Russia has been the ideal off-season destination for WNBA players to participate in over the past two decades.

Image Credit: Google

This is on account of the huge earnings, which sometimes surpass $1 million and are roughly treble the base salaries of elite WNBA players.

Image Credit: Google

This has come to an abrupt ending.

Image Credit: Google

Nobody is going to travel to Russia until BG is released, said Breanna Stewart, a teammate of Griner's on the Russian club that paid the pair millions.

Image Credit: Google

“Honestly, my time in Russia has been wonderful, but especially with BG still wrongfully detained there, nobody’s going to go there until she’s home,” she said.

Image Credit: Google

In the midst of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Griner was detained after being charged with narcotics possession.

Image Credit: Google

Griner received a nine-year prison term last month.

Image Credit: Google

Stewart will be moving this winter alongside WNBA All-Stars like Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot, who have also earned millions of dollars playing in Russia.

Image Credit: Google

Stewart will move to Turkey after the World Cup to play for Fenerbahçe.

Image Credit: Google

This winter, Rhyne Howard, the 2022 WNBA Rookie of the Year, will be shooting hoops in Italy.

Image Credit: Google