Brittney Griner Named Honorary WNBA All-Star Starter

Brittney Griner Named Honorary WNBA All-Star Starter

Because of circumstances beyond her control, WNBA player, Brittney Griner hasn’t played in any games this season due to being detained in Russia. Each season she has been a pro, she participated in the All-Star Game and although she isn’t here in the States, she will be one again at this year’s contest.

According to the WNBA, Griner was selected as an All-Star and starter for this season’s WNBA All-Star Game. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner, who was previously selected to the seven prior AT&T WNBA All-Star Games will be an honorary All-Star and starter.

“During each season of Brittney’s career in which there has been an All-Star Game, she has been selected as an All-Star,” said Engelbert in a written statement. “It is not difficult to imagine that if BG were here with us this season, she would once again be selected and would, no doubt, show off her incredible talents. So, it is only fitting that she be named as an honorary starter today and we continue to work on her safe return to the U.S.”

The 2022 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game will be played at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, home of the defending WNBA Champion Chicago Sky, on Sunday, July 10.

It was reported earlier this year in March that Griner was detained by police in Moscow after officials found vape cartridges (Which allegedly contain cannabis oil) in her luggage while at the airport. The basketball star is facing drug smuggling charges with a possibility of 10 years in prison for having the cannabis oil pen, according to officials.

It was reported last week that her detention in Russia was extended again since being imprisoned. This time, her extension is until July 2 according to the Russian state news agency TASS. This is the third extension of Griner’s imprisonment. The first extension took place in March when they extended her stay to May 19. Six days before that extension was expected to be lifted, it was extended until June 18. Once again, they extended it to the beginning of next month.

Last month, the State Department reclassified her as wrongfully detained and thereby transferred oversight of her case to the State Department Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA).

Brittney Griner Named Honorary WNBA All-Star Starter