Russian Court OK's Appeal Hearing For Brittney Griner

WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted from a court room ater a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. A judge in Russia has convicted American basketball star Brittney Griner of drug possession and smuggling and sentenced her to nine years in prison. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner is being given a chance to appeal her conviction in Russia. A Russian court on Monday approved an appeal hearing for Griner, setting an October 25th date for the proceedings, court officials reveal.

A Russian court on Monday set Oct. 25 as the date for Brittney Griner's appeal of her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession.

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The Phoenix Mercury player’s case will be heard in Moscow Region Court, documents reveal. Griner was taken into custody in February after officials at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her bags — which the athlete says she accidentally packed. She was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison in August.