NEW YORK — Two WNBA players were among a dozen Americans who chose to play in Russia this past offseason, a decision that New York Liberty forward Kayla Thornton said raised some eyebrows following the 2022 incarceration of Brittney Griner.
“A lot of people tried to question my decision and said, ‘Are you sure?’” Thornton told the Associated Press. “Me and my family prayed about it and that’s where my heart went, and I went. My mother is a pastor. She believes that God will take care of you. She prayed every night and obviously nothing bad happened.”
Other Americans were not so lucky. Russia is known to hold several Americans in its prisons, including corporate security executive Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The US government has designated both men as unjustly detained and has attempted to negotiate their release.
An American soldier was recently arrested in Russia and charged with robbery, according to two American officials. Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith confirmed that a soldier was detained Thursday in Vladivostok, a major Pacific military and commercial port, on charges of criminal misconduct.
WNBA players routinely play in international leagues during the league’s off-season. Russia has one of the highest-paying leagues and was the preferred destination for top players such as Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Griner. It lost its favored status following Griner’s arrest and 10 months in prison, as well as Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine.
“What she went through, my heart goes out to her,” Thornton said of Griner’s situation.
But despite what happened to Griner, Thornton and Los Angeles Sparks forward Monique Billings traveled to Russia and played for Dynamo Kursk. Billings, 28, is entering her seventh season in the WNBA. She was unavailable to comment for this story.
It’s unclear how much the WNBA duo made in Russia, but they had company: several other former WNBA players were in the league — including Megan Walker and Bria Holmes.
Griner, a center for the Phoenix Mercury who is entering her 12th year in the WNBA, said she bears no ill will toward any American who plays in Russia. She is more concerned about their safety.
“I have an old teammate who is playing on my old team,” Griner told the AP. “I’m not mad or angry. I’m worried about them because the threat exists. They can do whatever they want there. I ask you to be careful. Let everyone know where they are at all times.”
Thornton said she only commuted between the gym and her home, so she didn’t interact with many people outside of her team. Her teammates were very friendly and Dynamo Kursk officials made her feel safe, she said.
“I keep it to myself. It’s rare for me to go out. I spent time with some of the girls on the team, and they were very welcoming and understood our situation,” said Thornton, 31, who is entering her 10th season in the WNBA. “Their families prepared dinner for us. That was a blessing.”
Thornton, who also played in Egypt, South Korea and Italy, said he ventured out a few times to go to the ballet and see the Kremlin when his team played in Moscow. She was nowhere near the city when a terrorist attack killed more than 130 people in late March.
“We hear about it, kind of like a wake-up call to be aware of your surroundings,” Thornton said. “I don’t go out like that. I am a discreet person. All I did was go to the gym and go back to my house. I didn’t go out much. I took care of my business and returned home.”
Thornton said overall she had a positive experience.
“I think it’s like when you go anywhere else abroad, everyone has this (thought) about that,” she said. “It’s just a normal country. I understand the politics, but it was normal.”
Thornton is undecided whether she will return to Russia next year.
“I’m not thinking about that at the moment,” she said. “This season is over and I’m focusing on Liberty.”
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Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.
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