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MA ForpelESPN.com
Stanford, Calif. — South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and Stanford coach Tara Vanderveer Britney Griner As part of a series of efforts to support the detained WNBA star during the team’s No. 1 vs. No. 2 game on Sunday at the Maples Pavilion.
Coaches gathered on the court before the game to offer a moment of silence for Griner, who is imprisoned in Russia after being convicted of drug charges in August.of Phoenix Mercury Center was arrested in Moscow in February and is serving 276 days in captivity as of Sunday.
Stanford University also set up a letter-writing station on the Maples Concourse on Sunday, sending cards to Griner and collecting hundreds of messages.
“I went and wrote, ‘Tara is leading this campaign on this particular campus and we know Britney. She is part of our basketball family and she is fighting for his life.I know there are other Americans who have been wrongfully detained and clearly we want them.All is to go home But when you have a relationship or friendship with someone, it’s personal.
“It’s a personal battle for us to bring her back home and everything counts. Little by little, every letter….If it was someone’s loved one, loved one, you would be theirs.” I think there will be a waymaker. “It will make her way home much sooner than many people expect. I am optimistic that she will be home soon.” I will think about it objectively and prayerfully.”
Designed by the Playa Society and due out later this month, the T-shirt has a message for Griner on the back. We are elevating your name when we get the chance.We will not stop until you get home.We hope our love and support will reach you and finally set you free. I’m here.
A portion of the profits from shirt sales will be donated to the Bring Our Families Home Campaign and the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation. Both groups advocate for the rights of Americans detained in other countries.
A video message in support of Greiner was shown on the big screen, and Stanford University had a “BG” patch on their uniforms.
Griner won gold medals as part of the USA Olympic women’s basketball team in 2016 and 2021. Staley played for Vanderbier when the Americans won the 1996 gold medal.
VanDerveer spoke before the game about Greiner’s memories of his time at Baylor. The Grinners earned his NCAA title with his Bears team in 2011-12, where he finished 40-0 with a victory over Stanford in the championship game.
After the match, VanDerveer immediately spoke about Griner at the press conference.
“It’s been 276 days since Britney Griner was jailed in Russia,” Vanderbier said. “Hopefully we’ve been giving it our full attention. We’ve said something every game of her and have her moment of silence for her. We’ve given her her I need to bring him back to his house.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
