The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team Phoenix Mercury's 6'8" tall Griner, an eight-time All-Star, was reportedly detained in February at a Moscow-area airport just before Russia invaded Ukraine.
The 31-year-old Griner admitted possessing cannabis oil but told the court she made an "honest mistake". However, the court convicted her of smuggling and possessing narcotics, and gave her close to the maximum sentence recommended by prosecutors.
The US have won nine gold medals in the past 10 Olympic Games dating back to 1984
