Brittney Griner is the latest WNBA player to denounce racism from fans. She does not believe the league is doing enough to prevent poor behavior that stems directly from an increase in popularity.
Her plea comes amid a much larger conversation among players about the ongoing hostility they were forced to endure in 2024 that did not exist on the same level in years prior.
Griner, who spoke to reporters on Thursday after the Phoenix Mercury’s season ended with a loss to the Minnesota Lynx, wants the WNBA to pursue “quick action” instead of just releasing a statement that was “way overdue.” It is her belief that social media is the first place to start.
I mean there’s definitely things you can do on social media where you can limit some of the things that are seen. You can put in key words that when somebody puts in a comment that should not be on the page because that doesn’t reflect what we stand for, who we are as a league. But it’s all up and down the league’s page.
— Brittney Griner
Although Griner would prefer to see some censorship, she offered a tongue-in-cheek understanding of why the comments go unchecked.
But I get it. It’s all about the likes, it’s all about the number of comments, no matter how good or bad those comments are.
– Brittney Griner
The WNBA condemned racism and vowed to “monitor threat-related activity” and work with the teams and venues “to take appropriate measures, to include involving law enforcement, as necessary.” Griner appreciates the sentiment but is calling for action instead of a promise for action.
Making a statement, making a stand. Fans that come to games and they want to show out in the wrong way, they don’t need to be in there and that should be around for everybody, not just certain arenas or certain players. It needs to be upheld for everybody because we all deserve to play in a safe environment. We’re out here to play and not worry about racial and just sexist comments.
— Brittney Griner
As many other players have said before, the rise in racism coincides with this season in particular. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s first year in the WNBA was the most-watched and most scrutinized of all-time.
With an increase in popularity, unfortunately, comes an increase in negativity. That is just part of the deal. It is two-fold and Brittney Griner agrees. In doing so, she blamed all of the racism and hate on the new fans, not the ones who have been with the league for years.
“I don’t appreciate the new fans that sit there and yell racial slurs at myself, my teammates, and the people that I play against because, yeah, those my best opponents but those are friends too.”
— DANA (@iam_DanaScott) September 27, 2024
Brittney Griner on players facing racism from WNBA’s news fleet of fans in 2024. pic.twitter.com/Uhw7rp8umO
There is no clear solution to this ongoing issue. However, the players are fed up with how they are treated and they want something to be done. That is entirely fair. Racism should not be tolerated.
It would also be in their best interest to learn how to tune it out. They are not the only professional athletes who receive hate from fans — in person and/or online. Blaming the “new fans” is the quickest way to eliminate those fans all together.