The detainment of WNBA star Brittney Griner in Russia highlights just how risky it is for American athletes to play in professional leagues in anti-American, authoritarian countries. That risk is only going to grow as Russia and China become more aggressive with their neighbors.
Griner, who was arrested in Russia on trumped-up drug charges for vape cartridges found in her luggage, is facing up to 10 years in prison. While Griner plays for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, she has also played for Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg during the league’s off-season, which is why she was in Russia in the first place.
Nearly half of WNBA players play overseas during the off-season, with some in Russia and Ukraine. Money is a major factor: Griner’s teammate Diana Taurasi was paid $1.5 million in 2015 to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg and not play for Phoenix. Taurasi, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, returned to the league in 2017 on a four-year deal worth just $466,000.
Before playing for a Russia team, Griner also spent an off-season playing in China. The Chinese Basketball Association is a popular destination for men as well, with around 40 Americans on Chinese rosters in March 2020. While that number appears to have been cut in half, thanks likely to the pandemic, it includes former NBA players such as Jeremy Lin and Jahlil Okafor.
While basketball is the most popular sport, Americans have also played in China’s volleyball league, for Russian hockey teams, and even competed recently for China in the Olympics.
It’s understandable that athletes want to make some extra money or carry on their sports dreams, but they must understand exactly how risky it is to be playing in Russia or China. Russia’s expansionist desires have been known for years, and the country had already invaded Ukraine in 2014. China’s authoritarianism is well known, and the country has been threatening to invade Taiwan.
Both Russia and China are becoming more antagonistic toward the United States and the West. The risk of being a prominent American in those countries is only going to rise in the coming years. If American athletes want to take that risk, they are free to do so, but they should be aware that incidents such as Griner’s are only going to become more likely.
