USA makes a considerable offer for Brittney Griner to Russia 

WNBA star Brittney Griner is facing Russian imprisonment for nine years, but negotiations for her release have continued.

After months of negiotation and being in active talks with the Russian government, the U.S. government made a "substantial offer" for Griner, the State Department said in a statement on Friday. However, the U.S. State Department cautioned against optimism in that statement as well.

Griner has begun serving her sentence in a Russian penal colony, her lawyers said on Thursday. The U.S. State Department released an announcement regarding Russia's "unwillingness to negotiate." This is in regards to the proposed prisoner swap that has been discussed between the two countries.

ESPN's T.J. Quinn quoted what the Russian Federation reportedly said on Friday. Sergei Ryabkov, the department's minister for foreign affairs, shared his positivity that a prisoner swap could happen, according to Russian media on Friday.

The U.S. State Department confirmed that there has been an offer made, but cautioned against optimism in its statement:

"We are not going to comment on the specifics of any proposals other than to say that we have made a substantial offer that the Russian Federation has consistently failed to negotiate in good faith.

"The U.S. Government has continued to follow up on that offer and propose alternative potential ways forward with the Russian government. The Russian government’s failure to seriously negotiate on these issues in the established channel or any other channel for that matter runs counter to its public statements."

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A brief background about the arrest of Brittney Griner

Canada vs. United States, Olympics, Day 7: Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner was arrested in February at a Moscow airport for carrying cannabis oil in her luggage. This has led to months of attempting to get the WNBA star back home. Both the NBA and the WNBA have started a movement in order for the Phoenix Mercury center to be released.

The Olympic center testified that she had no criminal intention of carrying the items, but did plead guilty. Griner said that she was in a rush to pack her bags to catch her flight to Moscow. She was convicted in August.

In October, Griner appeared in court in hopes that she could get a shorter sentence. However, she was denied.

Along with her nine-year sentence, Griner was fined $16,400. This was only added in August as the All-Star's partial admission of guilt, remorse for the deed, state of health and charitable activities (via CNN.com).

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