By Daniel Chavkin Phoenix continues to show their support for Griner. The Phoenix Mercury released a statement Thursday standing behind Brittney Griner amid the WNBA star’s nine-year sentence for smuggling drugs with criminal intent by a Russian court on Thursday. Griner was also fined 1 million rubles, or the equivalent of $16,500. “While we knew it was never the legal process that was going to bring our friend home, today’s verdict is a sobering milestone in the 168-day nightmare being endured by our sister, BG,” the team said in a statement. “We remain heartbroken for her, as we have every …