“I’m afraid I might be here forever,” said a quote shared by Griner’s representatives to the Guardian. “I understand that you are dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other prisoners. Do what you can to bring us home.’ Griner, one of America’s most decorated female basketball players, was arrested by the Russian Federal Customs Service in February after she said they discovered vapor cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage at an airport near Moscow. Her trial began on Friday and it is widely speculated that Moscow could use Griner to negotiate the release of a high-profile Russian in US custody. The letter, which invoked America’s Independence Day, also referenced her father’s service in the US Marine Corps, which included two tours of duty in Vietnam. “On the 4th of July, our family usually honors the service of those men who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a veteran of the Vietnam War,” reads another quote. “It pains me to think about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.” A spokesman for Griner said the entirety of the letter to Biden was kept confidential and that her wife, Cherelle, was unavailable for comment. Last month, Cherelle Griner told CNN that she feels not enough is being done by American diplomats, despite their best intentions. “I don’t think the maximum effort is being made because again, the rhetoric and the actions don’t match,” she said in an interview. Other parts of the two-time Olympic gold medalist’s letter read: “As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey or any achievement, I’m terrified. I might be here forever.” Griner also wrote that she voted for Biden in the most recent presidential election. “I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you,” read another quote. “I believe in you. I still have so much to do with my freedom that you can help restore. I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much this moment. I am grateful for anything you can do right now to bring me home.” The White House reiterated Monday that “the Russian Federation is wrongfully detaining Brittney Griner.” “President Biden has been clear about the need to release all American citizens held hostage or illegally held abroad, including Brittney Griner. The US government continues to work aggressively – using every means available – to bring her home,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement. “The president’s team is in regular contact with Brittney’s family and we will continue to work to support her family.” The 31-year-old Griner, who led the Phoenix Mercury to their third franchise title in 2014 and a surprise return to the WNBA Finals in October, has also played for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the offseason since 2015, helping the Russian team reach the three. domestic titles and EuroLeague Women’s championships in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021. Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard reacted to Griner’s letter Monday during a pregame press conference ahead of Phoenix’s matchup with the LA Sparks. “It made me cry, you know, just hearing her talk about her father who was a Vietnam vet, her new perspective on freedom, her desire to be with her family and her teammates, she doesn’t know if she will ever be free again. Nygaard said. “On our day of freedom, hearing those words from such a beloved person … It’s great, and it’s great that he was able to get that message across to us and hopefully some people are paying attention.”
