Brittney Griner Update: WNBA Star in Bad Condition in Russian Prison

The WNBA star Brittney Griner is reportedly struggling in prison in Russia after she has been wrongfully detained for eight months on drug smuggling charges.

Insider reported that Griner shares a small cell with two other individuals, both of whom speak English and were also imprisoned for drug-related charges.

Griner was reportedly sleeping in a bed that was too small for her frame. The WNBA player stands at the six-foot-nine frame.

In April, Ekaterina Kalagunia, a journalist who visited a Russian prison, noted an oversight commission that Griner needed a larger bed.

Kalugina noted that Griner and other imprisoned women are only permitted to shower twice per week.

The WNBA player also revealed that she was experiencing frequent pain, especially headaches, during Kalugina's visit.

Lawyer Alexandr Boykov noted that the penal colony where Griner is imprisoned was "dilapidated," adding that the temperature inside fluctuates depending on the weather.

Griner's wife, Cherelle, also mentioned their "disturbing phone call" and shared that Griner may not have the mental strength to cope with her prison situation.

Brittney Griner in Penal Colony in Russia

Boykov said in the New York Times report that Griner is not yet "absolutely convinced" that America will be able to take her home.

The lawyer added that Griner is worried that she will have to serve the whole sentence in Russia.

Boykov said before Griner's appeals court hearing that he hoped that the nine-year sentence would be reduced.

The lawyer also described the sentence as "an unprecedented punishment" for marijuana possession.

Boykov said that considering all the circumstances and taking into account his client's personality traits, such a verdict should be "absolutely impossible."

Griner was reported to be suffering a lot without her family as she has not seen them for so long and it was difficult for them to talk in any way, according to Boykov.

Cherelle said that she has only spoken to her wife only twice since Friday. She added that their most recent conversation had been "so disturbing" and made her cry for two or three days afterward.

Meanwhile, officials in Washington noted that they had not given up on discussions about Griner and other Americans that have been "wrongfully detained."

State Secretary Antony Blinken said Griner's return and that of Paul Whelan's, who has been imprisoned for almost four years on espionage charges, had his "full attention" and that the State Department was "focused on it every single day."

WNBA Star Brittany Griner

Griner has been charged a maximum of 10 years. Her legal team argued that her punishment is still "excessive."

Other defendants in similar cases in Russia have received an average sentence of about five years and about a third of them were granted parole, according to the lawyers.

In August, Russian officials noted that they are undergoing negotiations with the U.S. government about a possible prisoner swap that could result in Griner going home, as reported by CBS Sports.

It was then reported that Russia has confirmed that it seeks to make convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout part of the bargain.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: WNBA star Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years in Russian prison - from ABC News