Griner begins serving sentence in penal colony

WNBA star Brittney Griner has begun serving her nine-year sentence for drug possession at a Russian penal colony, her lawyers and agent said Thursday.

Griner was transferred to a penal colony in Mordovia, about 210 miles east of Moscow, after a Russian court last month rejected her appeal of her sentence.

Her lawyers said they visited her earlier this week.

“Brittney is doing as well as could be expected and trying to stay strong as she adapts to a new environment,” her lawyers said in a statement.

The All-Star center with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and two-time Olympic gold medalist was detained in February when customs agents said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.

At her trial, Griner admitted to having the canisters in her luggage but testified she packed them inadvertently in her haste to make her flight and had no criminal intent. Her defense team presented written statements saying she had been prescribed cannabis to treat chronic pain.

Baseball

MLB INVESTIGATING METS, YANKS >> Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed Thursday that Major League Baseball is looking into potentially improper communication between the New York Mets and Yankees regarding star free agent Aaron Judge and said he is confident the inquiry will find no issues.

“I’m absolutely confident that the clubs behaved in a way that was consistent with the agreement,” Manfred said Thursday, referring to the league’s collective bargaining agreement. “This was based on a newspaper report. We will put ourselves in position to demonstrate credibly to the MLBPA that this is not an issue. I’m sure that’s going to be an outcome, but obviously we understand the emotion that surrounds that word (collusion) and we’ll proceed accordingly.”

The Athletic first reported MLB was investigating the teams after a story on SNY.com said a “mutually respectful relationship” between Mets owner Steve Cohen and Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner would prevent a “high-profile bidding war” for Judge. The 30-year-old outfielder could command over $300 million in free agency. RANGERS TO HOST 2024 ALLSTAR GAME >> The Texas Rangers will host Major League Baseball’s 2024 AllStar Game, Commissioner Rob Manfred announced Thursday.

Manfred announced the game will be held July 16, 2024 at Globe Life Field, which opened during the 2020 pandemic season. The stadium hosted the neutral site World Series and NL Championship Series that season.

Next year’s game will take place in Seattle, which last hosted in 2001 in Ichiro’s rookie year and Cal Ripken Jr.’s final season.

The 2026 game will take place in Philadelphia to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. No announcement has been made about the 2025 game.

NBA

X-RAYS ON BALL’S ANKLE NEGATIVE >> X-rays on LaMelo Ball’s left ankle were negative, but the Charlotte Hornets All-Star point guard already has been ruled out of Friday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Coach Steve Clifford said it is too early to know how much time Ball will miss after spraining the ankle for a second time in a 125-113 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.

Ball first injured his ankle on Oct. 10 during a preseason game against the Washington Wizards.

Ball had returned to action over the weekend and played three games before rolling it again when he stepped on a fan’s foot as he was attempting to save a ball from going out of bounds in the fourth quarter.

College basketball

PENN STATE BEATS FURMAN >> Seth Lundy and Jalen Pickett each scored 20 points and Penn State beat Furman 73-68 on Thursday to open the Charleston Classic at Charleston, S.C.