Las Vegas Aces mentor Becky Hammon, who at the time gained a medal for Russia in the 2008 Summer season Olympics, is pleading with the Kremlin to "do the ideal factor" and launch WNBA star Brittney Griner. 

The six-time WNBA All-Star, who expended a great deal of her offseason time participating in for Russian teams, spoke just days ahead of the closing arguments in Griner’s scenario. 

Becky Hammon of Russia appears on in opposition to Australia for the duration of the women's basketball bronze medal sport at the Olympic Game titles on Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (Christian Petersen/Getty Illustrations or photos))

"It’s some thing that definitely hits tremendous shut to dwelling for me and so I just inquire the Russian government to do the suitable thing," she instructed Reuters in an interview Tuesday. "It’s hardly ever far too late to do the suitable factor. We're inquiring for leniency. We are inquiring for grace. And we're inquiring to bring property BG."

BRITTNEY GRINER Demo: RUSSIAN PROSECUTORS Ask FOR 9 ½-Calendar year SENTENCE, WNBA STAR APOLOGIZES

Griner appeared in courtroom on Thursday for the closing arguments in a demo the place she pleaded guilty very last thirty day period to hashish possession immediately after oils derived from cannabis were being identified in her bag at a Moscow airport in February.

She provided an apology in court docket prior to sentencing. 

WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner enters a cage in a courtroom prior to a hearing in Khimki, just outdoors Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photograph via WHD)

"I want to apologize to my teammates, my club, my admirers and the city of (Yekaterinburg) for my mistake that I designed and the embarrassment that I brought on them," she claimed. "I want to also apologize to my mom and dad, my siblings, the Phoenix Mercury firm back again at property, the incredible ladies of the WNBA, and my wonderful partner back at dwelling."

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She additional: "Hope in your ruling it does not end my lifetime."

Hammon gained a bronze medal for Russia in the 2008 Beijing Game titles soon after becoming a naturalized citizen a calendar year before. It was a controversial move for the American basketball star, but she defended her choice at the time, indicating it was a subject of achieving a expert aim, not a person of state satisfaction. 

Becky Hammon of Russia stands for the national anthem prior to the match against the U.S. Women's Senior Nationwide Team at the Olympic Online games on Aug. 21, 2008 in Beijing. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty Pictures)

"The jersey that I dress in has in no way produced me who I was. It has very little to do with what is actually published on my coronary heart," she told ESPN in 2008. "Will I be playing for Russia? Yes. But I am certainly 100% still an American. I appreciate our region. I like what we stand for. This is an chance to satisfy my desire of participating in in the Olympics."

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Hammon is aware all far too properly the dynamics of taking part in in Russia, and warned of the fallout that could abide by at the time Griner is sentenced. 

Head mentor Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces appears to be like on all through the New York Liberty recreation at Barclays Middle on July 14, 2022, in Brooklyn. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Pictures)

"If (Griner) were being to have to provide a (prison) sentence, I believe there would have to be terrible implications internationally on the athletics environment," she advised Reuters. "There is specified techniques to set tension on Russia. With any luck , it doesn't appear to that."

WHD News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.