As some people celebrate the April 27 announcement that Texas Marine veteran Trevor Reed would be released from a Russian prison, there were others urging the U.S. government to continue working behind the scenes—particularly regarding the releases of WNBA player Brittney Griner, former Marine Paul Whelan and others, WFAA.com reported.
"When I opened my phone this morning, and I saw that Trevor was being released, I was overjoyed. But my first thought went to Brittney, and is this something that could be a path for her?" said basketball legend Nancy Lieberman, who considers Griner a friend.
Griner—a member of the LGBTQ+ community—is accused of having cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage. Her arrest and detention in Russia was extended to a hearing in mid-May. That move came as the U.S. and other countries continues speaking out on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
WNBA fan Curtis Moss said, "If she was in the NBA, she'd be out by now."
In addition, Griner's manager, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, said that she would not have been in Russia in the first place if she received adequate pay as a professional basketball player in the United States, The Hill noted.
