WNBA Star Brittney Griner Goes to Russian Court on Drug Smuggling Charges

WNBA star Brittney Griner has just begun her court case in Russia on the premises of drug smuggling. Griner was taken into custody at a Moscow airport after trying to go through security with two cartridges containing cannabis oil in her bag, an illegal substance in Russia.

Griner has been held in Russia for almost 4 months already, awaiting this trial. If convicted, Griner could face up to a 10 year sentence. Her first hearing was Friday, but Griner did not enter a plea deal, so her trial has been adjourned until at least July 7, 2022. The acquittal rate in Russia’s court system is less than 1%, so this trial is very important for Griner.