Griner’s presence felt at WNBA All-Star Game
CHICAGO — Brittney Griner was everywhere Sunday — before, during and after the WNBA AllStar Game.
Everywhere except where the league’s best players felt she should be — playing alongside them on the court.
A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and the rest of the WNBA All-Stars wore Griner’s name and her No. 42 on the back of their jerseys for the second half of Team Wilson’s 134-112 victory over Team Stewart. It was another moment in the league’s continued push for Griner’s release from her detention in Russia.
“BG’s one of us. She’s our sister,” Wilson said, “and at the end of the day, we’re going to do whatever we can to amplify the platform that we have to make sure that everyone is doing what they need to do to make sure that she gets home safely.”
Griner, 31, has been detained since February after police at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage. The eight-time AllStar pleaded guilty Thursday to drug possession charges that could see a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Griner was announced as an honorary All-Star starter before Sunday’s game, drawing cheers from the crowd of 9,572 at the home of the defending-champion Sky. The players lined up along the sideline to show off their Griner jerseys before the start of the second half.
Team Wilson guards Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot hugged Cherelle Griner, Brittney’s wife, before play resumed.
“We just wanted to make sure at some point that we were able to, on national television, obviously in front of a [big] crowd, put Brittney’s name in the forefront,” Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird said. “That was our way of honoring her.”
It was the last All-Star Game for Bird and Sylvia Fowles, two pillars of the league who plan to retire after this season. Fowles had the day’s biggest highlight, picking up a steal and throwing down a dunk for Team Wilson with 4:04 left in the first half.
Bird received a huge ovation when she checked out with 2:10 left, and acknowledged the cheers with a wave.
“That moment was really special,” Bird said.
Las Vegas aces guard Kelsey Plum was named MVP after she scored 30 points for Team Wilson in her first All-Star appearance. Liberty star Ionescu had 19 points, six assists and six rebounds.