WNBA star Brittney Griner has been sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison in a sentence US President Joe Biden has deemed "unacceptable" after police said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage at the airport in February.
The nine-year sentence was close to the maximum of 10 years that Ms Griner had faced under the charges.
So, who is Brittney Griner and will she really be locked up in Russia for nine years?
Who is Brittney Griner?
Ms Griner plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association and is regarded as one of the league's best players of all time.
She won Olympic gold medals for the US in 2016 and 2020.
Griner had travelled to Russia to play in the Russian Premier League during the WNBA's off-season when she was accused of having the vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.
Her detention was first announced by Russia on March 6 and her trial began on July 1, when she pleaded guilty to the charges.
“I would like to plead guilty on the charges against me. But I had no intention of breaking any Russian law," Ms Griner said when she took the stand last month.
She has since been convicted in Russia of drug possession and smuggling, and was sentenced to nine years behind bars.
Where is she being held?
During her trial Ms Griner was being held at Correctional Colony No. 1, or IK-1, just outside of Moscow, according to the New York Times.
It's described as a grey, artificially lit facility.
Now that she has been convicted, Ms Griner will be moved to a general regime penal colony, Judge Anna Sotnikova ordered.
"[The court has stated] by cumulation of crimes to impose imprisonment for nine years and a fine at a rate of 1 million roubles [$23,000]," the judge ruled.
"The punishment is to be served in general regime penal colony. The fine has to be paid directly to the banking details named in the verdict."
Basketball community shares support
America's WNBA community has showed solidarity with Ms Griner on Twitter.
Phoenix Mercury described the verdict as a "sobering milestone" in the case, stating the club remains "heartbroken for her".
Before their game, the Conneticut Sun and Phoenix Mercury gathered in the centre of the court for a moment of silence in Ms Griner's honour.
NBA finals MVP Stephen Curry wore Ms Griner’s jersey under his tracksuit at the ESPY Awards show and urged "the entire global sports community to continue to stay energised on her behalf".
What's the offer to get her out?
The US is pushing for Moscow to accept a deal that aims to secure the release of Ms Griner that would see her, alongside former US Marine Paul Whelan, exchanged with Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout in a prisoner swap.
"It's a serious proposal. We urge them to accept it. They should have accepted it weeks ago when we first made it," said White House national security spokesperson John Kirby, without offering details.
Russia said on Friday it was ready to discuss prisoner swaps with the United States through an existing diplomatic channel.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden had previously agreed on a diplomatic channel that should be used to discuss such matters.
"We are ready to discuss this topic, but within the framework of the channel that was agreed upon by presidents Putin and Biden," Mr Lavrov said during a visit to Cambodia.
"If the Americans decide to once again resort to public diplomacy … that is their business and I would even say that it is their problem."
The Kremlin had previously warned the United States against turning to "megaphone diplomacy" in the case of Griner, saying it could only derail efforts to secure a potential swap.
Griner's sentence — which Biden called "unacceptable" — could pave the way for Washington handing over a prolific Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year prison term in the US.
The United States has already made what Secretary of State Antony Blinken called a "substantial offer" to secure the release of Americans detained in Russia, including Griner and former marine Paul Whelan.
Mr Biden is "receiving regular updates" about negotiations for the release of Ms Griner, Mr Whelan and others deemed wrongfully detained, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Mr Biden said his administration would "continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible".
ABC/wires
