The Brittney Griner Story

When WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner was detained at an airport near Moscow in February 2022 for having medically-prescribed cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage, it became international news. When she was later found guilty and sentenced to nine years in a penal colony in Russia, it elevated to a geopolitical public relations struggle that wasn’t resolved until she had spent 293 days in captivity. Her release was the result of a U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout, which exacerbated the controversy. This riveting documentary revisits these harrowing events as recounted by Griner herself, who explains the circumstances that led her to playing basketball outside the U.S. despite being one of the best players in the sport, her determination to secure her freedom, aided by her partner’s unwavering support, and her advocacy for the release of other wrongful detainees. Director: Alexandria Stapleton Producers: Alexandria Stapleton, Stacy Scripter, Funmi Akinyode, Megan Goedewaagen, Carolyn Hepburn Cast: Brittney Griner, Cherelle Griner Open Captions Available. Co-presented by Bad Queers Podcast and Babe's Sports Bar.