Desperate For Attention, Woke WNBA Focuses Season On Jailed Griner

A new season of the woke WNBA starts Friday. In desperate attempts to draw attention, Brittney Griner’s campaign is being hyped up by the league. Russia has held Griner since February when Griner tried to enter Russia with drugs. 

ESPN reports that Griner was detained in Russia since Feb. 17, when customs officials found hashish oil in her luggage at an airport near Moscow. She was allegedly trying to bring vape cartridges containing oils derived from cannabis through a Moscow airport, Fox Sports noted. 

On Tuesday, the WNBA announced a plan to keep Griner, who plays center for the Phoenix Mercury, “at the forefront of what we do” this season with a floor decal. Griner’s initials and No. The decal will be placed on each of the 12 WNBA basketball courts. 

Cathy Engelbert (WNBA Commissioner) stated that Brittney is at the center of everything we do in basketball and community. Brittney is still in our thoughts and we are grateful for the help that the community gave BG and her family through this extremely difficult time. 

The Phoenix Mercury, on Monday, released a video prominently featuring Griner, among other team members. Jim Pitman, Mercury executive vice-president and general manager, said that “In concert with the league, 11 other teams and those who are closest to BG,” he stated. We are anxious for her safe and healthy return. 

Fox Sports has reported that Griner could be facing up to a decade imprisonment if found guilty in Russia. “It’s unclear whether the latest prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia will have any bearing on Griner’s case. Russia exchanged jailed U.S. Marine Trevor Reed for Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was serving a 20-year federal sentence for conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the U.S.,” Ryan Gaydos reported for Fox Sports. 

In addition to honoring Griner in all 12 league arenas, the WNBA will also continue paying her $228,000 salary without counting it against the organization’s salary cap, The Associated Press reported. 

So that’s the story, and here’s the bottom line. The WNBA is glorifying someone accused of breaking another country’s drug laws. Players who have not violated any such laws will have to actually play to earn their salaries, and they won’t be honored with floor decals.  

What’s more is that Griner is a black, married lesbian and a past anthem kneeler – a Black Lives Matter supporter and a social justice warrior extraordinaire. These are all important in the WNBA. It was once called the most radically woke league sports league. 

In June 2021, Griner stated: “I honestly feel we should not play the Nation Anthem during our season, I think we should take that much of a stand. I’m going to protest regardless. I’m not going to be out there for the National Anthem.” 

The fact that the pro basketball players and league have come together behind someone being accused of criminal acts isn’t a new thing. The NBA and Major League Baseball boycotted their own games when alleged sex offender Jacob Blake was shot in 2020 by police while resisting arrest. 

Additionally, Griner and her former fiancée Gloria Johnson were arrested in 2015 for assault and disorderly conduct after duking it out at their Arizona home. Each suffered only minor injuries. Griner might be an Olympic champion in basketball, but she’s no angel. 

It is frightening to think of your life in prison. However, Griner’s history is one of uncivil behavior and drug use. She is not a model citizen, and for an entire sports league to build a shrine around her is positively ridiculous.  

The WNBA needs to warn its players against using drugs and to not try to smuggle drugs into other countries. This is a new effort by the league to attract attention. A media campaign centered on an inactive foreign player is beyond deplorable.