WNBA star Brittney Griner's fans believe national outrage would have been far more intense had it been Derek Jeter or Tom Brady who got detained

WNBA star Brittney Griner, a two-time gold medalist at the Olympics, was arrested in February on drug-related charges after airport customs agents discovered vape cartridges in her luggage. Her fans believe that she has been forgotten and that there is a lack of sympathy toward her.

"I wish I could say I'm surprised by the lack of sympathy--and outright anger--directed at Brittney Griner. She committed a minor crime and is in a Russian penal colony. But because she's not White or male or straight, lots of people don't care or are happy. Sad." – John Feinstein via Twitter

Dave Zirin of 'The Nation' wrote:

“As has been said by many, if this was Tom Brady or Derek Jeter in a prison camp for nine years, the outrage would become an unholy din.”

After the Russian court denied her appeal and upheld the length of her prison term (9 years), Brittney Griner's attorneys claim that she has been transferred to a correctional colony.

Brittney Griner is being held in one of the worst prisons

The location of Brittney Griner's remote jail colony was made public. It turned out that the WNBA star's situation only got worse. IK-2 Mordovia is one of the hardest colonies in the entire Russian prison system, according to former prisoner Nadya Tolokonnikova.

"#FreeBrittneyGriner 90 days and counting since BG has been wrongfully detained (according to US STATE DEPT) in a Russia prison. We all need to join forces to bring her home to her family. No other commentary is needed just support as if it was one of your loved ones. #WeAreBG" – dawnstaley

Torture, beatings, and forced labor were commonplace.

WNBA Finals - Game Two

Tolokonnikova recently spoke with MSNBC in which she discussed her worries about Griner as well as the horrifying facts.

Tom Brady and Derek Jeter are celebrated sportspersons

Jeter is a former professional baseball shortstop from the United States who is also a businessman and baseball executive. Jeter played for the New York Yankees for the duration of his 20-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career.

He garnered 396 out of 397 votes (99.75%), the second-highest percentage in MLB history (behind his teammate Mariano Rivera), and the highest by a position player.

He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2020. From September 2017 to February 2022, he served as both the Miami Marlins' league president and CEO.

Brady is an American football quarterback with the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL). He spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots organization, where he played a key role in the team's success from 2001 to 2019. Many consider Brady to be the best quarterback to ever play the position.