Brittney Griner sentence reaction: Phoenix Mercury teammate calls out hateful 'trolls'
The WNBA, basketball and sports world reacted swiftly and strongly to Brittney Griner's 9-year sentence after being found guilty and convicted of drug possession and smuggling by a judge in Russia on Thursday.
Among the strongest voices? Griner's teammate on the Phoenix Mercury, Brianna Turner.
Turner commended Griner for being "one of the kindest people" she knows in a Twitter thread Thursday and slammed social media "trolls" for their continued criticism of the basketball star.
Her thread read: "Thinking of BG and how much light she relentlessly brought to everyone around her. Even after sentencing is complete I hope @POTUS & @WhiteHouse will continue to do everything in their power to bring Brittney Griner & all other Americans detained abroad home.
More: Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years in Russian prison on drug charges
'Thinking of BG and how much light she relentlessly brought'
Thinking of BG and how much light she relentlessly brought to everyone around her. Even after sentencing is complete I hope @POTUS & @WhiteHouse will continue to do everything in their power to bring Brittney Griner & all other Americans detained abroad home
— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) August 4, 2022
"I would love to individually respond and annihilate every negative viewpoint I receive but that would be a waste of my time. At the end of the day many people lack compassion & critical thinking skills and it’s not my responsibility to teach that. Respectfully, get a life trolls.
I would love to individually respond and annihilate every negative viewpoint I receive but that would be a waste of my time. At the end of the day many people lack compassion & critical thinking skills and it’s not my responsibility to teach that. Respectfully, get a life trolls.
— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) August 4, 2022
"I don’t have the capacity to respond to every hateful message about Brittney Griner. I think it’s easy to be an outsider and wish the worst. It’s easy to not know all the facts. It’s easy to spread hate on social media. I know many Americans lack compassion due to all the chaos
More: Brittney Griner photos from Russian prison a reminder to Arizona basketball fans, everyone
I don’t have the capacity to respond to every hateful message about Brittney Griner. I think it’s easy to be an outsider and wish the worst. It’s easy to not know all the facts. It’s easy to spread hate on social media. I know many Americans lack compassion due to all the chaos
— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) August 4, 2022
"that happens regularly in our country. BG is my friend and teammate and one of the kindest people I know. Even before being detained in Russia she would receive hate from trolls bc they didn’t like her looks or what she supported. Yet she continuously held her head high.
that happens regularly in our country. BG is my friend and teammate and one of the kindest people I know. Even before being detained in Russia she would receive hate from trolls bc they didn’t like her looks or what she supported. Yet she continuously held her head high.
— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) August 4, 2022
More: Everything LeBron James has said, tweeted about Brittney Griner: 'I can't not say anything'
More reactions to Brittney Griner's sentencing in Russia:
We Are BG. pic.twitter.com/7NdvLatuuP
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) August 4, 2022
Seeing BG behind these bars is breaking my heart. Praying hard for her today
— Diamond DeShields (@diamonddoesit1) August 4, 2022
We love you and miss you BG 🤍 #FreeBG
— Kia Nurse (@KayNurse11) August 4, 2022
Please @POTUS @VP Bring @brittneygriner home🙏🏾 Please go get her! We will not stop advocating and standing in the gap for her… God put a hedge of protection around her mind and spirit…
— Swin Cash (@SwinCash) August 4, 2022
❤️ BG pic.twitter.com/pCB21HjMXl
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 4, 2022
#FreeBrittneyGriner we will not stop advocating for you release. Hold on to God unchanging hand. We love you, BG! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) August 4, 2022
9 years smh. WOW today is a tragic day. #FreeBG 😓
— Monte Morris (@BigGameTae) August 4, 2022
Omg 💔💔 This can’t be real! We love you BG!
— stefanie dolson (@bigmamastef) August 4, 2022
FREE BG 🧡💜
— Jaden Ivey (@IveyJaden) August 4, 2022
My heart goes out to BG’s family and her wife! ❤️ Today hit a little different man like that’s our sister! I can’t even imagine how her family feels! I pray God is protecting her mental but more importantly keep fighting BG.
…gotta bring you home!— Erica Wheeler (@EWeezy_For3eezy) August 4, 2022
Ain’t gone lie 9 years is crazyyyyyy
— Bones Hyland (@BizzyBones11) August 4, 2022
No way they did that to BG!!!! No way!!!! God be with her please
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) August 4, 2022
FREE BG❗️
— Paige Bueckers (@paigebueckers1) August 4, 2022
Another example of the unequal treatment of humans in this world! You have criminals walking around who hurt others and she gets 9 years for them accusing her of hurting herself! History repeats itself again for political gain! 🙏🏿 for Brittney she is a wonderful person! https://t.co/yjPfwkR7kk
— Eddie A Johnson (@Jumpshot8) August 4, 2022
No way! 9 years? Bring our sister and friend home. #FREEBG
— Grant Williams (@Grant2Will) August 4, 2022
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Brittney Griner sentenced: How WNBA, NBA, Mercury players reacted