WNBA star Brittney Griner thinks her time spent in a Russian prison over drug charges sends a relevant message about the current immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the premiere of ‘The Brittney Griner Story’ at the Sundance Film Festival this week, Griner likened her imprisonment to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents enforcing federal law in America’s cities.
“I hope this film can shed some light into what it could be like if we keep letting this happen,” she said of the 30 for 30 documentary, which will air later this year on ESPN.
“The Brittney Griner Story” screens in this year’s Premieres section and unfolds with purpose. This isn’t just a recounting of events; it’s a reclamation. The documentary meticulously traces the chain reaction that began in February 2022, when Griner was detained at a Moscow… pic.twitter.com/vXIDGLNJ0r
— Sundance Film Festival (@sundancefest) January 28, 2026
“Right now, we’re in a very bad place, especially with everything that’s going on in Minnesota and just across our country,” Griner said. “I definitely think people will understand a little bit more now and be able to see some comparisons.”
Griner was held for nearly 10 months in the Russian penal colony following the arrest at an airport in Moscow in February 2022. The basketball star was sentenced to nine years behind bars but was released in a prisoner swap under then-President Joe Biden’s administration.
Griner referred to the former president, who is featured in an interview in the documentary, as “definitely a personal hero of mine.”
“Biden in the film delicately but pointedly describes his disappointment with the current nature of the discourse. He doesn’t mention President Donald Trump by name; he doesn’t have to,” The Hollywood Reporter noted.
Director Alexandria Stapleton agreed that Griner’s experience should serve as a “cautionary tale” in light of the immigration debate.
“When we started, so much of BG’s story was still very foreign,” Stapleton said.
“And now to rewatch it and be in the midst of everything that’s exploding in Minnesota and all throughout the United States, it’s crazy. I hope people can watch this story and see it as a cautionary tale … almost knock some sense into people,” she added. “Hopefully, this can be a film that can make a change.”
Griner expressed hope that local protests are making a difference.
“I hope people get the sense of, ‘when we come together we can stop what’s going on,’” she said. “We can change what’s going on right now in our country.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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