Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball against Nneka Ogwumike #30 of the Los Angeles Sparks during the first half of WNBA game at Footprint Center on June 02, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. Christian Petersen/Getty Images /AFP
Women’s NBA star Brittney Griner, freed from a Russian prison last December, and her Phoenix Mercury teammates were confronted by a social media “provocateur” in an airport on Saturday.
A video clip posted on social media showed a man yelling at Griner as she and her teammates walked past at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport for a commercial flight to Indianapolis for a Sunday game.
Griner has had security personnel around her and charter flights approved for travel but she was with her teammates. who must take regular flights.
“Brittney Griner and the @WNBA players are leaders who inspire hope for a better, more inclusive and less divided America,” said a statement released by Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas.
“They are celebrated for the ways their activism inspires positive change. In doing that, they also become targets for hate, threats and violence and today’s incident is a clear reminder of that.
“We cannot celebrate these women and their leadership without also protecting them. It’s past time for charters and enhanced security measures for all players.”
Griner missed all of last season after being arrested at an airport in Moscow in February 2022 for having vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage.
Griner was sentenced to a nine-year prison term but freed as part of a US-Russia prisoner exchange.
She returned to the Mercury and began the 2023 WNBA campaign last month, with Phoenix off to a 1-5 start to the season.
“It has come to our attention that this was orchestrated by a social media figure and provocateur,” the WNBA said in a statement. “His actions were inappropriate and unfortunate.
“The safety of Brittney Griner and all WNBA players is our top priority. Prior to the season, the WNBA worked together with the Phoenix Mercury and BG’s team to ensure her safety during her travel, which included charter flights for WNBA games and assigned security personnel with her at all times.
“We remain steadfastly committed to the highest standards of security for players.”
The Mercury were also looking into details of the incident and coordinating with the league regarding next steps.
“The health and well-being of our players and staff are our top priority and we will always take every step within our power to protect player safety,” the club said.
“We are committed to our support of BG and advocating for all American hostages abroad. We will continue our support of marginalized communities and fighting the kind of hate that targeted us today.
“No one, regardless of identity, should ever fear for their safety.”
‘Huddled in a corner’
Griner’s Mercury teammate Brianna Turner addressed the incident on social media.
“Player safety while traveling should be at the forefront,” Turner said. “People following with cameras saying wild remarks is never acceptable. Excessive harassment.
“Our team nervously huddled in a corner unsure how to move about. We demand better.”
The league’s players union, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, joined the call.
“Allowing teams to fly charter is ONLY about player health and safety, and until the league and teams take this issue seriously, situations like this will continue to occur,” the union said in a statement.
“Every commercial flight forced upon our players is a threat to their health and safety. We implore the league and the teams not to wait another day to change the rule regarding travel.”