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“Just know this is a matter of intense focus for us," the U.S. secretary of state told reporters of the WNBA star wrongfully detained in Russia.
U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner will remain in Russian custody through at least July 2 after her detention was extended for a third time, Russian state-run media has reported.
These activists weren't playing when it came to abortion rights.
The NBA all-star created an online petition pushing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to get Griner back to the U.S.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
The secretary of state told Cherelle Griner that her wife's release is a top priority. Russia has extended the basketball star's pretrial detention.
Brittney Griner is still detained in Russia and it doesn’t look like she’ll be freed anytime soon.
Griner's lawyer said he believes the relatively short extension of the detention indicated the case would come to trial soon.
The WNBA All-Star was arrested in February on drug charges. The State Department's reclassification means that the U.S. will work more aggressively to secure her release.
Human rights activists say they are concerned about how the WNBA All-Star athlete is being treated, given Russia's hostility to the LGBTQ community.
The Phoenix Mercury are preparing for their WNBA season without teammate Brittney Griner.