Brittney Griner says WNBA travel situation hit 'rock bottom' before making changes

WNBA star Brittney Griner is speaking out about the Phoenix Mercury’s travel arrangements, saying they hit “rock bottom” before something changed. The basketball veteran made the comments during a video call.

Per ESPN, Griner was on a charter flight on June 10 and was harassed by a YouTube personality in an airport. Now, she’s been permitted to fly privately for the remainder of the year. But it’s not really clear how the rest of the team travels at this time.

“I’ll say this. I think we should have already had the option to use a different airline, a more private airline, charter flights,” Griner said. “It’s a shame that it had to get to rock bottom, because I feel like waiting for something to happen and then making a change … you don’t know what that ‘something’s’ going to be. We’ve all seen what can happen in this world. And when you play the ‘let’s-wait-and-see game,’ you’re really playing with fire. You’re playing with people’s lives.

“So I’m glad that they finally got it together — and, you know, are going to allow us to do this. It’s just a shame that it took so damn long, honestly.”

The WNBA says that private flights were previously permitted, even prior to the situation on the charter.

Travel for the Mercury this season has remained unknown. It’s a precaution both the team and league are taking for “safety reasons,” per ESPN.

Brittney Griner named starter for WNBA All-Star Game

Griner has been named a starter for the WNBA’s All-Star Game in her first season since a 10-month detainment in Russia.

Fans account for 50% of the voting for the league’s All-Star Game. Current WNBA players and a 60-member media panel account for 25% each.

Griner has appeared in nine of the Mercury’s 12 games this season. She’s posting an average of 19.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per contest while logging more than 27 minutes. Griner has started in every game she’s played this season.

But Griner’s return and success on the court hasn’t translated to success for the Mercury. Phoenix sits at just 2-10 on the season and recently made a coaching change. The organization named Nikki Blue the interim head coach, replacing Vanessa Nygaard.

The 2023 WNBA All-Star Game will take place on July 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.