Brittney Griner supported by Russian teammates in court

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Brittney Griner's Russian teammates have her back in court appearance

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 7/14/22

WNBA superstar Brittney Griner is still on trial in Russia and facing 10 years in prison, but it's worth noting that her Russian teammates are in her corner.

Griner has already pled guilty to the charge of bringing vape cartridges filled with hashish oil into Russia, which she told the judge was inadvertent. In Russia, a trial is still conducted even after a guilty plea, though.

So Thursday, two members of her club team, teammate Evgeniya Belyakova and general manager Maxim Ryabkov both spoke as character witnesses for Griner.

"Our task today was to tell the court about her characteristics as an athlete, as a person — tell about how she played a big role in the success of the Ekaterinburg club and Russian women's basketball as a whole," Ryabkov said outside the courthouse, according to ESPN. "Today is the first day when we have seen our basketball player since February. Thank God, she feels well, looks good."

"We miss her very much. We miss her energy," Belyakova said. "I was very happy to see her, and I hope this trial will be over soon and with a positive outcome."

According to ESPN, Griner's lawyers are expecting the trial to last until at least the beginning of August. How she makes it back home — whether via a prisoner swap with the United States or other political concessions — is still unknown.

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