WNBA star Brittney Griner reflects on ‘mistake’ that led to detention in Russia in ’20/20′ special

WNBA star Brittney Griner opened up for the primary time about her harrowing monthslong detention in Russia and the “mistake” that bought her sentenced to 9 years in jail in a particular version of “20/20” airing tonight at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

“I may simply visualize all the things I labored so onerous for simply crumbling and going away,” Griner instructed “GMA” co-anchor Robin Roberts.

Griner, 33, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a nine-time WNBA All-Star who performs for the Phoenix Mercury, was detained on Feb. 17, 2022, at Sheremetyevo Worldwide Airport in Khimki after she was accused of getting vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is unlawful within the nation.

Recounting the “psychological lapse” that led her to overlook the hashish oil cartridges in her baggage, Griner mentioned that she had woke up late on the morning she was despatched to journey to Russia to play through the WNBA’s low season and he or she packed whereas she was “in panic mode.”

“My packing at that second was simply throwing all my stuff in there and zipping it up and saying, ‘OK, I am prepared,’” she instructed Roberts.

Griner, who displays on the expertise in “Coming Residence,” a memoir set to be launched on Could 7, recalled the sinking feeling she had when she realized that she had forgotten two hashish oil cartridges in her baggage after safety requested her to undergo her bag on the airport.

“I am similar to, ‘Oh, my God.’ Like, ‘How did I– how did I make this error?’” Griner mentioned.

“I may simply visualize all the things I labored so onerous for simply crumbling and going away.”

Griner was arrested and, after her trial was delayed for a number of months, she pleaded responsible to drug prices on July 7, 2022, saying that the vape cartridges containing hashish oil have been in her baggage unintentionally. She testified that she had “no intention” of breaking Russian legislation and packed the cartridges accidentally.

“You recognize there are those that say, ‘Come on. How did you not know that you simply had cartridges in your baggage?’” Roberts requested.

“It is simply really easy to have a psychological lapse,” Griner mentioned.

“Granted, my psychological lapse was on a extra grand scale. Nevertheless it does not take away from how that may occur,” she added.

The U.S. State Division categorized Griner as “wrongfully detained” in Could 2022, which allowed further sources to be utilized to her case because the Biden administration labored to safe her launch.

Griner mirrored on the poor residing circumstances in jail as she awaited her trial, saying that she didn’t at all times have bathroom paper and that the toothpaste they gave her had expired about 15 years in the past.

“That toothpaste was expired,” she mentioned. “We used to place it on the black mildew to kill the mildew on the partitions.”

“The mattress had an enormous blood stain on it, and so they provide you with these skinny two sheets,” she added. “So that you’re principally laying on bars.”

Griner was sentenced to 9 years in jail on Aug. 4, 2022, and a decide denied in October 2022 an enchantment filed by Griner’s attorneys.

After her sentencing, Griner was transferred to a penal colony within the Russian area of Mordovia – a piece camp the place Griner’s job was slicing cloth for Russian navy uniforms.

“What have been the circumstances like there?” Roberts requested.

“Actually chilly,” Griner mentioned. “It’s a piece camp. You go there to work … there isn’t any relaxation.”

Griner mentioned that the frigid temperatures have been impacting her well being and led her to cut off her lengthy dreadlocks.

“What was that like shedding that a part of you, too?” Roberts requested Griner.

“Actually, it simply needed to occur. We had spiders above my mattress — making nests,” she mentioned.

“My dreads began to freeze,” she added. “They’d simply keep moist and chilly and I used to be getting sick. You have gotta do what you have gotta do to outlive.”

Throughout her detention prime athletes and Griner’s household, together with her spouse Cherelle Griner, have been outspoken advocates for her launch and constantly known as on the Biden White Home to intervene and produce her dwelling.

Amid mounting strain on the White Home to safe her freedom, Griner was launched on Dec. 8, 2022, after the U.S. agreed to swap her for convicted Russian arms seller Viktor Bout.​​

“You mentioned that you simply felt that you simply let down your self, your loved ones, your groups … how did you’re employed via that?” Roberts requested.

“I do not assume I’ve actually gotten via all the way in which,” Griner mentioned. “On the finish of the day, it is my fault. And I let all people down.”

Griner mirrored on the second she discovered that she was going to be launched, saying, “I used to be so thrilled,” however she added that she was upset that Paul Whelan – one other American wrongfully detained in Russia – was left behind.

“I used to be like … are you significantly not gonna let this man come dwelling proper now?” Griner mentioned of Whelan, who was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian jail.

Since her launch, Griner has turn into an outspoken advocate for Individuals wrongfully detained overseas.

In a heartfelt Instagram put up on Dec. 16, 2022, the place she thanked those that advocated for her launch, Griner vowed “to do no matter I can to assist” convey dwelling different Individuals wrongfully detained overseas.

“President Biden, you introduced me dwelling and I do know you might be dedicated to bringing Paul Whelan and all Individuals dwelling, too,” Griner wrote. “I’ll use my platform to do no matter I can that will help you. I additionally encourage everybody that performed an element in bringing me dwelling to proceed their efforts to convey all Individuals dwelling. Each household deserves to be entire.”

ABC Information’ Eboni Griffin, Joseph Diaz, Gail Deutsch, Susan Welsh, Netsanet Negussie, Kaitlin Amoroso, Danielle Genet and Chris Donovan contributed to this report.