Sue Bird Reveals How She Found Out About Brittney Griner's Detainment
12/17/2024 12:38 PM
Sue Bird first learned that Brittney Griner was facing trouble in Russia in an unusual setting.
Russian officials detained Brittney Griner at an airport in February 2022 after finding vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. The WNBA star, who was traveling to play for the country's UMMC Ekaterinburg, spent 10 months under Russian detainment before returning to the United States as part of a prisoner exchange.
Bird was one of many WNBA players advocating for Griner's release. During a recent appearance on Pablo Torre Finds Out, the retired legend said she first heard about Griner's predicament from former Seattle Storm teammate Breanna Stewart during a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue photo shoot.
"What I remember was, Breanna Stewart was also there," Bird recalled. "And she leans over to me at one point and she's like, 'Yo, I think something happened with BG in Russia.'"
Sue Bird was shooting for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue when she found out about Brittney Griner being detained in Russia. 😳 pic.twitter.com/9FgBG5wWF7
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) December 17, 2024
Stewart didn't know what precisely had transpired, but she sensed that it wasn't good. Bird still couldn't imagine a scenario as frightening as what was actually unfolding.
"What could it be? What could be that bad? And then, fast-forward 48 hours, maybe a week ... So that's like technically how I found out," Bird said. "But I didn't know the gist. And [Stewart] was like, 'Yeah, I think it's bad.'"
Last year, Bird celebrated Griner's perseverance when TIME named her multi-time Olympic teammate one of 2023's 100 most influential people.
"Brittney Griner's story represents so much," Bird wrote for TIME. "First off, it's about resilience. BG spent nearly 10 months in Russian prison, wrongfully detained, but never lost hope or her sense of humor. She was BG, through and through, throughout her horrible ordeal."
Bird added that the situation shined a brighter spotlight on inequality issues but predicted Griner would "focus on the joy and share it generously."
"It speaks to the power of the women who rallied around her—Black women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, our WNBA community—and who made certain her name was never forgotten, that she'd return home," Bird continued. "These are the women who get sh-t done."
Griner has notched two more All-Star campaigns for the Phoenix Mercury since returning to the U.S. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year also won her third Olympic gold medal in Russia last summer.
Related: Brittney Griner Doesn't Hold Back On Getting To Wear Team USA Jersey
