USA Basketball says nobody will put on Brittney Griner’s no. 15 on the upcoming FIBA Ladies’s World Cup

USA Basketball mentioned none of its gamers on the Ladies’s World Cup would put on the No. 15 when the match begins on Thursday, in honor of Brittney Griner, who was sentenced to 9 years in jail in Russia on drug prices final month.

Griner, who wore the No. 15 in worldwide competitors, helped the USA acquire two of their 10 gold medals within the quadrennial match, which takes place in Sydney this 12 months operating via October 1st.

‘USA Basketball continues to maintain BG in our ideas as we take the court docket in Sydney. In her honor, no U.S. participant will put on BG´s No. 15 on this competitors. #WeAreBG,’ the game’s nationwide governing physique mentioned on Twitter.

U.S. President Joe Biden met with the WNBA star’s spouse, Cherelle Griner, final week and has known as the judgment towards Griner ‘unacceptable.’ The US mentioned in July it put forth a ‘substantial supply’ for the discharge of Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.

Coach Cheryl Reeve admitted Wednesday the destiny of ‘light soul’ Griner is weighing closely on the USA staff on the match.

Griner, a standout once they received gold on the Tokyo Olympics final 12 months, would usually be with the squad as they try to say a fourth straight title and eleventh general, beginning Thursday towards Belgium.

Reeve mentioned Griner could be ‘prime of thoughts’ all through the 10-day match, and revealed gamers had been in contact along with her to ship messages of assist.

‘The mindset is simply making an attempt to remain sturdy for her and doing what we are able to,’ Reeve mentioned, describing Griner as ‘a mild soul, simply full of affection’.

Griner was arrested in February and was sentenced to 9 years in a Russian jail in August

She added that gamers had been capable of talk with their teammate through electronic mail, sending ‘messages of affection and assist and energy’.

‘It is on their minds daily. It is heavy, it’s actually, actually heavy particularly as we take part on this USA basketball competitors,’ she added.

‘She’s such an enormous a part of a lot of our lives, so it is difficult.’

Since being chosen first general out of Baylor College within the 2013 WNBA draft, Griner received the 2014 WNBA finals, has been named a WNBA all-star eight occasions, has been the league’s scoring chief twice, and has been named to a number of lists highlighting one of the best in girls’s basketball.

As well as, she’s received 4 Gold medals with Crew USA – together with two on the Olympics and two on the World Cup.

Griner’s well-being is a priority amongst USA gamers, with many advocating for her launch