A change needed to be made.
Last weekend, Brittney Griner and her teammates on the Phoenix Mercury were harassed at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport by a YouTuber who basically stalked their every move.
The WNBA Players Association wasted no time demanding the league change its travel plans for Griner as this situation will only get others to try and do the same thing.
“As we continue to hear from our members throughout the start of the season and particularly today with the situation involving the Phoenix Mercury at the Dallas Airport, we are quite clear that the matter of charter travel is not a ‘competitive advantage’ issue,” the statement read. “We cannot help but wonder if the league and teams preclude more reasonable and flexile rules regarding charter travel in 2023 in order to seek leverage on this issue at the bargaining table.”
“Social media figure and provocateur” Alex Stein is the cause fo this as he attempted to approach Griner with a camera in his hand, asking, “Did she still want to boycott America” and that she “hates America.”
Mercury players could now potentially have the chance to use JSX public charter flights on standard and alleged “created” routes, per ESPN.
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According to ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss, the WNBA will allow Griner to fly charter for the Mercury’s remaining road games.
“Sources have told ESPN that the Mercury might be able to use JSX public charter flights for the entire team on both standard and so-called “created” routes, the latter of which other WNBA teams are not allowed to do. However, neither the league nor the Mercury would confirm Friday if that this is the case, nor any other travel details.”
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert joined ESPN’s Outside the Lines on Friday and said Griner’s security and travel plans have been modified.
According to Engelbert, the league is “working” to ensure a “good plan” for the safety of Griner and the Mercury moving forward. Griner did not play in the Mercury’s game Friday against the Mystics due to a hip injury.
The 32-year-old played in her first WNBA game in more than 18 months when Phoenix faced Los Angeles on May 20. She is playing like she never missed a beat, but the team has been playing terribly overall.
