Category: NBA

Russian Judge Sentences WNBA’s Griner to 9 Years in Prison

KHIMKI, Russia—American basketball star Brittney Griner illegally brought drugs into Russia, the judge at her trial ruled Thursday at the conclusion of her case that reached the highest levels of U.S.–Russian diplomacy. The pronouncement by Judge Anna Sotnikova, prior to her announcing a verdict, appeared to herald the imminent conviction of Griner on charges of…


Brittney Griner Found Guilty, Sentenced in Russian Court

A Russian court on Thursday sentenced American basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison on drugs charges, after finding her guilty of narcotics possession and smuggling for bringing cannabis-infused vape cartridges into Russia. She was also fined 1 million roubles ($16,000). After the sentencing, Griner appeared sad and stony-faced and said she understood…


Brittney Griner Found Guilty, Sentenced to 9 Years by Russian Court

A Russian court on Thursday sentenced American basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison on drugs charges, after finding her guilty of narcotics possession and smuggling for bringing cannabis-infused vape cartridges into Russia. She was also fined 1 million roubles ($16,000). After the sentencing, Griner appeared sad and stony-faced and said she understood…


Griner’s Russian Trial Should Be Over ‘Very Soon’, Lawyer Says

KHIMKI, Russia—The Russian drugs trial of U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner should be over “very soon,” her lawyer said on Tuesday, as the Kremlin warned the United States that megaphone diplomacy would not secure a prisoner swap for the 31-year-old Texan. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) star,…


Pelosi Visits Asia, Speculation Over Possible Taiwan Stop; NBA Great Bill Russell Passes Away at 88 | NTD Good Morning

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi begins a tour of four Asian countries on Monday. Starting in Singapore, many are wondering if she will visit Taiwan. We talk to an expert from Taiwan on what her trip could bring about. A Wildfire in Northern California is blazing out of control. The McKinney fire is now the largest…


Bill Russell, NBA Great and Celtics Legend, Dies at 88

BOSTON—Bill Russell, the NBA great who anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years, died Sunday. He was 88. His family posted the news on social media, saying Russell died with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. The statement did not give the cause of death. “Bill’s wife, Jeannine, and his…


Blinken: Pressed Lavrov to Accept Prisoner Swap Offer

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov by phone on Friday and urged Moscow to accept a U.S. offer to release two Americans detained in Russia. Blinken did not provide details of Lavrov’s response to what he had previously called a “substantial proposal” for Russia to release the…


Blinken, Russian Top Diplomat Speak About Griner, Whelan

WASHINGTON—Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday in the highest-level known contact between the two sides since Russia invaded Ukraine, with Blinken urging Russia to accept a deal to win the release of American detainees Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. Russian officials gave no public hint…


Russia’s Lavrov Says Moscow Will Propose Time for Call With Blinken on Prisoners

TASHKENT—Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow would soon propose a time for a call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in which Blinken has said he wants to discuss an exchange of prisoners held in Russian and U.S. jails. Blinken said on Wednesday that Washington had made a “substantial offer”…


WNBA’s Griner Tells Drug Trial: ‘My Career Is My Whole Life’

KHIMKI, Russia—American basketball player Brittney Griner testified at her drug possession trial in Russia that an interpreter translated only a fraction of what was being said while she was detained at Moscow’s airport in February and that officials told her to sign documents, but “no one explained any of it to me.” The testimony by…