Soccer Legend Megan Rapinoe Condemns the “Cruel and Evil” Silence of Brittney Griner’s Former Coach


LSU women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey declined to comment on Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia during a press conference on Monday and she has sparked a major backlash online because of it.

Mulkey, who was Griner’s head coach at Baylor, was asked by a reporter about her thoughts about the WNBA star’s situation, adding that he had not seen any comments from her regarding the matter.

Mulkey interrupted the question, saying: “And you won’t.”

Griner, who has been wrongfully detained in Russia since February, was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison back in August and was only fined $1 million rubles ($16,000 USD).

USWNT star Megan Rapinoe is one person who is speaking out against Griner’s old coach.

“This is honestly just cruel and evil and even more honestly,” she wrote. “IT’S SHOWING SIS. The hate is seeping out.”

Brittney Griner Reveals What Stopped Her From Taking Her Own Life While Locked Up In Russia

Brittney griner speaking at press conferenceBrittney Griner (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Brittney Griner has revealed she considered taking her own life on multiple occasions while she was locked up in Russia.

The WNBA star spent close to 10 months in a Russian prison, having gotten arrested for having a vape cartridge containing hash oil in her possession following a search at a Moscow-area airport on February 17, 2022.

Griner was hit with a nine-year sentence but was released on December 8, 2022, as part of a prisoner swap, with Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout going the other way.

The Phoenix Mercury center has recounted her experience in a book called ‘Coming Home’ set for launch on May 7. She’s also spoken to ABC’s Robin Roberts in an exclusive interview which aired on Wednesday night.

Brittney disclosed having entertained suicidal thoughts while she was locked up.

“I wanted to take my life more than once in the first weeks,” she recalled (H/T the Associated Press) “I felt like leaving here so badly.”

Griner said she decided against ending her life because she was afraid Russian authorities wouldn’t send her body back home to her family. She had already felt like she “let everybody down” by having the cartridges in her bag in the first place.

Brittney Griner Detailed The Horrible Prison Conditions In Russia

Also touched on in the interview with Roberts were the horrible prison conditions.

“The mattress had a huge blood stain on it,” Brittney Griner remarked. “They give you these thin two sheets, so you’re basically laying on bars. The middle of the shin to my feet stuck through the bars.”

According to Griner, the toothpaste she was given had expired 15 years prior, and prisoners used it to kill black mold on the walls. She was also handed a single roll of toilet paper meant to last her several weeks.