American basketball star Brittney Griner is slowly losing hope that she’ll be released before serving her 9-year prison sentence in Russia.

The chance of being freed in a prisoner swap is diminishing, and Griner’s lawyer said in a recent interview, “She has not been in as good condition as I could sometimes find her in.”

Although she’s allowed outside daily to walk in the penal colony where she’s being held in Moscow, most of her time is spent in a small cell with two cellmates – with only an elongated bed to sit and sleep on.

Griner has been in detention for nine months and has a hearing on the appeal of her conviction set for October 25.

Griner’s lawyer Alexandr D. Boykov, explained, “She is not yet absolutely convinced that America will be able to take her home. She is very worried about what the price of that will be, and she is afraid that she will have to serve the whole sentence here in Russia.”

Although Boykov believes that a 9-year prison sentence for possession of marijuana is too severe and hopes it will be overturned or lessened, Griner fears where she may ultimately serve her sentence will be dangerous or inhumane.

As tension between the US and Russia escalates over the war with Ukraine, the possibility of finding a peaceful solution for Griner’s return seems vanishingly small.