The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has issued a statement denouncing the actions of a "social media figure and provocateur" who targeted Brittney Griner at the Dallas airport on Saturday. While the WNBA's statement didn't specify the incident, social media personality Alex Stein posted a video of his interaction with Griner, where he questioned her patriotism and brought up the prisoner exchange that led to her release from Russia.
In the video, Stein can be seen walking alongside Griner and her team, asking her why she "hates" and continues to "boycott" America. Security intervened, pushing Stein away, after which a team member called him "weird." Stein retorted by questioning Griner's stance on the national anthem and referencing Viktor Bout, the individual exchanged for Griner's release.
Griner has faced criticism for her past actions of kneeling during the national anthem but stated her intention to stand upon returning to the WNBA this season. She described the experience of hearing the anthem again as profoundly different, comparing it to the feeling of standing on the Olympic podium.
The Phoenix Mercury, Griner's team, is reviewing the incident and emphasized their commitment to player safety. They released a statement affirming their support for Griner and all American hostages abroad, while also condemning the targeted hate directed at them. The WNBA reiterated its commitment to player security, highlighting the measures taken prior to the season to ensure Griner's safety during travel, including chartered flights and assigned security personnel.
The incident occurred after the Mercury played against the Dallas Wings on Friday, a game they lost, bringing their season record to 1-5.
