On Thursday, a Russian court found American WNBA star Brittney Griner guilty of attempting to smuggle illegal narcotics into the country. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony and issued her a fine of roughly $16,300, according to Griner’s lawyers. Though the verdict was widely anticipated, it arrives after both Griner and her team appealed for leniency. “I made an honest mistake,” Griner told the judge in her testimony before the sentencing, adding, “I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here.” Griner’s freedom is now contingent on diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. and Russia, namely a potential prisoner swap. Her legal team called the guilty verdict “absolutely unreasonable,” saying that it plans to file an appeal. Read the full story at the link in bio.