Dallas: Brittney Griner Harassment Details at Airport, Revealed
The recent Brittney Griner harassment incident in Dallas involving a YouTube personality has come to light thanks to a police report obtained by ESPN.
The incident occurred Saturday morning when the Mercury team moved through the airport concourse between games against the Dallas Wings.
Alex Stein, described by the WNBA as a "provocateur," approached Griner and tried to force his way through the team's security. A Mercury security guard intervened, separating Griner from Stein.
However, Stein pushed the guard, prompting Brittney Griner to seek shelter behind a nearby fence. The security guard then pressed Stein against a wall on the concourse, awaiting the arrival of the police.
Authorities were called to the scene at 9:38 a.m. The security guard reported that Stein appeared aggressive and made inappropriate comments to Griner, although there was no physical confrontation between them. Nonetheless, the guard claimed that Stein had been violent toward him.
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Phoenix Mercury Makes Travel Adjustments After Brittney Griner Harassment Incident
The Phoenix Mercury's coach, Vanessa Nygaard, revealed on Sunday that the team would modify their travel arrangements for upcoming road games following the Brittney Griner harassment incident at Dallas airport.
Nygaard did not provide specific details about the changes, citing league policies and the need to prioritize player safety, per NBC5.
"We are committed to ensuring the safety of our players, organization, and staff," Nygaard stated before the Mercury's game in Indiana. "We recognize the need for adjustments that perhaps should have been made earlier, but right now, our focus is on prioritizing the well-being of our players, and we appreciate the support from our organization."
A man, referred to as a "social media figure" by the WNBA, recorded a 93-second video of himself confronting Griner at the airport. He shouted at her and questioned the fairness of trading a Russian prisoner for her release.
Griner's teammates expressed their surprise and discomfort during the incident. They were later relocated to a more secluded area.
"Dealing with such situations, especially during a work-related trip, is something no one wants to experience," said Phoenix center Brianna Turner. "We represent the league, the city of Phoenix, and our organization, and in moments like these, we aim to avoid causing a scene or engaging in confrontations. We learn from these experiences, but we are unsure how to handle a similar situation if it happens again."
Brittney Griner Harassment Incident Sparks Disagreement Between WNBA and BG's Reps
The incident on Saturday sparked a disagreement between the WNBA and Brittney Griner's representatives about the terms of her travel arrangements for this season.
The WNBA mentioned that the league had collaborated with the Phoenix Mercury and Griner's team to ensure her safety during travel, including providing charter flights for WNBA games and assigning security personnel to always accompany her, according to a statement released by the WNBA on Saturday.
The WNBA clarified in a statement to The Wall Street Journal that they had given Griner the option to use charter flights for all her travel in 2023.
"We informed the Phoenix Mercury earlier this year to move ahead with any arrangements they felt were appropriate and needed, including charter flights," the statement said.
However, according to a source within the Mercury organization, the NBA did not approve Griner's request for charter flights for the 2023 season.
Griner's agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, stated that Griner and her teammates did not choose to travel commercially.
"They were there and faced harassment in the terminal because of a league plan that included a mix of charter and a select number of commercial flights with security protocols that failed," she explained.
Kagawa Colas argued that the league should revise its regulations and allow team owners to cover the costs of charter flights until the league's financial situation permits mandated charter travel across the board.
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Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: DFW Airport incident regarding Brittney Griner under review by Phoenix Mercury, team says - From WFAA