The U.S. government has decided to get involved in WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia.
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After determining that Griner was being “wrongfully detained” just yesterday, the State Department has now assigned her case to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.
"The Department of State has determined that the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Brittney Griner," a State Department spokesperson said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE on Tuesday. "The U.S. Government will continue to provide appropriate support to Ms. Griner and her family."
Now, the department is expected to try to negotiate her release.
The Phoenix Mercury star has been locked up in a Russian jail since February, when security personnel found THC vape cartridges in her bag at a Russian airport.