Fiery WNBA star Brittney Griner left fans stunned on Saturday when she launched an F-bomb at officials as they exited the floor at halftime of her Atlanta Dream’s win over the visiting Dallas Wings.
The 6-foot-9 Baylor product and freed Russian penal colony prisoner was set for a customary on-court interview with CBS when she noticed the crew of Jeff Smith, Eric Brewton and Tyler Mirkovich leaving the floor.
‘BG, right now you have five points, ten rebounds…’ CBS’ Autumn Johnson began as Griner’s attention wandered.
The apparent issue was Griner’s displeasure with a late foul call. The three-time Olympic gold medalist was whistled for an offensive foul with 1:30 remaining before halftime.
‘Right now she’s talking to the refs… about holding,’ Johnson said, calling the action of the halftime kerfuffle.
Griner returned to the interview but only after seeming to yell ‘be f***ing better’ at the refs.
The Baylor product and freed Russian penal colony prisoner was set for a customary on-court interview with CBS when she noticed the crew of Jeff Smith, Eric Brewton and Tyler Mirkovich
CBS’ Autumn Johnson began the interview, but Griner was clearly distracted
She then appeared to compose herself before apologizing to both Johnson and the CBS audience: ‘I’m sorry, y’all.’
Some fans agreed with Griner’s displeasure.
‘I was watching this live,’ one fan wrote on X. ‘I feel Brittney Griner’s pain. With her being so [tall, she] can’t do nothing without the refs calling a foul on her.’
Many others directed criticism at Griner.
‘We traded an international arms dealer for this,’ one person wrote, referring to Viktor Bout, the so-called ‘Merchant of Death’ who returned to Russia in exchange for Griner in 2022.
Griner scored 15 points, Jones scored 11 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Rhyne Howard distributed 10 assists for Atlanta (2-2). The Dream distributed 23 assists on 29-made baskets as they shot 42.6 percent, thanks largely to Alisha Gray’s 27 points.
NaLyssa Smith scored 13 points, reserve Maddy Siegrist scored 12, Paige Bueckers 11 and reserves Tyasha Harris and Teaira McCowan 10 apiece for Dallas (0-4).
The Wings starters shot just 13 for 47 (27.6 percent). Dallas overall shot 30 for 82 (36.6 percent).
Siegrist gave Dallas its last lead at 26-24 with 4:31 left before halftime. Griner tied it 13 seconds later with a layup, Gray made two foul shots and that started a 13-4 Atlanta run to close the half with a 37-30 lead.
Jones’ layup early in the third quarter gave Atlanta its first double-digit advantage, 45-35. The Dream continued to extend their margin and led 68-50 entering the fourth.
Dallas went on a 15-2 run to close within 70-56 with 5:06 left but never got closer.
Griner attacks the basket against Arike Ogunbowale #24 of the Dallas Wings
Griner previously told reporters her move to Atlanta from Phoenix has helped her recapture her love of the game.
The former first-overall pick built her career over 12 years with the Mercury and once appeared to be a permanent fixture in Phoenix, where she helped win the title in 2014 and was twice the WNBA’s scoring champion.
In a WNBA off-season full of blockbuster acquisitions, Griner signing a one-year deal with the Dream earlier this year was perhaps the biggest shock to fans.
But the three-time Olympic champion said it was exactly the move she needed.
‘I was somewhere for a very long time and it’s good to have a different change of pace, different outlook on everything. Definitely found the love for the game again being here,’ Griner told a press conference.
Griner missed the 2022 season when she was detained for nearly 10 months in Russia after authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis.
She was freed in the aforementioned prisoner swap.
