The USA’s players honored their friend and teammate by electing to not wear her No . 15 shirt. Traditionally, Team UNITED STATES wears the figures four to fifteen but instead is remembering a player who has already been such a big section of the national side considering that her first involvement in 2013.
“She’s on this minds daily, plus we’ll honor the girl, ” US head coach Cheryl Reeve told ESPN. “No one will wear 15. So just finding ways to continue to make sure she knows that she’s being thought of and our players are thinking of the girl daily. ”
Griner has been central to the US team’s dominance in the sport. The 2013 WNBA No . 1 draft pick has helped the US win two Olympic gold medals and 2 gold medals on the World Cup.
“She’s a big section of our sisterhood, ” Griner’s Olympic teammate Jewell Lloyd said. “Getting to know the girl over the past couple yrs has been great. This wounderful woman has been nothing but amazing to me and my loved ones. And it’s just heart-breaking to know that she’s nevertheless over there plus she’s not here. ”
The competition start comes a week after Griner’s spouse, Cherelle Griner, met with US President Joe Biden in order to plead her wife’s case as the US negotiates the release from the WNBA star plus former US Ocean Paul Whelan.
Griner has been detained in February for carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage and pleaded guilty to drug charges, saying she accidentally packed the drugs in a hurry. Her legal team in The ussr has appealed the nine-year sentence.
Griner’s teammates and other WNBA gamers have also shown solidarity with the eight-time All-Star by boycotting actively playing in Russia during the offseason.
Many WNBA players supplement their salaries in the offseason by signing with Western teams, including Ruskies teams that apparently pay upwards of $1 million per season — much more money than the players would create by staying in the united states.
But this winter, players are neglecting to sign with Russian teams, rather opting to play to get other clubs throughout Europe.
Breanna Stewart, that has played with Griner each for the national group and on the same Ruskies club team, Yekaterinburg, admitted that it was no easy decision.
“Honestly, my time in Russia continues to be wonderful, but especially with BG nevertheless wrongfully detained right now there, nobody’s going to move there until she actually is home, ” the particular Seattle Storm strength forward said. “I think we’re going to continue to speak out, to keep to amplify her name, put pressure as much as we can around the White House.
“It was amazing that Cherelle was able to meet with President Biden, and hopefully, that means that things are continuing to move forward with getting her home.
“But I think the best way to signify her and honour her is going plus winning the gold medal. ”