Phoenix Mercury

Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, with the U.S. releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, American officials said.

The Biden administration has been trying for months to negotiate the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American jailed in Russia, Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, including through a possible prisoner swap with Moscow.

WNBA star Brittney Griner has begun serving her 9-year sentence for drug possession at a remote Russian penal colony that human rights advocates say is known for harsh conditions and violent criminals. Here's a look at what life looks like at Russian penal colonies, and at Griner's prospects of being freed in a U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange.

The WNBA star has been placed at Female Penal Colony IK-2 in Yavas, which is in the region of Mordovia – the same area where American Paul Whelan is being held, according to Reuters.

“My hope is that now that the election is over, that Mr. Putin will be able to discuss with us and be willing to talk more seriously about a prisoner exchange,” Biden said.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Brittney Griner "is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances" and that the administration was working "to resolve the current unacceptable and wrongful detentions" of Griner and Whelan."

Asked if Brittney Griner could be freed as part of a prisoners swap with Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a conference call with reporters that "we always say that any contacts about possible exchanges can only be conducted in silence under a tight lid on any information."

Brittney Griner’s appeal hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25. While it’s unlikely the appeal will overturn her conviction, her lawyers hope it could lessen the sentence.

"She is not yet absolutely convinced that America will be able to take her home," Boykov said in an interview with the New York Times. "She is very worried about what the price of that will be, and she is afraid that she will have to serve the whole sentence here in Russia."

A Russian court on Monday set Oct. 25 as the date for American basketball star Brittney Griner’s appeal against her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession.

Robert Sarver announced he will seek buyers for the Suns and Mercury franchises, police are investigating allegations that a fan struck Cardinals QB Kyler Murray in the face, Rihanna will headline the Super Bowl 57 halftime show at State Farm Stadium, Jae Crowder will not be at training camp for the Suns, and a pro surfer died after suffering a seizure.

Sarver was suspended for one year and fined $10 million after the investigation showed a pattern of lewd, misogynistic, and racist speech and conduct during his 18 years as owner of the Suns and Mercury.