Phoenix Mercury Mulls Flying On Private Jets After Right-Wing Blogger Confronts Brittney Griner At Airport

At Dallas Fort Worth International Airport last week, Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner was challenged by a “provocateur” Alex Stein, a right-wing YouTuber who is known for impeding local government meetings and questioning liberal politicians.

Stein posted a 93-second video in which he interrogated Griner on whether she “disliked America” to her exchange for Russian prisoner, Viktor Bout, known as “Merchant of Death.”

Griner was freed in December after being confined in Russia for nearly 10 months on drug charges when she was returning to Russia. Russian Customs authorities found vape containers infused with cannabis oil in her suitcase. She then later said in court that she had forgotten that she had packed it.

Phoenix Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard wants the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) to take further steps to make sure that her team’s traveling group is protected.

This led to the two coaches and numerous players recommending taking private flights to help avoid any upcoming run-ins with the public. “We will ensure that our players and our organization and our staff are safe,” Nygaard told San Diego Union-Tribune. “We will be making (travel) adjustments that maybe should have happened before, but right now we’re going to prioritize the safety of our players and we’ve seen that organization has supported us.”

“No one should be a victim of targeted harassment,” Nygaard said. “I’m grateful that our team and our staff are physically well and most of all I’m grateful that BG has been back here in the United States for 185 days now. If her being home makes some people mad, I think obviously says more about them than it does about her.”

The incident didn’t affect Griner’s performance one bit. She racked up 29 points and got six rebounds in an 85-82 win, just the second this season for the Mercury. Following the first road trip to each location, Griner frequently spoke to reporters, but Mercury executives have chosen to not make her available after the incident.

Griner has been greeted by groups of people at home and on the road during the whole duration of the season. Last week, she played twice in her home state of Texas and Indianapolis without incident.

WNBA teams have flown on commercial flights since the league’s initiation in 1997. However, Saturday’s incident made everyone rethink the issue.

Brianna Turner, a Phoenix Mercury forward, posted a tweet on the incident: “Player safety while traveling should be at the forefront. People following with cameras saying wild remarks are is never acceptable. Excessive harassment. Our team nervously huddled in a corner unsure how to move about. We demand better.”