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Rapinoe, King urge freedom for Brittney Griner, The ESPYS

Rapinoe, King urge freedom for Brittney Griner at The ESPYS

Rapinoe, King urge freedom for Brittney Griner, The ESPYS

Newslooks- LOS ANGELES (AP)

Soccer player Megan Rapinoe admonished her fellow athletes for not doing enough to speak out and encouraged them to support detained WNBA star Brittney Griner at The ESPYS on Wednesday night.

Freestyle skier Eileen Gu accepts the award for best breakthrough athlete at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

Griner was arrested in Russia in February after customs officials said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of transporting drugs.

Dara Torres, right, and Tessa Grace Torres-Hoffman arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

“For me, the most striking thing is that BG’s not here. BG deserves to be free, she’s being held as a political prisoner, obviously,” Rapinoe said while accepting a trophy for best play at the show honoring the past year’s top athletes and moments in sports.

MLB player Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, left, and Brianna Hammonds arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

“Like what are we doing here dressed up like we are when our sister is detained abroad? We haven’t done enough, none of us. We can do more, we can support her more, and just let her know that we love her so much.”

Lisa Leslie arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

“First, bring BG home. Gotta do that,” tennis great Billie Jean King said.

Host Stephen Curry, NBA player with the Golden State Warriors speaks at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

Griner has pleaded guilty in court and acknowledged possessing the canisters but said she had no criminal intent.

Gretchen Evans accepts the Pat Tillman award for service at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

Rapinoe urged her fellow competitors to keep Griner’s face and name on social media.

MLB player Shohei Ohtani, of the Los Angeles Angels, remotely accepts the award for best athlete, men’s sports at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. MLB player ​​Mookie Betts, of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Aubrey Plaza look on from right. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

“Every time we say it in interviews, it puts pressure on everybody,” she said. “It puts pressure on the administration, it puts pressure on Russia, it puts pressure on Putin, it puts pressure on everyone, and it lets BG know also above everything that we love her and that we miss her and that we’re thinking about her all the time.”

Maybelle Blair, right, presents swimmer Katie Ledecky with the award for best athlete, women’s sports at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

NBA Finals MVP Stephen Curry hosted the show and joined WNBA players Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith in calling attention to Griner’s plight.

WNBA player Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks, host Stephen Curry, and WNBA player Skylar Diggins-Smith of the Phoenix Mercury speak about Brittney Griner’s detainment at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

“It’s been 153 nights now that BG has been wrongfully detained thousands of miles away from home, away from her family, away from her friends, away from her team,” Diggins-Smith said. “All throughout that time, we’ve kept her in our thoughts and in our hearts even though we know that ain’t nearly enough to bring her home, y’all.”

WNBA player Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks, host Stephen Curry, and WNBA player Skylar Diggins-Smith of the Phoenix Mercury speak about Brittney Griner’s detainment at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)
Mickey Guyton, center, performs “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” while accompanied by female athletes at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

Wearing her Phoenix Mercury jersey under his track suit, Curry noted the effort being made to free Griner.

Mickey Guyton arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

“But as we hope for the best, we urge the entire global sports community to continue to stay energized on her behalf,” he said. “She’s one of us, the team of athletes in this room tonight and all over the world. A team that has nothing to do with politics or global conflict.”

NWSL player Megan Rapinoe, of OL Reign, accepts the award for best play at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

They were applauded by Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, who was in the audience at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Lil Wayne, left, and Kameron Carter arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Curry picked up a trophy, too, for best record-breaking performance, having set the mark for most 3-pointers made in league history. He also shared the best team award with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

Boxer Ryan Garcia, left, kneels before NWSL player Megan Rapinoe, of OL Reign, as she accepts the award for best play at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani won best athlete in men’s sports.

Gretchen Evans accepts the Pat Tillman award for service at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

“It’s an honor to be in the same category as all of you. You are the best at what you do,” the Japanese player said, speaking in English via videotape. “Have a wonderful everything and enjoy your afterparties.”

Lisa Leslie, from left, Brandi Chastain and Carolyn Peck appear onstage during a performance at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

Olympic swimming champion Katie Ledecky won best athlete in women’s sports.

Ledecky earned two golds and two silvers at the Tokyo Games last year, giving her 10 career Olympic medals. She received her trophy from Maybelle Blair, the 95-year-old who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Mickey Guyton, center, performs “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” while accompanied by female athletes at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

“I represent one of the few sports that is also a really important life skill, so I want to encourage all the parents here, anyone watching, to make sure your kids learn how to swim,” Ledecky said. “Our planet is 70% water, so it’s very important.”

NBA player Klay Thompson, of the Golden State Warriors, accepts the award for best comeback athlete at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

Former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, having impacted the world beyond sports. Klitschko, mayor of embattled Kyiv, Ukraine, since 2014, wasn’t present. He appeared in a pre-taped video.

Billie Jean King, left, presents Kendall Dudley, from second left, Cindy Moore, Alicia Serratos, Noor Abukaram and Lucy Westlake with a Billie Jean King youth leadership award at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

King led off a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the federal legislation that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools that receive government funding.

Host Stephen Curry, NBA player with the Golden State Warriors, left, greets Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as he accepts the Arthur Ashe award for courage on behalf of mayor of Kyiv and former professional boxer Vitali Klitschko at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

She was joined by Lisa Leslie, Brandi Chastain, Chloe Kim, Allyson Felix, Aly Raisman and Rapinoe, among others. They spoke against a background of black-and-white photos showing women athletes in action, on the field or in the streets advocating for gender equality. Their comments were interspersed with country singer Mickey Guyton performing her songs “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” and “Remember Her Name.”

NFL player Von Miller of the Buffalo Bills arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

The ESPYS were criticized by South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley for not inviting consensus player of the year Aliyah Boston to the show. Boston had hoped to attend and was disappointed not to be asked. She was issued a last-minute invitation but declined it.

Dick Vitale accepts the Jimmy V award for perseverance at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

ESPN said COVID-19 concerns and a smaller venue forced organizers to prioritize invitees to the show. Boston was nominated in a non-televised category that was handed out a night earlier. She lost to Oklahoma softball star Jocelyn Alo, who took part in the Title IX tribute.

Lil Wayne, from left, gymnast Sunisa Lee and John Boyega present the award for best team at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

ESPN college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. The 83-year-old has undergone multiple melanoma surgeries and six months of chemotherapy for lymphoma over the last year. In March, he said he was cancer free.

Abbi Jacobson, left, and Maybelle Blair present the award for best athlete, women’s sports at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

Vitale dismissed messages on the teleprompter urging him to conclude his remarks, which stretched to 20 minutes.

Maybelle Blair poses with a baseball bat cane as she arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

“I’m gonna wrap up in about three minutes,” he said in a raspy voice. “Jimmy’s dream was to beat cancer. We must do it because it doesn’t discriminate. It comes after all.”

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