“It’s disheartening”: When Dawn Staley reasoned why Brittney Griner “had to” play in Russia
The basketball world witnessed a tough period for WNBA star Brittney Griner when she was arrested and detained in Russia on smuggling charges. South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley was sympathetic to her situation at the time.
During her appearance on "The Breakfast Club" show in April 2022, she reasoned why Griner “had to” play in Russia.
"I think overseas, you know, honestly, had been the way to go, because you can, you can make more," Staley said. "You can make a living. The WNBA usually is a league that supplements that. I think the WNBA is growing. It's growing. Yes, she had to go, Brittney's had to go overseas to earn a seven, I mean, she's been making seven figures for, you know, probably seven, eight years now then.
"And for her to have to do that is disheartening, and we're prayerful that that she, she gets back to us because it's not a pretty situation that she's in. But we'll keep her in our prayers."
Griner played in the Russian Premier League for club UMMC Ekaterinburg while the WNBA was in the offseason.
Griner was arrested and detained in February 2022. Her trial didn't begin until July. The following month, she was sentenced to nine years but was eventually released in a prisoner exchange in December. Her WNBA return happened in May 2023, resuming play with the Phoenix Mercury.
Dawn Staley celebrates growing popularity of women's basketball
Following No. 3 South Carolina's 85-52 victory over No. 9 TCU on Dec. 8, Dawn Staley was happy with the growing momentum in women's basketball with more people attending and watching the games.
"Women's basketball is here. It's not coming, it's arrived. Every arena that we've played in has been packed. We're in high demand. You could probably schedule a game on the moon and there will be people going to a women's basketball game on the moon," Staley said at the 2:10 mark.
"I'm happy for our game. It's long overdue. It's televised. This is the place that we've always envisioned ourselves. Maybe some other people didn't have this kind of vision. But the players, coaches and fans, they envision us being here. So, there's no turning back."
Currently at 9-1 on the season, Dawn Staley and the No. 3 Gamecocks prepare for their home matchup against South Florida at the Colonial Life Arena on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. ET.