Brittney Griner earned $1MILLION per off-season playing basketball in Russia
Russian state media releases photo of WNBA star Brittney Griner in custody as it’s revealed she was earning $1million per off-season playing for Moscow team – four times her US salary
Griner was arrested at the airport in Moscow in late February after returning from a break to play for UMMC EkaterinburgShe earns $1million per off-season playing for the team – four times her salary at the Phoenix SunsMany other WNBA players go to Russia in the off-season to bolster their earningsThey have all returned now but Griner remains in an unknown Russian prison Police claim she was carrying a cannabis-filled vape pen when she returnedHer family say they have few details; the White House and State Department are working to find out more and free her
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Russian state media have released a photograph of WNBA star Brittney Griner in custody, weeks after detaining her at the airport for allegedly carrying a cannabis-filled vape.
Griner was taken into custody after returning to Moscow from New York during a two-week break from play.
She was playing for the Moscow team UMMC Ekaterinburg and was earning $1million for the off-season – four times her WNBA salary.
The details on her arrest are scarce. Her wife and parents are calling out for answers given the ongoing diplomatic crisis between the US and Russia.
On Tuesday, Russian state TV broadcast a photograph of her in custody holding up a piece of paper. The image was too blurred to be able to make out what was written on the paper. CNN obtained the image.
Griner was taken into custody after returning to Moscow from New York during a two-week break from play. She was playing for the Moscow team UMMC Ekaterinburg and was earning $1million for the off-season – four times her WNBA salary
This is the moment Griner was apprehended by a police sniffer dog at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport in February
There are a dwindling number of flights out of Russia as a result of the crisis in Ukraine, and the West putting heavy sanctions on Putin.
It’s unclear where Griner is being held, or what charges she is being held on. Her family say they are working to get her a lawyer.
Like Griner, many other WNBA stars play in Russia in the off-season to bolster their earnings.
All other players have returned now to the US.
The average salary in the WNBA is less than $250,000 whereas in the men’s NBA, it is $7.90 million.
