WNBA

The Houston native was arrested in Russia in mid-February, and her trial starts Friday. State department officials say Griner was “wrongfully detained.”

The star with the U.S. Olympic and the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury was bracketed by four security officers and a dog as she was led down a stairwell to a courtroom for Monday's hearing.

The two-time Olympian is now set to appear in court in Russia on July 2. She is being held in pretrial detention.

The U.S. government has declared that the Houston native, who has been in Russian custody since February, was wrongfully detained.

The lawyer for the 31-year-old athlete said Friday her pre-trial detention in Russia has been extended by one month. Griner faces a trial on drug possession charges in mid-June.

Griner was arrested after authorities reportedly found vape cartridges with hashish oil in her luggage. The shift in language indicates the U.S. will work more aggressively to secure her release.

Although the WNBA has yet to commit to league expansion, some say conditions could be right in the next few years for Houston to welcome back a team – if the right investors step forward.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said consular officials were granted access to the basketball star on Wednesday. He added that she is in good condition.

Russian authorities said earlier this month that they detained Griner at a Moscow-area airport for allegedly transporting vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage.

The athlete, who is Black and gay, was detained by Putin’s regime, which has stoked nationalism and homophobia and is admired by some in America’s far right.