Basketball star Brittney Griner heads back to Russian court after guilty plea

WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing in Khimki, Russia (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

American basketball star Brittney Griner is due back in a Russian court after abruptly pleading guilty to drug possession charges last week.

With the US government under pressure at home to do more to secure her freedom, the guilty plea could be an effort to expedite the court proceedings so any negotiations can move forward.