Global Courant
DALLAS — Brittney Griner and her Phoenix Mercury teammates confronted a “provocateur” at a Dallas airport on Saturday.
The WNBA said in a statement it was investigating the team’s confrontation with a “social media figure” 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.
Before the season began, the league had spoken to Griner’s representatives and concerns about Mercury’s safety as the All-Star center traveled for road games after she returned from detention in Russia. The thought was that the much-discussed case endangered her and others’ safety. The league granted Griner permission to book her own charter flights.
The WNBA added charter flights for the playoffs this season, but only a handful of back-to-back regular season games were scheduled for such flights.
WNBA teams have flown commercially during the regular season since the league’s inception in 1997. The league typically does not allow teams to charter, as doing so could provide a competitive advantage to teams that can afford to pay for it.
“Prior to the season, the WNBA worked with the Phoenix Mercury and the team at BG to ensure her safety during her travels, including charter flights for WNBA games and permanent security personnel with her,” the league’s statement read. “We remain steadfastly 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 “making wild comments”.
“Excessive harassment,” Turner tweeted. “Our team huddled nervously in a corner, not knowing how to get around. We demand better.”
A Twitter user posted a video that appears to show part of the confrontation in which the individual asks Griner questions about “why does she hate America?”
The Bring Our Families Home Campaign, an advocacy group working to bring home Americans held hostage or held abroad, issued a statement condemning the incident.
“Charging a recently returned hostage in this manner is unacceptable, and we are urging social media companies to ban monetization of the resulting content. Our campaign stands with Brittney, her teammates and the Phoenix Mercury.
Griner has been warmly welcomed by crowds at home in Phoenix and on the road. Last week, she played two games in her home state of Texas and the team was on its way to Indianapolis to face the Fever on Sunday.
Still, Saturday’s incident called for many a change in flights for the Mercury and teams across the league.
Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, said on social media after the incident that she believes all teams should charter flights.
“Brittney Griner and the WNBA players are leaders who bring hope for a better, more inclusive and less divided America,” said Kagawa Colas. “They are praised for the way their activism drives positive change. In doing so, they also become the target of hatred, 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 is time for charters and enhanced security measures for all players.”
The WNBA players’ union issued a statement on Saturday saying the situation at the airport “makes it very clear that the charter travel issue is NOT a ‘competitive advantage’ issue.”
“What BG and all of her PHX teammates experienced today was a calculated confrontation that left them feeling very unsafe,” the WNBPA statement read. “Anyone who was paying attention knew this was going to happen.”
The Mercury released a statement saying the team will work with the league on next steps.
“We are committed to supporting BG and advocating for all American hostages abroad,” the team statement read. “We will continue our support for marginalized communities and fight the kind of hate that affects us today. No one, regardless of identity, should ever fear for their safety.”
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