Anxiety about Brittney Griner’s freedom mounts amid Russia-Ukraine conflict

Anxiety is mounting over the status of WNBA star Brittney Griner’s freedom after reports surfaced last week that she had been detained in a Russian airport for possession of hashish oil.

Advocates, U.S. lawmakers and those who know Griner personally are worried that the two-time Olympic gold medalist faces physical danger in Russia, and that Griner will face severe legal consequences as a political pawn in the Kremlin’s war with Ukraine.