Biden takes a big gamble to secure Griner, Whelan’s release from Russia

President Biden is signaling a new willingness to exchange a top prisoner with Russia to get WNBA star Brittney Griner and American citizen Paul Whelan back from Moscow.

The administration’s offer risks giving Russia leverage and could undercut U.S. efforts to hold together an international campaign to isolate Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

But Griner’s high profile — an extraordinary athlete breaking ground for the LGBT community — has elicited outrage from the sports world and lawmakers pressuring Biden to secure her release.