ILLUSTRATION/ Lexi Wang
By Tyler Lau,
Staff Writer
Brittney Griner, a six-time WNBA All-Star center for the Phoenix Mercury was detained in Russia on Feb. 17. Fast forward seven months later, Griner is still in Russian custody. Though the United States government classifies Griner as wrongfully detained and prioritized her release, no immediate action is happening to free the WNBA star.
Griner’s detainment is a prime example of the double standards that remain prevalent in athletics.
The star traveled to Russia with the intent to play overseas to make money during the six-month-long WNBA offseason. During her visit, she was arrested for the possession of vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, a substance illegal in the country. Despite stating that she did not intend on breaking Russian law and providing evidence from her medical team who permitted Griner to use the oil for chronic pain, Griner was found guilty and sentenced to nine years in prison on Aug. 4.
Griner’s detainment is a clear example of the double standards in male and female athletics. Former University of California, Los Angeles basketball player LiAngelo Ball and two teammates were arrested and detained in China for shoplifting back in 2017. In the same year, NBA center Enes Kanter was held in Romania for his political views. The U.S. government quickly negotiated the release of both basketball players.
But that is not the case for Griner, and the reason for that is clear. Male athletes receive more respect as their performances are more mainstream. To a large audience, they must be brought home to fulfill their roles as their team needs them. But since only a small proportion of sports fans watch women’s athletics, the urge to bring back a woman athlete is not as fierce because they are not as respected or admired as men. The truth remains clear… If Griner was a male athlete in the NBA, she would be released without further complications.
“When women play sports it’s looked at a lot differently than when men play sports, as they get praise for it and women are looked down on for it,” senior girls varsity basketball player Leiah Martinez said. “She shouldn’t be in jail. She should be home.”
Many try to justify gender inequalities, arguing that the WNBA is not as competitive and has lower performance levels than the NBA. Although this may be true for some, athletes’ performances do not validate offensive comments.
The WNBA and its athletes may not be on par with the NBA, but this does not permit attacks on a woman as an individual. Female athletes are still human and are free to enjoy the same civil liberties that men do. It is unjust to belittle Griner as she is an American citizen who deserves the support of the sports community.
TCHS does an exemplary job of supporting female athletes. Our girls sports programs are very successful with a CIF finals appearance in girls basketball and softball, just last season. Both teams received immense recognition, appreciation and support from a large audience and the school as a whole. This attitude must be shown to the professional women’s sports community.
Gender inequality and double standards in women’s athletics plagued the world of sports for far too long. Giving women the attention and recognition they deserve through watching women’s sports and giving them recognition through social media platforms can help to bridge the discrepancy between female and male sports. It’s time to move forward to overcome injustice and create a world where female athletes are held in the same regard as their male counterparts.