Brittney Griner Was Surprised Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan Was Left Out Of Russian Prisoner Swap

Two things can be true: American WNBA player Brittney Griner deserved to exit Russian captivity, and the U.S. completely flubbed its trade with an international adversary in the deal that brought Griner home.

On its own, the 2023 U.S.-Russia prisoner swap involving Griner was an all-time stinker in the history of deals.

After 10 months of having Griner stuck in Russia for bringing drugs into the country, the Biden administration folded and gave up a prominent Russian arms dealer for Griner. Russia dangled Griner as its pawn and Biden bit the hook.

The swap was a true fleecing considering that the U.S. could've brought back imprisoned U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who has been detained in Russia since 2018.

READ: Viktor Bout Reveals The Five Words He Said To Brittney Griner During Prisoner Exchange

In an exclusive interview with ABC, Brittney Griner touched on the questionable U.S. trade and acknowledged her shock when she discovered that Whelan had been left behind.

Paul Whelan, a former US Marine accused of spying and arrested in Russia stands inside a defendants' cage during a hearing at a court in Moscow on August 23, 2019. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP)        (Photo credit should read KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - WNBA superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. - Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP) (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

Brittney Griner wins the 2023 AP Comeback Player of the Year award. (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images)

The