Griner’s wife calls Biden for more urgency to bring WNBA star back

Brittney Griner’s wife Cherelle Griner spoke in an interview for the first time since the WNBA and Phoenix Star was arrested in Russia back in February.

She explained how she “laid on this couch and cried my eyeballs out” after first hearing the news. “I was numb. I couldn’t move and then I said: ‘You’ve got to get up now,’” Cherelle said on ABC’s Good Morning America.

Earlier this month, Griner’s pretrial detention was extended by a Russian court until at least June.

The WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist has been arrested for 97 days now.

According to Russian authorities, Griner, who had cannabis oil in her luggage, has been accused of smuggling serious amounts of a narcotic substance, and three weeks ago, the State Department classified Griner as being wrongfully detained in Russia.

When asked whether Griner has been able to communicate with her wife, she said “sporadically, here and there” through letters. The 30-year-old then added that she “absolutely” wants to speak with US President Joe Biden about her wife’s imprisonment.

Brittney Griner’s wife addresses President Joe Biden

“I just keep hearing that he has the power,” Griner said. “She’s a political pawn, so if they’re holding her because they want you [Biden] to do something, then I want you to do it.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously said that Cherelle Griner should be able to reach out to the State Department if there’s anything she needs, and that they are working relentlessly on the case.

However, Griner said that she’s doubting whether her wife is a priority as Blinken says.

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“I don’t know,” she said. “He said she is top priority, but I want to see it. I feel like to see it would be me seeing BG on US soil. At this point, I don’t even know who I’m getting back when she comes back.”