Griner Reflects on Her Time in Russian Detention
Brittney Griner, the renowned WNBA player, is sharing the harrowing details of her time spent in a Russian prison, offering an in-depth look at her 10-month ordeal. In an emotional interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts, Griner recounts the difficult conditions she endured and reflects on how she felt she had “let everybody down” during her detainment.
This interview, which airs ahead of the release of her new memoir, Coming Home, marks one of Griner’s most candid discussions about her detainment. In the interview, Griner, 33, opens up more than she ever has about the distressing experience she faced in Russia.
The Day of Her Detainment
The interview aired as part of a special preview on ABC’s Good Morning America on May 1. Griner shared her emotions from the day she was detained, starting with the chaotic morning when she packed for her trip. Reflecting on her arrest, Griner couldn’t help but ask herself, “How was I this absent-minded?” She describes the sinking feeling of realizing that her mistake could erase everything she had worked for.
The Arrest That Changed Everything
Griner’s troubles began on February 17, 2022, when she was detained at a Russian airport for carrying 0.7 grams of hash oil. While cannabis oil is legal in her home state of Arizona, it is illegal in Russia. This led to her being sentenced to nine years in a Russian labor camp.
In the interview, Griner compares her mistake to something as simple as misplacing keys or looking for glasses already on her head, a common slip of judgment. However, she acknowledges that her lapse was on a much larger scale, and that guilt weighed heavily on her throughout the ordeal. Griner admits to still processing her feelings, particularly the guilt she felt toward her family and teammates. Tearfully, she said, “At the end of the day, it’s my fault, and I let everybody down.”
The Harsh Conditions of Russian Prison
Griner’s time in the Russian prison was marked by unsafe and unsanitary conditions. With little control over her environment, she describes sleeping on a mattress that had a large blood stain. She also recalled the shocking shortage of basic supplies, including toilet paper, which was rationed to one roll per month — and sometimes none at all. Griner also described using toothpaste that was 15 years past its expiration date, which was sometimes used to combat the black mold growing on the prison walls.
A Drastic Change in Appearance
Perhaps one of the most jarring revelations was how the conditions affected Griner’s iconic appearance. Known for her long dreadlocks, she was forced to cut them off after they became a health hazard. Her dreads, which would stay wet and cold in the freezing conditions, made her ill. “You gotta do what you gotta do to survive,” Griner said, illustrating the harsh reality she had to adapt to.
Dehumanizing Conditions and Survival
When Roberts asked Griner about the dehumanizing nature of her confinement, Griner didn’t hesitate. She described the whole experience as “dehumanizing,” an unimaginable ordeal for anyone to endure.
Griner’s Release and Return to Basketball
Griner’s release came on December 8, 2022, in a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia, where Griner was exchanged for arms dealer Viktor Bout. Since then, she returned to the basketball court for the 2023 WNBA season.
In the upcoming special, Prison in Russia: The Brittney Griner Interview, airing on ABC Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, viewers will get an even deeper understanding of Griner’s resilience and the brutal conditions she endured during her detainment.