Brittney Griner criticized the WNBA’s travel arrangements two weeks after getting harassed at a Dallas airport while flying commercial with the Phoenix Mercury.
Per ESPN’s M.A. Voepel, Griner suggested the team’s traveling situation has changed since a YouTube personality accosted her two weeks ago. However, she didn’t specify the Mercury’s current circumstances.
“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.”
Although the WNBA permits the use of a public chartering service known as JSX, the collective bargaining agreement prohibits teams from using private charter flights. The league has claimed it’s not viable for all teams, and thus would provide a competitive advantage.
ESPN previously reported that the WNBA approved Griner to fly privately after the incident. However, the league claimed they had already allowed that all year due to safety concerns.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told ESPN’s Outside the Lines the Mercury can do whatever they want because of Griner’s “unique situation.” Griner spent 11 months under Russian detainment last year.
Given her enhanced profile, the WNBA and Mercury have tried to keep their travel plans secret for security purposes.
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