BREAKING – A Russian judge has sentenced Brittney Griner to 9 years behind bars.  This after a Moscow court found her guilty of an attempt to smuggle illegal narcotics into Russia. The trial has been closely watched around the world. Many experts say the verdict now puts in place the opportunity for perhaps a political swap of prisoners between the United States and Russia.   The WNBA star has been in jail for six months after being arrested in February at a Russian airport on accusations that she was smuggling vape cartridges with cannabis oil. 

The 31-year-old Griner last month pleaded guilty to the charges saying she unintentionally packed the item and never was trying to break the law   Her sentence today comes as the Biden administration continues to scramble to secure Griner’s release