Brittney Griner's wife Cherelle's tearful first interview since WNBA star's arrest

Cherelle Griner has given her first interview since her wife, Brittney Griner, was arrested back in February under drug charges.

The WNBA All-Star and Olympic gold medallist is currently imprisoned in Russia and serving a nine-year prison sentence, which is due to be appealed later this month.

Brittney was arrested in Moscow airport after vape cartridges containing cannabis oil — for which she has a medical prescription to help with “chronic pain” — were found in her luggage.

The 31-year-old plays professional basketball for WNBA franchise Phoenix Mercury and Russian outfit UMMC Ekaterinburg during the off-season.

Griner signed for UMMC Ekaterinburg in 2014 and has spent eight years competing in the Russian Premier League.

She was found in possession of 0.7 grams of cannabis oil, which CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King said came from the residue of the vape cartridges and was “less than the size of a raisin.”

While Griner has a prescription for cannabis oil in Arizona, the substance is not legal in Russia.

Following a lengthy trial, Griner pleaded guilty and was convicted of drug possession and deliberate smuggling.

In the trial’s closing comments, the 2014 WNBA champion said: “I never meant to hurt anybody. I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population. I never meant to break any laws here.”

Brittney has been described as being “wrongfully detained” and concerns have been raised over the basketball star being used as a pawn in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

She has spoken to her wife on just two occasions since she was arrested eight months ago. Cherelle is currently battling the biggest fight of her life to help aid her partner’s release from prison.

For the first time since the nightmare unfolded, Cherelle