The Houston Rockets didn't get the win on Thursday night in San Antonio, but there were more important developments related to American basketball that took place earlier in the day.
Brittney Griner, a native Houstonian, seven-time WNBA All-Star, and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was released from the Russian penal colony where she had been held captive as part of a one-for-one prisoner swap involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. More information on the news story is available at usatoday.com.
In pregame comments from AT&T Center captured by our Brian Barefield, head coach Stephen Silas offered his perspective:
Griner, who was charged by Russian authorities with with possessing cannabis oil, was classified by the United States in May 2022 as being "wrongfully detained." Since then, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has worked to secure her release.
The complete video of Silas' remarks is available below.
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Story originally appeared on Rockets Wire
