Brittney Griner WNBA Salary: Here's How Much Russia Detained Athlete's 2022 Contract Is

KEY POINTS

Brittney Griner has been playing for Phoenix Mercury since 2013
She has been detained in Russia since February after Russian authorities claimed to have found cannabis oil in her luggage
The WNBA allowed the Mercury to pay Griner without it counting against the team's cap this season

Brittney Griner, one of the top women’s basketball players in the world, is still detained in Russia but will be paid her full salary for the 2022 WNBA season.

The 31-year-old athlete has been in Russian custody since February, when she was detained following her arrival at a Moscow airport. Russian authorities claimed to have found in her luggage vape cartridges that allegedly contained oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Her next court date is set for May 19.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist and seven-time WNBA All-Star has been playing for Phoenix Mercury since 2013.

In 2020, Griner signed a multi-year, $664,544 contract with the Mercury, which will end in 2023. She made $221,450 in base salary for the 2021 season.

For the upcoming WNBA season, which starts Friday, Griner is set to receive $227,900 in salary, according to Spotrac.

On Tuesday, the WNBA announced that it will honor Griner with a floor decal and allow the Mercury to pay her without it counting against the team's cap, NBC Sports reported.

The decal will feature Griner’s initials as well as her No. 42. All 12 of the WNBA home courts will have the decal starting with the season opener Friday night.

“As we begin the 2022 season, we are keeping Brittney at the forefront of what we do through the game of basketball and in the community,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “We continue to work on bringing Brittney home and are appreciative of the support the community has shown BG and her family during this extraordinarily challenging time.”

The league approved giving the Mercury both roster and salary cap relief so that the team can carry a replacement player until Griner returns home.

Griner will be paid her full salary of nearly $228,000, the report said.

The State Department said in a statement Tuesday that it has determined that the WNBA star is being wrongfully detained in Russia, the Associated Press reported.

The department also stated that the government “will continue to undertake efforts to provide appropriate support” to Griner.