Over the weekend, it emerged that WNBA star Brittney Griner, who won the WNBA Championship in 2014 alongside her team the Phoenix Mercury, was arrested weeks ago at a Russian airport and has been detained by Russian law enforcement authorities. In a recently surfaced video clip, we see Russian customs officials searching Griner's belongings -- inspecting her luggage, opening her packages -- before producing a series of documents at the end of the clip that are presumably related to her detention.

Griner was reportedly carrying a vape pen on her, described as containing "cannabis oil" by Russian authorities. It is unknown whether the pen contained THC content or was a non-psychoactive CBD variety. Her wife, Cherelle Griner, has appealed for privacy as she tries to "get Brittney home." Griner travels to Russia regularly to play for a Russian basketball team in her off-season.

Amid the backdrop of war in Ukraine and escalating tensions between NATO countries and Russia, the detention of a high-profile US athlete has led many to speculate as to whether Griner's situation could become politicized; the star athlete could, theoretically, face up to ten years in Russian prison for the importation of a singular vape pen whose THC content is unknown.

While seemingly innocuous, in a time where tensions and the vague threat of nuclear war always remains a distant -- though very much present -- possibility, Griner seems precariously poised to potentially serve as either a bargaining chip of sorts or a flashpoint within the larger conversation about US/Russia relations during a time of increasing uncertainty. Many experts have stated that the most likely effect of this uncertainty is a decreased likelihood US authorities will be able to negotiate for her release and keep her out of Russian prison.