Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for almost five months now. According to E News, earlier this week, she penned an emotional letter to President Joe Biden pleading for her release.
However, Griner’s Phoenix Mercury head coach, Vanessa Nygaard, pointed out that if she were a cisgendered, straight man, she would have been home by now, Sports Naut reports.
Nygaard spoke about the 31-year-old’s detention following the Phoenix Mercury’s loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Monday. She said if Griner were one of the biggest stars of the NBA and a straight man, there would be much more urgency to bring her back to the U.S.
“If it was Lebron, he’d be home. Right?” she said. “It’s a statement about the value of women. It’s a statement about the value of a Black person. It’s a statement about the value of a gay person. All of those things. We know it, and so that’s what hurts a little more.”
Prior to Nygaard’s comments, the White House received Griner’s letter in which she opened up about her detention in Russia, and asked Biden not to “forget” her.
“As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever,” she wrote, according to E News.
She also noted the significance of the letter arriving on Independence Day.
“On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran,” the letter read. “It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”
The WNBA star also took a moment to urge Biden not to forget about other Americans detained abroad.
“I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other American Detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home,” Griner wrote. “I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore.”
“I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now,” she concluded. “I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”
As Blavity previously reported, Griner was detained at an airport in Russia on Feb. 17 for allegedly being in possession of THC-laden hash oil. Her detention has been extended since her initial arrest, and was recently pushed out for another six months.
According to CBS News, there are more than 40 Americans who are detained abroad. They are considered “wrongful detainees” by the U.S. government.
Families of those detained have been working tirelessly to get Biden’s attention on the issue. According to CNN, the loved ones of those detained were hopeful when Biden was elected, specifically following a virtual meeting held by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Feb. 2021 to address the issue.
