Brittney Griner was convicted on drug possession expenses amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Brittney Griner’s extremely publicized authorized woes in Russia and the nation’s invasion of Ukraine has the highest WNBA gamers opting to take their skills elsewhere this offseason.
For the previous few many years, Russia has been the popular offseason vacation spot for WNBA gamers to compete due to the excessive salaries that may exceed $1 million and the sources and facilities groups supplied them.
That every one has come to an abrupt finish.
“Actually my time in Russia has been great, however particularly with BG nonetheless wrongfully detained there, no one’s going to go there till she’s house,” mentioned Breanna Stewart, a Griner teammate on the Russian workforce that paid the duo tens of millions. “I believe that, you understand, now, individuals wish to go abroad and if the cash isn't a lot totally different, they wish to be in a greater place,”
Griner was arrested in February, then detained and later convicted on drug possession expenses amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Griner was sentenced final month to 9 years in jail.
Now, Stewart and different WNBA All-Stars, together with Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot — who even have made tens of millions of dollars taking part in in Russia — are going elsewhere this winter. All three performed for Ekaterinburg, the identical Russian workforce as Griner. That membership gained 5 EuroLeague titles prior to now eight seasons and has been dominant for practically 20 years with former greats DeLisha Milton Jones and Diana Taurasi taking part in there.
Almost a dozen WNBA gamers competed in Russia final winter and none of them are heading again this yr.
After the World Cup event, Stewart goes to Turkey to play for Fenerbahçe. High gamers could make a number of hundred thousand dollars taking part in in Turkey, a lot lower than their Russian salaries. Enjoying in Turkey additionally permits Stewart to be nearer to her spouse’s household in Spain.
“You wish to have a greater way of life, a greater off-the-court expertise, and simply proceed to understand different international locations,” Stewart mentioned.
Like Stewart, Vandersloot additionally isn’t headed again to Russia, selecting to play in Hungary the place she obtained citizenship in 2016.
“I'm Hungarian. I assumed it could be particular since I haven’t performed there since I acquired the citizenship,” Vandersloot mentioned.
The 33-year-old guard mentioned so much must change earlier than she’d ever take into account going again to Russia to play despite the fact that she has many fond recollections of the Russian individuals.
“The factor about it's, we had been handled so nicely by our membership and made such sturdy relationships with these individuals, I might by no means shut the door on that,” she mentioned. “The entire scenario with BG makes it actually onerous to assume that it’s protected for anybody to return there proper now.”
Jones might be becoming a member of Stewart in Turkey, taking part in for Mersin. The 6-foot-6 Jones mentioned she would take into account going again to Russia if issues change politically and Griner was again within the U.S.
The Griner scenario is also weighing closely on the minds of younger WNBA gamers.
Rhyne Howard, the 2022 WNBA Rookie of the 12 months, is taking part in in Italy this winter — her first abroad expertise. She mentioned was cautious when deciding the place she needed to play.
“Everybody’s going to be a bit cautious seeing as this case is occurring,” she mentioned.
It’s not simply the American gamers who're now not going to Russia. Chicago Sky ahead Emma Meesseman, who stars for the Belgium nationwide workforce, had performed in Russia with Stewart, Jones and Vandersloot. She is also headed to Turkey this offseason.
The WNBA has additionally been attempting to make staying house within the offseason a greater choice for gamers. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert mentioned on the WNBA Finals that high gamers might make as much as $700,000 this yr between base wage, advertising agreements and award bonuses. Whereas solely a choose few gamers might attain that quantity, roughly a dozen have determined take league advertising agreements this offseason.
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