WNBA commissioner voices support for Brittney Griner

By Steve Almasy and Kikue Higuchi, CNN

Updated 0126 GMT (0926 HKT) April 12, 2022

ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRussian court extends WNBA star Brittney Griner's arrest until May 02:24

(CNN)Ahead of Monday's WNBA draft, commissioner Cathy Engelbert reaffirmed the league's commitment to helping bring Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner — who has been detained in Russia since mid-February — back home.

«I did want to start by saying we continue to be working diligently on bringing Brittney Griner home. This is an unimaginable situation for BG to be in,» Engelbert said Monday in her opening remarks to reporters. Griner, who plays for Russian powerhouse UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA offseason, was arrested by Russian authorities in February at a Moscow airport and accused of smuggling significant amounts of a narcotic substance — an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison.Griner was the No. 1 pick in the 2013 WNBA draft and is one of the league's all-time best players.Brittney Griner's case speaks to larger issues plaguing America«She continues to have our full support, and she's just been such a great person in the league. I can't be any more real about the situation that she's in,» Englebert said. «Certainly, we're trying everything we can, every angle, working through with her legal representation, her agent, elected leaders, the administration; just everybody in our ecosystem to try and find ways to get her home safely and as quickly as we can.»Read MoreEngelbert also praised WNBA players for their patience with the process and for following the advice they've been given.«I know we're all frustrated, but we do need to be patient. I know the players have been amazing at following the advice that they're getting