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"I love my family," were Brittney Griner's last words to the cameras after being sentenced to nine years in a camp in Russia.
For her team members in the US, the verdict came as a shock:
SKYLAR DIGGINS-SMITH, basketball player Phoenix Mercury
“She's our sister.
She's not just anyone, and for us the case isn't political either.
She is human, a real friend and an actual sister.
Imagine it's about a friend of yours.
I don't expect everyone to care, but we really do."
DIAMOND DESHIELDS, basketball player Phoenix Mercury
“It's like waiting for a bomb to drop.
Seeing you behind bars like this."
SKYLAR DIGGINS-SMITH,
"You just feel helpless."
With the extremely harsh sentence against Griner, the Putin regime is increasing diplomatic pressure on the West.
It was clear from the start that her detention at a Moscow airport in February for a small amount of cannabis oil would result in a political trial.
Now behind the scenes it will probably be a question of how high the Kremlin can gamble to get one or even several Russian prisoners released in exchange for the US basketball player.
The White House reacted promptly to the verdict – with reference to ongoing negotiations.
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, White House Speaker
“Russia is wrong to hold Brittney in custody.
She shouldn't have had to endure a procedure in the first place.
As you all know, we made a substantial offer to bring her and Paul Whelan home.
We urge Russia to accept this offer.«
In the case of Paul Whelan, the Russian judiciary had sentenced the former soldier to 16 years in prison for allegedly spying for the United States.
Paul Whelan, ex-US soldier:
"I want to tell the world that I am the victim of a political hostage situation.
The situation is obviously implausible.
It's about retaliation for the sanctions.
There is absolutely no legitimacy.
I was threatened.
My personal safety was threatened.
I am subjected to constant abuse and harassment.«
Russia has several candidates it would like to exchange for the basketball player:
There is speculation that the deal could include Russian national Viktor But, who was once one of the most notorious arms dealers in the world and has been imprisoned in the United States since 2011.
His life even served as inspiration for a Hollywood film, Lord of War, a most unequal exchange for a US basketball player.
In addition, according to US information, Russia is to demand the release of Russian Vadim Krasikov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany for the Tiergarten murder.
In 2019, he killed a Georgian in Berlin with several short-range shots – on behalf of the Russian state.
Krasikov is also said to be responsible for the murder of a Russian businessman in the summer of 2013 and has close ties to Russia's FSB secret service.
The fact that Krasikov is imprisoned in Germany and not in the United States does not seem to matter to Russia.
So on the other side of the deal is Brittney Griner, 31, one of the most successful basketball players in the world.
She admitted to carrying a vape cartridge containing medicinal cannabis oil and has been behind bars for more than five months.
It is a welcome toy for the Kremlin: Immediately after the verdict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared that Moscow was ready to discuss the exchange of prisoners with Washington through an existing diplomatic channel.
