The WNBA says Brittney Griner and her Phoenix Mercury teammates were confronted by a “provocateur” at a Dallas airport on Saturday
Jun 10, 2023 4:25pm ET
• 4 min reading
DALLAS — Brittney Griner and her Phoenix Mercury teammates were confronted by a “provocateur” at a Dallas airport on Saturday.
The WNBA said in a statement it was investigating the team’s altercation with a “social media personality” whose “actions were inappropriate and unfortunate.”
“The safety of Brittney Griner and all WNBA players is our top priority,” the league said, without specifying exactly what happened.
Prior to the start of the season, the league had spoken to Griners reps and the Mercury safety concerns as the all-star center traveled to away games after returning from confinement in Russia. The thought was that the high-profile case endangered the safety of her and others. The league granted Griner permission to book charter flights of his own.
The WNBA added charter flights for the playoffs this season, but only a handful of consecutive regular-season games were scheduled for such flights.
Since the league’s inception in 1997, WNBA teams have flown commercially during the regular season. Typically, the league does not allow teams to fly on charters as this could create a competitive advantage for teams that can afford to pay for it.
“Prior to the season, the WNBA worked with the Phoenix Mercury and BG team to ensure their safety during their journey. This included chartered flights to WNBA games and she was provided with security personnel at all times,” the league said in a statement. “We remain consistently committed to the highest safety standards for players.”
Mercury player Brianna Turner said in a tweet that people at the airport followed the team with cameras and “made wild comments.”
“Excessive harassment,” Turner tweeted. “Our team sat nervously in a corner, not knowing how to move. We demand better.”
A Twitter user posted a video that appears to show part of the confrontation, in which the person asks Griner questions, “Why does she hate America?”
The Bring Our Families Home Campaign, an advocacy group working to bring home Americans held hostage or imprisoned abroad, issued a statement condemning the incident.
“It is unacceptable to denounce a recently returned hostage in this manner and we urge social media companies to ban the monetization of resulting content. “Our campaign stands alongside Brittney, her teammates and the Phoenix Mercury,” the organization said.
Griner received a warm welcome from audiences at home in Phoenix and on the road. She played two games in her home state of Texas last week and the team traveled to Indianapolis on Sunday to play the Fever.
Still, Saturday’s incident prompted many to change the Mercury’s flights and teams in the league.
Griner’s agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas said on social media after the incident that she felt all teams needed to charter flights.
“Brittney Griner and the WNBA players are leaders who inspire hope for a better, more inclusive and less divided America,” said Kagawa Colas. “They are celebrated for the way their activism leads to positive change. This also makes them the target of hate, threats and violence. And today’s incident is a stark reminder of that. We cannot celebrate these women and their leadership skills without also protecting them. It is high time for charters and enhanced security measures for all players.”
The WNBA players’ union issued a statement Saturday saying the situation at the airport “makes it very clear that the issue of charter travel is NOT a ‘competitive advantage’ issue.”
“What BG and all of their PHX teammates experienced today was a calculated confrontation that left them feeling very unsafe,” the WNBPA statement said. “Anyone who was paying attention knew this was going to happen.”
The Mercury released a statement saying the team will be working with the league on next steps.
“We are committed to supporting BG and standing up for all American hostages abroad,” the team statement said. “We will continue to support marginalized communities and fight the kind of hate that is preying on us today. No one, regardless of identity, should ever fear for their safety.”
___
AP Sport: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports