BREAKING: Brittney Griner Flips Her Stance on the National Anthem and It’s Stirring Major Backlash
Brittney Griner (Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images)
Longtime women’s basketball star Brittney Griner is not taking living in America for granted after her freedom was taken from her while in Russia.
Before her stint in a Russian prison, Griner had been outspoken about being on the court during the National Anthem, saying, “I’m not going to be out there for the National Anthem. If the (WNBA) continues to want to play it, that’s fine. It will be all season long; I’ll not be out there.”
“I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season,” Griner said in 2020. “I think we should take that much of a stand.
“I don’t mean that in any disrespect to our country. My dad was in Vietnam and a law officer for 30 years. I wanted to be a cop before basketball. I do have pride for my country.”
Things changed drastically for her after Griner was arrested in Russia for the majority of 2022 after she was found to have cannabis in her backpack while at an airport.
Brittany Griner was sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison on charges of smuggling drugs into the country. She spent most of 2022 imprisoned before Joe Biden and his team were able to work a trade that sent Viktor Bout, the so-called Merchant of Death, back to Russia.
Among the things she had to go through was cutting her hair due to the freezing temperatures. Her dreadlocks would freeze when wet, and she needed to cut them to avoid getting chilled.
Brittney Griner Now Looks At The National Anthem Differently
These days, Griner says the national anthem “definitely hit different.”
Griner changed her stance and made it clear she no longer takes what she has in America for granted.
“I’m grateful to be here, that’s for sure. I’m not going to take a day for granted,” Griner said via NY Post.
Hearing the national anthem, it definitely hit different,” Griner said. “It’s like when you go for the Olympics, you’re sitting there, about to get gold put on your neck, the flags are going up, and the anthem is playing, it just hits different. … Being here today … it means a lot.”
Last year, Griner couldn’t hold back the flood of emotions when the American national anthem played during the Olympic medal ceremony.
This victory wasn’t just another medal but the eighth consecutive Olympic gold for the American women. But for Griner, the moment was personal.
Brittney Griner Finally Breaks Her Silence Over Alleged Caitlin Clark Comments That The WNBA Refused To Investigate
Brittney Griner (Photo via Twitter)
WNBA star Brittney Griner was at the center of a new debate over what she allegedly said in a game against basketball phenom Caitlin Clark.
The Atlanta Dream center found herself at the center of social media controversy last month when some fans thought she disparaged Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark upon fouling out.
The game’s broadcast focused on an upset Griner saying something as she returned to the Dream bench after fouling out of the game. While there’s no audio of this moment, some who tried to read Griner’s lips thought she called Clark a “trash f–king white girl.”
However, there’s no proof of Griner saying those actual words since others thought she stated something else.
It took weeks for someone to finally get a quote from her, and she provided much of nothing.
Brittney Griner was asked about this moment before her team’s June 15 game against the Washington Mystics and said, “I remember fouling out, being mad. I remember fouling out on, I believe it was [Natasha] Howard driving to the basket. They said I put my hand in.”
This is the first time I’ve heard Brittney Griner speak! 🤨
And this person is on a women’s basketball team? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/PogH2LHf3B— Jannine.. #MagaMemeQueen ™️ 👑🇺🇸 (@janninereid1) June 15, 2025
WNBA Chooses Not To Investigate Brittney Griner
Brittney Griner (Photo By Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
Moments before the conclusion of the Indiana Fever’s 81-76 victory over the Dream at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta weeks ago, cameras seemingly caught Atlanta Dream star center Brittney Griner labeling Caitlin Clark “trash” before calling her a “f***ing white girl” in frustration over a foul on Natasha Howard.
The clip of Griner speaking on the bench, lacking context, spread on social media and went viral.
Griner, who won a gold medal for Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024, essentially got aw@y with whatever came out of her mouth because the league basically ignored the controversy.
This incident is not the only time Griner vocalized her frustrations this season. Following another game, she stormed off mid-interview, yelling at the referees to “be f—ing better.
