As the WNBA season begins, courts throughout the country are going to have decals with the initial BG and the number 42.

The reason?

Brittany Griner was arrested in February at a Moscow airport with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, according to Russia.

Russian News Agency task reports a court has extended Griner's pretrial detention to May 19th.

The consular officer who visited with Brittany Griner was able to verify that she is doing as well as can be expected under these very difficult circumstances.

It's a story that's gotten international media attention.

But beyond all those headlines about Griner, there's one point that really hasn't been hit on as much.

Why was she playing in Russia in the first place?

I'm Gustavariano.

You're listening to The Times, Daily News from the LA Times.

It's Thursday, May 12, 2022.

Today, we hear how Griner is just one of many female athletes who find themselves abroad

year after year to play the games that they love, geopolitics be damned.

All because they can't get a living wage in the United States.

Iliana Limon Romero is a sports editor for the LA Times,

and she also sits as chair of the Association for Women in Sports Media.

Iliana, welcome to the Times.

Thank you.

For the people who don't follow sports,

what should they know about Brittany Griner?

Wow, that's a complicated question.

Thank you. should they know about Britney Greiner? Wow, that's a complicated question. Mainly, she is a superstar women's basketball player, one of the best in the game, one of the best

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