WNBA star Griner back in Russian court after guilty plea

Moscow, July 14: American basketball star Brittney Griner was due back in a Russian court Thursday for trial after she pleaded guilty last week to drug possession charges.
In Russia, a guilty plea doesn’t automatically end a trial. Griner’s defense may put forward arguments during the next hearing to mitigate the punishment, or a verdict could be announced. But it wasn’t immediately clear what would happen Thursday.
The Phoenix Mercury center and WNBA all-star was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in February while returning to play basketball in Russia. Police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage. In custody ever since, Griner, 31, faces charges that could bring her a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. (AP)