What Happened to Brittney Griner? WNBA Ejection Explained

In a dramatic turn of events during the recent Sparks vs. Mercury game, Brittney Griner was ejected following a physical altercation. The incident has sparked widespread discussion, and fans are wondering what exactly happened.

Here is more about Brittney Griner getting ejected from the Sparks vs. Mercury game.

Brittney Griner ejected from Sparks vs Mercury game after physical altercation

In a heated moment during the Phoenix Mercury’s 85-81 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night, Brittney Griner and Rickea Jackson were both ejected from the game late in the second quarter. The incident began when Mercury guard Celeste Taylor missed a free throw attempt, and in the ensuing play, Jackson and Li Yueru tried to box out Griner. Griner’s arm made contact with Jackson’s face, leading to a physical altercation between the two players.

As tensions flared, Jackson reacted by pushing Griner, who responded with a swipe that missed its target. Although the scuffle was brief and quickly separated by teammates and coaches, the referees decided to issue two technical fouls. It resulted in automatic ejections for both players. Jackson’s ejection was notable as it marked her first career dismissal from a game. Despite briefly returning to the court, Jackson received a warm cheer from the crowd. She has been a standout rookie this season, averaging 13.4 points per game and ranking among the top rookies in several statistical categories.

Griner, who had contributed 14 points before her ejection, faced criticism for her actions. In response to the criticism she received, Griner defended her on-court passion and dismissed her detractors. On X (formerly Twitter), she posted, “Keep talking from your couches. Y’all wouldn’t last a minute in my shoes. I play with passion. If you can’t handle that, maybe you should find another sport to watch.” (via Marca)

The altercation has added to the controversy surrounding Griner, who was recently in the news for her detention in Russia.