'Should've left her there': Brittney Griner trolled for wishing Paul Whelan was freed from Russia too

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: WNBA sensation Brittney Griner is facing a barrage of trolling after sharing that she would have returned for Marine Paul Whelan if she knew she was the only one leaving Russian prison.

Griner has also opened up before about her time behind bars in Russia in her memoir 'Coming Home,' which is set to release on May 7.

She courageously recounts in her memoir the challenges she endured during her detention, expressing how dehumanizing the experience was.

Brittney Griner says she wished Paul Whelan was on the plane with her

As reported by the Daily Mail, Griner shared her thoughts in a recent interview about not being the only American leaving a Russian prison in 2022.

Griner, known for her skills on the court with the Phoenix Mercury, was detained in February and eventually released in December as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia.

In a preview of her upcoming interview with Robin Roberts on ABC's 20/20, Griner expressed that she thought fellow American, Marine Paul Whelan, would be accompanying her on the plane to the US.

In the clip, Griner expressed her disappointment, saying, "When I walked on and I didn't see him, I was like, okay, maybe I'm early. Maybe he's next. Maybe they're going to bring him next. And when they closed the door, I was like, 'Are you seriously not going to let this man come home right now?'"

Griner further stated in the preview, "If it was left up to me in that trade, I would have went and got Paul and brought him home. But any time that we can bring home an American, that is a win for Americans. No one should be left behind."

According to ABC, on February 17, 2022, Griner was arrested at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Khimki for having vape cartridges with hashish oil, which is against the law in Russia.

In July, she admitted guilt, explaining that she didn't mean to have the hashish oil in her luggage.

ABC also reported that the US classified her case as a "wrongful detention" and advocated for her release.

Many NBA and WNBA athletes and officials campaigned for her freedom, continually urging the government to secure her release.

Initially sentenced to nine years, Griner's appeal for release was rejected on October 25, 2022. After serving her prison term, she was transferred to a facility in the Russian region of Mordovia.

In exchange for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, the US arranged for her to return home. Griner was finally released from the Russian prison on December 8, 2022.

Joe Biden faced criticism for not arranging Paul Whelan's return

Whelan, a 53-year-old ex-Marine, found himself in a nightmare scenario back in December 2018 when Russian officials detained him while he was attending a friend's wedding.

Things took a turn for the worse when he was convicted of espionage in 2020, landing him a harsh 16-year sentence of hard labor. Despite both Whelan and the US government adamantly rejecting the accusations as "baseless," he remained behind bars.

Yet, when the time came for a swap deal, WNBA star Griner was released but Whelan wasn't part of the bargain. This decision left many criticizing President Biden for not intervening on his behalf.

Internet users assert Brittney Griner should've been left in Russia 

A reader online wrote, "Protective class privilege. She fits the bill in several categories. That’s why she is home and he is not."

Another user wrote, "Let’s hope that she is over disrespecting our nation and our flag. We spent too much human capital rescuing her. About time she showed some appreciation."

A user commented, "She didn’t care for the last year, and doesn’t care now. Someone is paying her to care, probably the investors in her weed brand."

Another user commented, "You’re right Brittney, we should’ve got him back. Instead of you. The worst trade in American history and we deserve any consequences that come with it."

A user stated, "Should have left her there!"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.