Brittney Griner was the latest to speak out about the racism in the WNBA coming from hostile fans.
The 10-time WNBA All-Star’s comments follow after Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas, who called out Indiana Fever fans who repeatedly blasted her and her team with racially charged remarks after the Fever got eliminated from the playoffs.
Talking to the media after the Phoenix Mercury’s defeat by the Minnesota Lynx, Griner didn’t mince words about her feelings toward fans who spew racially charged tirades against her and the rest of the players.
“I don’t appreciate the new fans that sit there and yell racial slurs at myself, my teammates, and the people that I play against because, yeah, those [are] my best opponents but those are friends too,” Griner said.
Brittney Griner also said that the WNBA needs to take stern and swift action instead of putting out a “way overdue” statement that condemns, racist, derogatory, and threatening comments hurled toward the players.
“I don’t think it’s right but yeah, just being swift with it. Making a statement, making a stand,” she reiterated.
Brittney Griner: ‘We all deserve to play in a safe environment’
In the same interview, Brittney Griner said all the players in the WNBA need a safe hardwood environment. She made it clear that fans should be made aware that players are just doing their job and their responsibility on the court.
“Fans that come to games and they want to show out in the wrong way, they don’t need to be in there and that should be around for everybody, not just certain arenas or certain players,” Griner said. “It needs to be upheld for everybody because we all deserve to play in a safe environment. We’re out here to play and not worry about racial and just sexist comments.”
Certain players have been receiving the brunt of fans’ verbal abuse aside from Griner and Thomas. Los Angeles Sparks’ Dearica Hamby had also been a target of vitriol from Las Vegas Aces fans earlier in the regular season. In particular, Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, for the most part of her prematurely ended regular season, had been targeted by hecklers, though some NBA analysts attribute it to her “embracing the role of a villain.”
Brittney Griner was recently subjected to unwarranted racial abuse following one of her altercations with Sparks’ Rickea Jackson. She was bombarded with numerous harsh comments, showing how relentless fans can be on social media. One can only wonder how the league can take better action against the toxicity coming from the fans.
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