WNBA players leave Russia in the off-season while Griner is in jail

SYDNEY (AP) — Britney Griner’s highly publicized legal issues in Russia and the country’s invasion of Ukraine have forced WNBA’s top players this summer to tap their talents elsewhere.

For the past few decades, Russia has been the place of choice for off-season WNBA players to compete due to the high salaries of over $1 million and the resources and opportunities the teams offer them.

The sudden end of everything.

“Honestly, I had a great time in Russia, but no one is going there until we get home, especially considering that BG is being held there illegally,” said Breanna Stewart of the Russian team Griner. “I think, you know, now people want to go abroad and they want to be in a better place if the money isn’t so different.”

Griner was arrested in February, subsequently arrested and later convicted on drug possession charges during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison last month.

Now Stewart and other WNBA stars have moved elsewhere this winter, including Jonkel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot, who make millions of dollars playing in Russia. All three played for Yekaterinburg, the same Russian team as Griner. This club has won five Euroleague titles in the past eight seasons and dominated for nearly two decades when former DeLiche greats Milton Jones and Diana Taurasi played there.

Nearly a dozen WNBA players competed in Russia last winter, and none are expected to return this year.

After the World Cup, Stewart went to Turkey to play for Fenerbahçe. Top players can earn several hundred thousand dollars playing in Turkey, which is much less than their salary in Russia. Playing in Turkey also makes Stewart’s wife closer to her family in Spain.

“You want to have a better lifestyle, a better off-court experience, and continue to appreciate other countries,” Stewart said.

Like Stewart, Vandersloot has no intention of returning to Russia, instead opting to play in Hungary, where he acquired citizenship in 2016.

“I am Hungarian. I thought it would be special since I haven’t played there since I got my citizenship,” said Vandersloot.

The 33-year-old guard said that although he has very good memories of the Russians, a lot had to change before he considered returning to Russia to play.

“The thing is, we’ve been treated well at our club and we have such a strong relationship with these guys that I’m not going to shut the door on that,” he said. “The BG situation makes it hard to think it’s safe for anyone to get back there now.”

Jones will join Stewart, who plays for Mersin in Turkey. 6ft Jones said he would consider returning to Russia if the political situation changes and Griner returns to the US.

Griner’s situation also weighs heavily on the minds of young WNBA players.

Named 2022 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Ryan Howard plays in Italy this winter, his first overseas experience. He said he was careful when deciding where he wanted to play.

“Everyone will be a little more cautious to see how this situation works out,” he said.

It’s not just American players who won’t go to Russia. Emma Messeman, who plays for striker “Chicago Sky” Belgium national team, played with Stewart, Jones and Vandersloot in Russia. This season, he will go to Turkey.

The WNBA is also trying to make staying home the best option for players in the off-season. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the top players in the WNBA Finals could earn up to $700,000 this year through a base salary, marketing deals and bonuses. While only a few players have reached this amount, nearly a dozen players have chosen to enter marketing deals in the league out of this season.

___

AP Sports columnist Jay Cohen contributed to this story.