WNBA star Brittney Griner was found guilty on drug charges on Thursday in a Moscow-area court. Griner has been detained in Russia for over five months and could now face serious jail time.
Hours before the verdict was handed down, prosecutors in the case requested that Griner serve 9 ½ years in prison.
The 31-year-old Phoenix Mercury star and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist was detained on Feb. 17 after she was accused of carrying vape cartridges containing hashish oil — an illegal substance in Russia — in her luggage through Sheremetyevo International Airport.
Before the verdict, the basketball star was allowed to share a statement in which she apologized to her loved ones for any hurt she may have caused through her detainment.
In a statement to ABC News, Griner's legal team said that her "guilty" plea from last month came at the recommendation of her Russian attorneys.
"Brittney sets an example of being brave. She decided to take full responsibility for her actions as she knows that she is a role model for many people," the statement said. "Considering the nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance and BG's personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport, the defense hopes that the plea will be considered by the court as a mitigating factor and there will be no severe sentence."
Since her detainment, there has been a public outcry in the U.S., from athletes to politicians, calling for her to be released.
President Joe Biden has shared that his administration is in talks with Russia about a possible prisoner exchange to bring Griner back to the U.S. along with a detained former marine, Paul Whelan, in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
The maximum sentence that Griner could be given is 10 years. She is also allowed to appeal the ruling.
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