During the Golden State Warriors ring ceremony, now four-time champion Stephen Curry took the mic during the ceremony to address the fans–– thanking them for their continued support of the franchise. After sharing the team's gratitude with the fans, he showed support to W.N.B.A. Star Brittney Griner, who has been detained and incarcerated in Russia since February.

Griner's incarceration has been one of the biggest news stories in 2022. The severity of the situation goes deeper than just attempting to bring an all-purpose figure in the U.S. back home. Griner's arrest has turned her into a political pawn as tensions have heightened between the U.S. and Russia due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The invasion started just a week after Griner's initial detainment.  

If you may be unaware of the situation or want to learn more information about it, here's a brief summary.

Griner was arrested in February for possessing T.H.C. cartridges when going through customs at a Russian airport. The Phoenix Mercury star traveled to Russia to reconvene with her professional team, U.M.M.C. Yekaterinburg. On May 3rd, the U.S. State Department said Griner had been wrongfully detained and that government officials would be working to bring her home as soon as possible.

To note, Russian law has a very different perspective on marijuana use than the United States. In Russia, possessing more than 0.7 grams of marijuana is considered a criminal offense which leads to prison time. Griner was in possession of just over the 0.7-gram threshold at the time of her arrest. To put it into perspective, many T.H.C. vape cartridges that you see being used in the United States for recreational purposes contain either a gram or half a gram.

Griner pleaded guilty to the charges. She acknowledged that she had broken Russian law but emphasized that she had no intent to break Russian law.

"I want to say again that I had no intent on breaking any Russian laws," said Griner in her closing remarks before her conviction. "I had no intent. I did not conspire or plan to commit this crime."

On August 4th, Griner was convicted and sentenced to 9 ½ years in a Russian prison on drug possession and smuggling charges.

Since the U.S. declared that Griner was wrongfully detained, U.S. Officials have been negotiating with Russia on the possibility of a prisoner exchange that would include Griner and Former U.S. Marine Tom Whalen. President Biden told CNN's Jake Tapper in a recent interview that there's been no movement on negotiations with Russia in the attempt to complete a prisoner swap.

Griner's attorneys are appealing her conviction with hearings beginning on October 25th.

Ever since Griner's detainment in Russia came to light, the basketball community and other public figures have been highly outspoken about the situation. They have publicly pressured the Biden Administration to act. Steph's advocacy of Griner's release was followed up on Wednesday by Brooklyn Nets Guard Kyrie Irving and Miami Heat Center Udonis Haslem.

Griner issued a statement through her lawyers on Wednesday thanking everyone for the continued support through her imprisonment in Russia.

"Thank you, everyone, for fighting so hard to get me home. All the support and love are helping me."

(Photo credit: Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press)