Cherelle Griner: Brittney Griner at her absolute weakest moment ahead of appeal – Yahoo Sports

Cherelle Griners most recent call with her wife, Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner, left her distraught.

Brittney is still in prison in Russia awaiting an appeal hearing after she was first arrested in February. After Cherelle spoke with her recently, she told CBS News Gayle King that she cried for two, three days straight.

It was the most disturbing phone call Id ever experienced, Cherelle told CBS on Thursday. Its just the most still, I think, moment Ive just ever shared with my wife. I didnt have words.

Brittney Griner was arrested on Feb. 17 at a Moscow airport after officials said they found vape cartridges with hashish oil in her luggage. She has been detained ever since.

Griner, who plays in Russia during the WNBA offseason, has since pleaded guilty to drug possession and drug smuggling and was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony. She has appealed that sentence, and is due in court next on Oct. 25.

The United States government is working to secure her release, along with the release of fellow American prisoner Paul Whelan, however its unclear if any significant progress has been made on that front in recent weeks.

While Griner was reportedly in good spirits, all things considered, early on in her detainment, Cherelle said that mood is long gone.

Brittney, Cherelle said on Thursday, is at her absolute weakest moment in life right now.

Shes saying things to me like, My life just dont even matter no more, Cherelle told CBS. You know, I feel like my life just doesnt matter. Like, Im being tossed around for peoples enjoyment and gain.

Cherelle is also worried that, after her appeal hearing has ended, Brittney could end up being moved to a labor camp something she said she cant even fathom.

I dont know if she has anything left in her tank to continue to wake up every day and be in a place where she has no one, Cherelle told CBS.

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Still, Cherelle isnt giving up.

She wants to make sure Brittney knows that, too.

Those are all valid emotions to feel and I dont have answers for, except the fact that your life matters to me, and I wanna get you back home, Cherelle told CBS. Im gonna continue to pray every day that, you know, the people that are the decision-makers in this situation will have mercy and will sit down and they will too see that your life matters and do whatever they can to agree on terms.

Brittney Griner is due back in a Russian court later this month, where she will appeal her nine year prison sentence. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool/AFP)

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Cherelle Griner: Brittney Griner at her absolute weakest moment ahead of appeal - Yahoo Sports