This situation is layered with bad decisions.

If you break the laws of a country you go to, you shouldn't be surprised if you get in trouble. Plus it's something she could get in trouble for here. Expecting Russia to be lenient and not overboard with their sentencing is also a little weird considering the current political climate and how they've acted historically.

Then fast forward to trading an athlete for an arms dealer? The argument that a more prolific athlete or a male athlete would get special treatment and not be in this situation is already kind of weird, because why should we give special treatment to a star that breaks laws of another country? Then elevating it to a trade for an arms dealer is really weird signaling.

If it was some cruel and unusual punishment, and they didn't do anything that would be illegal here that's one thing, make a trade and bring her home. But she could get in trouble for what she did going through an airport in a bunch of states in the US.