What’s In Store for Brittney Griner?

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“Overcrowding, abuse by guards and inmates, limited access to health care, food shortages, and inadequate sanitation were common in prisons, penal colonies, and other detention facilities,” a Russian insider shares with the U.S State Department.

RUSSIA — After being detained in Russia for over 8 months since her arrest in a Moscow airport, WNBA star Brittney Griner has just begun to serve her nine-year prison sentence after the appeal of her conviction on drug charges was denied by a Moscow court. Russian authorities said they found vape cartridges containing hash oil in Griner's luggage back in February. Since the charges, Griner was sentenced in early August following a guilty plea and subsequent trial.

According to the Associated Press, the court also ruled it will adjust her sentence based on time spent in pretrial detention, which could place her prison sentence closer to eight years.

In the meantime, the United States has offered a potential prisoner swap Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for Griner despite political conflict over the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. This negotiation however is currently on-hold. In response to the offer, National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, claimed Russia responded with a "bad faith attempt" at a counteroffer in late July.

"We urge Russia to take that offer seriously," said Kirby.

In the meantime, what does this mean for Griner?

Former prisoners and advocates suggest the WNBA all-star will have to sustain a system of isolation, grueling labor and psychological torment when she is transferred to a penal colony to fulfill a nine-year sentence. Griner being a gay Black woman could add unknown variables to a penal system that is known to be harrowing. To make matters even worse, the U.S State Department reports, human rights violations are a regular feature of many of the camps. The U.S State Department has maintained regular contact with prisoners in Russia who can confirm this.

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“Conditions in prisons and detention centers varied but were often harsh and life threatening,” a 2021 State Department report on Russian human rights abuses said.

Other reports reveal that “physical and sexual abuse by prison guards was systemic,” that torture of prisoners was pervasive — at times resulting in death or suicide — and that discriminatory protections against women and people of color were not often enforced. The law also does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Photo: NBC Sports

While we wait for the updates, Griner's family and teammates are getting hopeless in her return. Cherelle Griner, said she's "terrified" for her wife Brittney amid her continued imprisonment in Russia. Griner is one of the most decorated players of her generation and many are hoping she'll be able to add more titles following this sentencing. Only time will tell.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.