ESPN: USA Says Brittney Griner Is Wrongfully Detained; Will Seek to Negotiate Return

The United States government is said to be considering a case of wrongful detaining of a basketball player in Russia.

According to sources, the government will attempt to negotiate her return rather than letting the legal process play out.

Since February, when she was reportedly found to be in possession of Vape at a Moscow airport, she has been held in Russia.

There is a hearing scheduled for May 19 in Russia, where she has yet to be charged.

A source close to Griner expressed optimism that she would return to the United States in the near future, but they don't want to get their hopes up.

Lindsay Kagawa Colas,Brittney's agent, said in a statement that they expect the White House to bring her home.

Russia agreed to a deal last week that sent a U.S. Marine back to the US in exchange for a Russian citizen who was convicted for drug dealing.

It was a decision opposed by the United States and many other countries across the world and could have complicated negotiations over the release of American citizens in Russia.

The news that the U.S. government is interested in the reclassification of Griner comes on the heels of the WNBA announcing Monday that it will honor him throughout the upcoming season.

According to Josh Weinfuss, the commissioner of the WNBA said that the league would put a decals on all of the teams.

The WNBA is keeping Brittney at the forefront of what they do through the game of basketball and in the community.

She is a seven-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion, two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and one-time WNBA champion. She won two gold medals for Team USA.

She has represented UMMC Ekaterinburg since the beginning of the year.