legal team. A consular officer was able to verify on May 19 that Ms. Griner is doing as well as can be expected. We are not going to get into additional details at this time,” the spokesperson said. 

Griner, who has played for the Phoenix Mercury since 2013, has been detained in Russia for months after her luggage was allegedly found by officials to contain hashish oil. The Biden administration has said that she was wrongfully detained and officials have said her case is a “top priority.”

Griner’s manager said in a statement on Twitter that while Griner has been able to receive written communication from family and friends, “it has been over 105 days since #BrittneyGriner has heard her wife or family’s voice.”

At a rally in Texas earlier this week, former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed, who himself was detained in Russia until recently, called for the release of the WNBA star.

The developments come against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which has raged on for more than 100 days. 

— Updated June 10 at 3:59 p.m.