NEW YORK (Reuters – National Basketball Association Commissioner Adam Silver declared that Brittney griner, WNBA player, was his “number one priority” after a Russian court increased her pre-trial indefinite detention.

In February 2018, the twice Olympic gold medalist, aged 31, was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. He is accused of possessing cannabis-infused vape cartridges.

In the midst of strained diplomatic relations between Washington, Moscow and the aftermath to the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the U.S. State Department stated that the 7-times WNBA All-Star had been wrongfully detained.

Silver stated that Cathy Engelbert (the commissioner of the WNBA) is working on the issue daily, and she was a good partner in this endeavor. “We have been in contact with both the White House, State Department and hostage negotiators at every level of government as well as the private sector.

We are committed to her safety, health, and freedom and will do everything we can to help her get out of Russia.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed Tuesday that he has spoken with Griner’s spouse and that Griner is an important priority in the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden.

Silver stated that “there’s an enormous role for people to play through protests and letting their representatives understand how they feel about it.”