The Sportsletter - The Griner Sentence

BY JEFF YODER

AUG. 5, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

The weekend ahead features plenty to chew on for sports fans. It's the last weekend without football in 2022. But first, another twist in the Brittney Griner saga stole the headlines on Thursday.

Letter Rip!

WNBA

The Griner Sentence

Photo: Kirill Kudrayavtsev / Getty Images

Russian Court Sentences WNBA Star Brittney Griner to 9-Year Prison Sentence for Vape Cartridges

WNBA star Brittney Griner was convicted by a Russian court on Thursday and sentenced to nine years in prison. On February 17, Griner was stopped at a Moscow airport security check with vape cartridges containing hashish oil, but she’s been convicted of smuggling drugs with criminal intent. The saga that’s played out over the last six months has been a showcase of wrongful detainment by the Russian government with Griner as a political pawn, and Thursday ruling was the next devastating development.

President Biden: "Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney [Griner]. It's unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates.”

The Biden administration previously offered a prisoner swap for Griner and another American detainee, but the Russian government declined. We’ll have more on this story as it develops.

Watch: Brittney Griner Speaks in Court During Closing Arguments

Additional Storylines

CNN: In Pictures: WNBA Star Brittney Griner Detained in Russia

SI: Phoenix Mercury Focused on Big Picture Amid Griner's Conviction

CBS Sports: Brittney Griner Situation Explained: WNBA Star Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏈 NFL: Raiders Win Hall of Fame Game

The Las Vegas Raiders handled the Jaguars Thursday night in Canton with a 27-11 win in the preseason kickstart Hall of Fame Game. Vegas ran up a 27-3 lead before surrendering a touchdown.

⚾️ MLB: Halos Hit 7 Solos in Record-Breaker

The Angels set an MLB record Thursday night with seven runs on seven different solo shots, including two from Shohei Ohtani, but they still lost to the Athletics (8-7).

⛳️ LPGA: Women’s British Open Underway

Japan’s Hinaka Shibuno (-6) leads after Round 1 at the British Women’s Open in Muirfield. American Jessica Korda (-5) is right on her heels as Round 2 begins this morning.

⚽️ MLS: Rapid Fire Goal Scoring

The MLS game of the night featured a nine-goal thriller between the Colorado Rapids and New York Red Bulls with the Rapids scoring three goals in the final 15 minutes and change for a 5-4 win.

THE STORYLINES

⚾️ Ranking MLB Trade Deadline Moves

To put a bow on the trade deadline that was, we ranked all 50 trades that took place since the All-Star Break based on the significance and shock value of the deals when they came across the timeline, from the fringe roster swaps to the mind-blowing blockbusters. (FOX Sports)

🏀 The Kevin Durant Trade Saga

What’s the most interesting outcome of the Kevin Durant saga? One of the NBA’s biggest stars has been on the trade block for more than a month. We debate where we want to see KD play next. (The Ringer)

⚽️ The Premier League Returns

The 2022-23 Premier League fixtures are front and center as the new season is set to kick off this weekend. Will Manchester City win yet another Premier League title? Can Chelsea and Liverpool push them all the way? So. Many. Questions. (NBC Sports)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Steelers Sign WR Diontae Johnson to 2-Year, $36 Million Extension (B/R)
• Dodgers to Honor Vin Scully With Commemorative Uniform Patch (ESPN)
• John Daly Unsuccessfully Lobbied Greg Norman to Let Him Join LIV Golf (SI)
• Former NBA Player Iman Shumpert Arrested for Cannabis Possession at Texas Airport (CBS Sports)

• Aaron Rodgers Says Psychedelic Drugs Imrpoved His Mental Health and Spurred MVP Seasons (Yahoo! Sports)

🗓️ WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

As the summer heads towards fall, we welcome in new beginnings this weekend. The Premier League kicks off with Matchday 1, and it’s the last weekend of the year without football (you read that right). Here’s what we’re watching:

MLB

Braves-Mets Series

Blue Jays-Twins Series

Yankees-Cardinals Series

Padres-Dodgers Series

Full MLB Schedule

Soccer

EPL: Premier League Week 1 Schedule

MLS: Full MLS Weekend Schedule

WNBA

Mystics at Sky (Fri. 8:00 pm)

Liberty at Mercury (Sat. 10:00 pm)

Sun at Sky (Sun. 1:00 pm)

Aces at Storm (Sun. 3:00 pm)

Full WNBA Schedule

Golf

PGA: Wyndham Championship

LPGA: Women’s British Open

UFC Fight Night

T. Santos vs. J. Hill (Sat. 10:00 pm)

*All Times ET

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Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Content Intern: Marissa Kasch

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

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