Brittney Griner's sentence in Russia 'unfortunate,' basketball legend Lisa Leslie says

Lisa Leslie talks to Fox News Digital about Brittney Griner’s sentencing at the Ping Pong 4 Purpose event in Los Angeles.

WNBA superstar Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison after she was convicted on drug charges in Russia last week.

Griner initially pleaded guilty to the drug charges. She was arrested in February for bringing vape cartridges containing oils derived from cannabis through a Moscow airport. She had been detained ever since and is likely to be holed up in the country until the U.S. and Russia agree on a prisoner swap.

Lisa Leslie, a former WNBA superstar who won four Olympic gold medals during her illustrious career, attended Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s Ping Pong 4 Purpose event on Monday. She spoke to Fox News Digital on Griner’s sentencing.

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WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner holds images standing in a cage at a courtroom for a hearing in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photo via AP)

"It’s unfortunate," the former LA Sparks great said. "But I’m hoping that everything will end up moving in the right direction. I know they had asked for her to plead guilty, she did. Let’s hope we can get an exchange and get her home as soon as possible.

"Brittney’s always in our prayers and we are all hopeful that this can all come to an end soon."

Leslie said she believed Griner’s arrest and sentencing was a lesson for everyone.

NBA, WNBA CALL BRITTNEY GRINER'S SENTENCING 'UNJUSTIFIED AND UNFORTUNATE,' SPORTS WORLD REACTS

WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted from a courtroom ater a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow,