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WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia extended until May 19

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the State Department had assigned an U.S. Embassy in Moscow team to work on Griner’s case

Published

4 years ago

on

Brittney Griner mugshot via Russia's state Channel One television

The Phoenix Mercury’s WNBA star Brittney Griner had her detention in Russia for the possession of vape cartridges containing hash oil extended until May 19, the Russian state news agency TASS reported.

TASS reported that the Khimkinsky court of the Moscow Oblast [region] ruled to detain Griner for at least two more months.

“The court granted the petition of the investigation and extended the term of U.S. citizen Griner’s detention until May 19,” TASS quoted the court as saying.

Ekaterina Kalugina, a member of Public Monitoring Commission, a semi-official body with access to Russian prisons, told TASS Griner was sharing a cell with two other women with no previous convictions, adding that Griner’s only issue was that the prison beds were too short for her 6’7″ frame.

Radio Free Europe/RadioLiberty reported that Griner has been playing in Russia for the last seven years in the WNBA’s off-season. She last played for her Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg on January 29 before the league took a two-week break in early February for World Cup qualifying tournaments.

Russian officials detained the Out Phoenix Mercury center and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on a flight from New York.

A criminal case was been opened against Griner, who faces a possible sentence of five to 10 years in prison if found guilty.

Two weeks ago Griner’s wife issued a statement on Instagram. Cherelle Griner thanked supporters and asked that their privacy be respected as the work continues to bring the Phoenix Mercury basketball star home.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me regarding my wife’s safe return from Russia. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated. I love my wife wholeheartedly, so this message comes during one of the weakest moments of my life. I understand that many of you have grown to love BG over the years and have concerns and want details. Please honor our privacy as we continue to work on getting my wife home safely. Thank you!“

The Phoenix Mercury team said it is “aware of and…closely monitoring the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia.”

At a joint press conference with Moldova President Maia Sandu, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the State Department had assigned an U.S. Embassy in Moscow team to work on Griner’s case.

“Whenever an American is detained anywhere in the world, we, of course, stand ready to provide every possible assistance, and that includes in Russia,” he said. “We have an embassy team that’s working on the cases of other Americans who are detained in Russia.

“We’re doing everything we can to see to it that their rights are upheld and respected.”

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More than a dozen LGBTQ athletes medal at Olympics

Milan Cortina games ended Sunday

Published

2 weeks ago

on

February 23, 2026

By

Gay French ice dancer Guillaume Cizeron, left, is among the LGBTQ athletes who medaled at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics that ended on Feb. 22, 2026. (Screenshot via NBC Sports/YouTube)

More than a dozen LGBTQ athletes won medals at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics that ended on Sunday.

Cayla Barnes, Hilary Knight, and Alex Carpenter are LGBTQ members of the U.S. women’s hockey team that won a gold medal after they defeated Canada in overtime. Knight the day before the Feb. 19 match proposed to her girlfriend, Brittany Bowe, an Olympic speed skater.

French ice dancer Guillaume Cizeron, who is gay, and his partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry won gold. American alpine skier Breezy Johnson, who is bisexual, won gold in the women’s downhill. Amber Glenn, who identifies as bisexual and pansexual, was part of the American figure skating team that won gold in the team event.

Swiss freestyle skier Mathilde Gremaud, who is in a relationship with Vali Höll, an Austrian mountain biker, won gold in women’s freeski slopestyle.

Bruce Mouat, who is the captain of the British curling team that won a silver medal, is gay. Six members of the Canadian women’s hockey team — Emily Clark, Erin Ambrose, Emerance Maschmeyer, Brianne Jenner, Laura Stacey, and Marie-Philip Poulin — that won silver are LGBTQ.

Swedish freestyle skier Sandra Naeslund, who is a lesbian, won a bronze medal in ski cross.

Belgian speed skater Tineke den Dulk, who is bisexual, was part of her country’s mixed 2000-meter relay that won bronze. Canadian ice dancer Paul Poirier, who is gay, and his partner, Piper Gilles, won bronze.

Laura Zimmermann, who is queer, is a member of the Swiss women’s hockey team that won bronze when they defeated Sweden.

Outsports.com notes all of the LGBTQ Olympians who competed at the games and who medaled.

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Sports

US wins Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey

Team captain Hilary Knight proposed to girlfriend on Wednesday

Published

3 weeks ago

on

February 19, 2026

By

(Public domain photo)

The U.S. women’s hockey team on Thursday won a gold medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime. The game took place a day after Team USA captain Hilary Knight proposed to her girlfriend, Brittany Bowe, an Olympic speed skater.

Cayla Barnes and Alex Carpenter — Knight’s teammates — are also LGBTQ. They are among the more than 40 openly LGBTQ athletes who are competing in the games.

The Olympics will end on Sunday.

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Sports

Attitude! French ice dancers nail ‘Vogue’ routine

Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry strike a pose in memorable Olympics performance

Published

1 month ago

on

February 10, 2026

By

Team France's Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry compete in the Winter Olympics. (Screen capture via NBC Sports and NBC News/YouTube)

Madonna’s presence is being felt at the Olympic Games in Italy. 

Guillaume Cizeron and his rhythm ice dancing partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry of France performed a flawless skate to Madonna’s “Vogue” and “Rescue Me” on Monday.

The duo scored an impressive 90.18 for their effort, the best score of the night.

“We’ve been working hard the whole season to get over 90, so it was nice to see the score on the screen,” Fournier Beaudry told Olympics.com. “But first of all, just coming out off the ice, we were very happy about what we delivered and the pleasure we had out there. With the energy of the crowd, it was really amazing.”

Watch the routine on YouTube here.

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