CHICAGO — Brittney Griner’s fellow W.N.B.A. gamers venerated her right through the league’s All-Celebrity Recreation in Chicago on Sunday, dressed in jerseys bearing her identify and quantity for the second one part.

Griner, who had performed for the Phoenix Mercury since 2013, has been detained in Russia on drug fees since February. On Sunday, with Griner’s spouse, Cherelle Griner, seated at courtside, the All-Stars covered up after halftime in matching No. 42 jerseys with “Griner” at the again.

A number of gamers hugged Cherelle Griner, who mentioned right through the ESPN broadcast that she used to be thankful that they had no longer forgotten her spouse.

A’ja Wilson, a Las Vegas Aces ahead who used to be one of the most crew captains, mentioned dressed in the jerseys used to be “a observation in itself.”

“We don’t seem to be going to prevent till everybody understands how critical this in point of fact is,” she mentioned.

Griner, a seven-time All-Celebrity who received a championship with the Mercury in 2014 and has two Olympic gold medals, used to be additionally named an honorary starter for the sport by way of the league.

Griner have been in Russia to play for UMMC Yekaterinburg, a certified crew, when she used to be accused of getting cannabis oil in her baggage at an airport close to Moscow. Ultimate week, she pleaded to blame to the drug fees, however she has no longer been convicted officially. She faces as much as 10 years in a penal colony.

The U.S. State Division has mentioned that Griner used to be “wrongfully detained” and that it will paintings to protected her free up.

On Sunday, the W.N.B.A. commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, mentioned at a information convention that Griner’s state of affairs had affected gamers’ selections about world play. A number of gamers who typically compete in Russia have signed with groups in different nations for the approaching low season.

“We’re no longer going to mention you’ll’t pass play in another country,” Engelbert mentioned.

W.N.B.A. gamers are unfastened to play in another country, however may also be fined for appearing up overdue to coaching camp or the beginning of the season — a not unusual prevalence as a result of the world time table. Beginning subsequent yr, gamers may also be barred from league festival if they aren’t again for the start of the W.N.B.A. season.

The league and groups additionally be offering incentives to inspire gamers to stick in the USA, similar to advertising and marketing offers and bonuses. Engelbert mentioned the league deliberate to spend $1.5 million on participant advertising and marketing offers this cycle, an build up of a number of hundred thousand greenbacks during the last cycle.