The Phoenix Mercury released a statement after Brittney Griner was found guilty of drug possession and smuggling and sentenced to nine years in prison by a Russian court on Thursday morning.
“While we knew it was never the legal process that was going to bring our friend home, today’s verdict is a sobering milestone in the 168-day nightmare being endured by our sister, BG,” the statement read.
“We remain heartbroken for her, as we have every day for nearly six months.”
Griner, an eight-time WNBA All-Star, champion (2014) and two-time league scoring leader in her nine years with the Mercury, was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport outside Moscow in February, intending to play for Russian women’s basketball team UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA offseason.