Brittney Griner was convicted of deliberately smuggling drugs into Russia and sentenced to nine years of jail time.

Griner was also fined around $16,400.

The maximum sentence was ten years, which is what the prosecution aimed for. Griner pleaded guilty as she told the court in Khimki city courthouse:

"I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here."

She added that she knew she had made a mistake and hoped that the ruling does not end her life here. The WNBA star concluded:

"I know everybody keeps talking about political pawns and politics, but I hope that that is far from this courtroom."

As she left the courtroom, Brittney said she loved her family.

There are negotiations between the Russian and US governments to trade a Russian arms trader Viktor Bout for Brittney.

The 31-year-old basketball star was caught with less than one gram of cannabis oil six months ago. She used the same oil in Arizona, where it is not illegal.

The WNBA's Phoenix Mercury star came to Russia to finish her season for UMMC Ekaterinburg.