Brittney Griner recognized with WNBA moment of silence

Uncasville: Following Brittney Griner's sentencing in Russia to nine years in prison on Thursday, WNBA players, coaches and fans locked arms and tried to send the American basketball star strength during a moment of silence. Before the Connecticut Sun beat the Phoenix Mercury 77-64, players from both teams met at midcourt and silently bowed their heads for 42 seconds — a nod to Griner’s jersey number with the Mercury. “Nobody wanted to even play today,” Phoenix guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, who scored 16 points to lead the Mercury. “How are you supposed to approach the game and court with a clear mind? The whole group is crying before the game. You try to honor her and still play hard for her. Regardless of whether she’s here or not. Right now we still got to try and keep her spirit alive. Honor her spirit.” The Mercury watched the verdict together in the morning right before the team had their pregame shoot-around. “I mean it’s like you’re waiting for a bomb to drop watching it seeing her behind bars,” Mercury guard Diamond DeShields said. Diggins added that it was “a helpless feeling. It’s heavy.” “Obviously it’s devastating,” said DeShields. “You can’t say anything other than that. I know personally, I’m really proud to be part of this group and the way they showed up and came out and played. We approached the game tonight with a heavy heart as we have every game this season.” Sun coach Curt Miller wore a “WE ARE BG” t-shirt. Griner, a two-time U.S. Olympic champion and an eight-time WNBA all-star, was convicted of drug possession and smuggling by Judge Anna Sotnikova. She was sentenced for nearly a decade in a politically charged case that could lead to a high-stakes prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow. Griner showed little emotion to the sentence, but her lawyers said later she was “very upset, very stressed.” U.S. President Joe Biden denounced as “unacceptable” the verdict and sentence, which came amid soaring tensions between the U.S. and Russia over Ukraine. Griner had told the court she had no intention to break the law by bringing vape cartridges with cannabis oil when she flew to Moscow to play basketball in the city of Yekaterinburg during the WNBA offseason.

42 second moment of silence for Brittney Griner🧡 pic.twitter.com/JblA02BiJP

— WNBA (@WNBA) August 4, 2022

While her short-handed WNBA team played without her on the road, Jonquel Jones had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Brionna Jones added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Sun. Phoenix (13-19) was also without Diana Taurasi, who didn’t play due to a leg injury, for the first time this season. Courtney Williams scored 11 points and Alyssa Thomas had nine points, 13 rebounds, and six assists for Connecticut (22-10). The Sun also beat Phoenix 87-63 on Tuesday. Diamond: Obviously it’s devasting. You can’t say anything other than that. Proud to be part of this group and the way they showed up and came out and played. We approached the game tonight with a heavy heart as we have every game this season. Devastating was the overall sentiment. Waiting for a bomb to drop watching it. Seeing her behind bars. [caption id=“attachment_11013151” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Coaching staff link arms as players with the Connecticut Sun and Phoenix Mercury stand at center court for 42 seconds. AP[/caption] Skylar: It’s heavy. You asking me these questions, they don’t take away from our trauma. They add to our trauma. We can break down and cry in front of you all so you can see how we feel. This is our sister, not some random Jane off the street. This is our real-life friend and sister. Nobody wanted to even play today. How are you supposed to approach the game and court with a clear mind? The whole group is crying before the game you try to honor her and still play hard for her. Regardless of whether she’s here or not. Right now we still got to try and keep her spirit alive. Honor her spirit. Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.