US sports
Basketball player Griner approached by Youtuber at the airport
Was verbally attacked at Dallas airport: Brittney Griner. photo
© Ashley Landis/AP/dpa
The arrest of basketball player Brittney Griner in Russia is a concern of US politics at the highest level. Now Griner and her team experience a moment of shock at the airport in Dallas.
US basketball player Brittney Griner, who has been imprisoned in Russia for a long time, and her teammates from the Phoenix Mercury were verbally attacked by a YouTuber at Dallas-Forth Worth airport.
He shared a video on his Twitter account in which he said, among other things, to Griner that she hates America.
In a statement, the women’s professional league WNBA called the behavior of the YouTubers, whom they described as a “provocateur”, “inappropriate and regrettable”. They worked with the Phoenix Mercury prior to the season “to ensure their safety while traveling, which includes charter flights and their assigned security personnel at all times.”
Griner’s teammate Brianna Turner tweeted about “excessive harassment. Our team nervously huddled in a corner unsure of where to move.”
Traditionally, WNBA teams travel on scheduled flights, something the players’ union WNBPA has often criticized. “Any scheduled flight that is forced on our players is a threat to their health and safety,” the players’ union said after the Griner incident.
Griner has returned to the basketball court this season after the 32-year-old was convicted of drug possession charges in Russia and served 10 months in prison there. The Olympic champion was released as part of a prisoner exchange, and US President Joe Biden had also campaigned for her release.