Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia has been extended again, according to Russian media.
Russian state media outlet TASS reported that Griner’s detention has been extended through at least July 2, according to ABC News. So Griner will remain in custody for at least 18 more days.
This marks the third time that Griner’s detention has been extended.
The Phoenix Mercury star already has been in custody for 117 days as of Tuesday. She was taken into custody in a Moscow airport in February after hashish oil was allegedly found in her luggage.
The news of the extension comes the day after the Phoenix Mercury met with State Department officials in Washington, D.C., to discuss Griner’s case. In May, the U.S. government officially deemed the WNBA player as “wrongfully detained.”
Mercury forward Brianna Turner said in a team release after the meeting that she is “confident in the State Department and the work that they’re doing.”
“It was great to hear from the State Department that we should continue to amplify that message and that we should continue to press all those who have any influence or power to help bring BG home,” Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard said. “She’s our teammate, she’s an American and we want her back home.”
Diana Taurasi said that for the Phoenix Mercury, anything that they can do to amplify the message about bringing Griner home “will be our number one priority.” She also added that the State Department is working “relentlessly” to bring Griner home.
“Once we knew that BG was classified as wrongfully detained, that was a signal to us all,” said Taurasi. “It’s something that we’ve all talked about intimately as a group and now knowing the State Department at the highest level, from U.S President Joe Biden to the team that is working on bringing back all Americans who are wrongfully detained, gives us a lot of confidence that they’re working on it.”