sport news 'Do the right thing': Ex-Russian Olympian, Becky Hammon, calls on Putin to ... trends now
Former Russian Olympian and current Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon has called on the Kremlin to allow Brittney Griner safe passage back to the United States.
The eight-time WNBA All-Star was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony Thursday after being convicted of drug possession and smuggling.
In addition to time behind bars, Griner was also fined 1 million rubles, which equates to approximately $16,700.
'It's something that obviously hits super close to home for me and so I just ask the Russian government to do the right thing,' Hammon told Reuters on Tuesday.
Griner has been detained in Russia since arriving at Moscow Airport on February 17, 2022
'It's never too late to do the right thing. We're asking for leniency. We're asking for grace. And we're asking to bring home BG.'
Hammon was born and raised in the United States, though chose to represent Russia at the 2008 Olympics after failing to receive adequate 'opportunity' in the States.
Much to the ire of many, Hammon donned the red, white and blue of Russia in Beijing -- and later London -- accepting an offer to play for their national team after the US failed to, in her words, give Hammon a 'chance'.
In the leadup to the 2008 Olympics, USA Basketball released the initial list of 23 prospective players for Beijing's Olympics, of which Hammon was not a part of.
Later, it was extended to 30 players, with Hammon invited, though things were too far gone for her.
'I've never even played in an FIBA sanctioned event,' Hammon said in 2008. 'They had a long time to give me the opportunity.'
'I know how I feel about my country. I love what America stands for and that we're the free world. But freedom has never been free. People
