Sparks' Ogwumike appeals to Biden: `Get Brittney Griner home'
“President Biden,” Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike said Friday evenina, pausing and then raising her voice: “President Biden!
“Please,” she said. “Use all available resources to get Brittney Griner home.”
Ogwumike's direct appeal to President Joe Biden came toward the end of a four-minute statement she delivered jointly with Sparks teammate Katie Lou Samuelson after their team's game in Indiana.
Ogwumike had 30 points and 10 rebounds and Samuelson scored a career-high 19 points in the Sparks' 10196 loss — but neither player answered questions afterward, opting instead to focus on Griner during their postgame Zoom video conference with reporters.
The two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist and Phoenix Mercury seven-time AllStar center remains in Russian custody after being arrested in February at an airport outside Moscow. Friday marked Day 99 of her incarceration, which the
United States considers a “wrongful detainment,” a designation indicating that rather than wait for her case to proceed through the Russian legal system, the American government will take more aggressive steps to negotiate her release.
“Brittney Griner is our friend and our teammate and our sister,” Ogwumike said, reading prepared text off of her phone. “She's a record-breaker, a gold medalist, a wife, a daughter, a champion, a role model, an All-Star and so much more.
“Right now, BG is an American citizen who has been wrongfully detained in Russia for 99 days.”
Ogwumike and Samuelson, the former Santa Ana Mater Dei standout, made broad appeals for those listening to get involved in efforts calling for Griner's release. They suggested people use #WeAreBG on social media and add their names to the change.org petition directed to the White House to “Secure Brittney Griner's Swift and Safe Return to the U.S.” which, as of Saturday morning, had nearly 193,000 signatures.
Samuelson encouraged
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athletes of all ability levels, sports or nationalities to come together as a sports community to speak up on Griner's behalf and, specifically, she echoed recent calls for Griner's wife, Cherelle, to meet with Biden: “If you know anyone in the Biden administration, call them.”
Russia authorities allege they found vape cartridges containing hashish oil in Griner's luggage while going through an airport outside of Moscow, allegations that could carry a prison sentence of as many as 10 years.
The 31-year-old Griner has not been formally charged; her court hearing that was scheduled for May 19 was extended 30 days.
Although her peers have been careful about how they've spoken about Griner's plight, her detainment has been heavy on their minds since they learned she's detained in Russia as that country's ongoing war with Ukraine has sunk relations with the United States to their lowest point in decades.
“It's been really difficult for us because we are all close to BG,” Chiney Ogwumike said before the season began, when Nneka's sister and Sparks teammate discussed some of the league's initiatives to honor Griner throughout the season. “This is the cool thing about 144 (the maximum number of WNBA players in the league at one time). We all know each other really well, we're all sort of teammates at some time, whether at home or abroad.”
The 6-foot-9 Griner was returning to compete for the Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg, for which she's played during the WNBA's offseason for the past seven winters, earning reportedly $1 million per season, more than quadruple her WNBA salary.
“And yes,” said Ogwumike, who spent several WNBA offseasons playing for the Russian team Dynamo Kursk, “we're going to have the pay equity conversation. We're gonna talk about betting on women and investing in women's sports so athletes like BG don't have to risk their health and safety playing basketball year-round to make a living.
“We recognize that the wrongful detainment of one of our own is directly caused by a pay equity issue ... but we will save that conversation, because right now, on Day 99 of BG's wrongful detainment, we are calling on everyone to use their platform, no matter the size, to bring attention to her wrongful detainment, to get Cherelle that meeting with President Biden, and to get our sister home.”
Also
Rookie Rae Burrell underwent right knee surgery Friday and will be reevaluated again in six to eight weeks time, according to the Sparks, who expect she will be able to return later this season. Selected ninth overall out of Tennessee, the 6-foot-1 forward appeared in just the first three games this season, including logging 19 minutes in her last game May 11 at Atlanta.
It's the second consecutive season the Sparks' top draft pick has missed significant time because of an injury. Jasmine Walker, the No. 7 overall pick last year, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Game 2.
The Sparks also listed starting guards Jordin Canada (left hamstring) and Lexie Brown (right calf) as questionable to play today in Minnesota.