As one of the most dominant players in the history of women’s basketball, Brittney Griner has always represented something bigger than just athletic excellence, writes Sean Gregory. As an out gay woman who has overcome bullying, hate, and alienation, she has served as inspiration, especially to fellow members of the LGBTQ+ community, for how to live out loud and proud. Now, “wrongly detained” in the euphemistic lingo of international diplomacy, Griner unwittingly has come to stand for even more. Her imprisonment advances President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to humble U.S. President Joe Biden, who has been simultaneously criticized for failing to win Griner’s release and for prioritizing her case over those of other long-detained Americans abroad. In this high-profile battle between two nuclear powers locked in a historic contest in Ukraine, it’s easy to forget the core tragedy of Griner’s case. Read more at the link in our bio. Illustration by @jeffmanning_ for TIME; Source photos: Ethan Miller—Getty Images; Kena Krutsinger—NBAE/Getty Images