Brittney Griner's appeal denied, U.S. hopes for prisoner swap

In a "completely anticipated result," Brittney Griner's appeal of her nine-year sentence for possession of vape cartridges was rejected by a court in Moscow. Griner, a star center for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, remains in custody, as she has since her arrest Feb. 17.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan released a statement after the verdict: "We are aware of the news out of Russia that Brittney Griner will continue to be wrongfully detained under intolerable circumstances after having to undergo another sham judicial proceeding today." 

U.S. officials expect the eventual result to be a prisoner swap, a version of which Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said he offered in July, calling it a "substantial proposal." The impediment to any exchange is that the United States and Russia are effectively at war following Russia's invasion of Ukraine this year.  

The WNBA Players Association said as much in a statement: "This appeal is further verification that BG is not just wrongfully detained. She is very clearly a hostage."