Is Brittney Griner suspended from the WNBA? Viral rumors debunked

Brittney Griner was ejected earlier this week during the middle of a game. This led to rumors of a potential suspension making the rounds on the internet, but it has now been proven that the claim is false.

Brittney Griner, who was imprisoned in a Russian prison in 2022 after she was arrested for carrying medically prescribed hash oil, recently opened up about her more than ten months of incarceration. She was originally sentenced to nine years in prison but was released following a prison exchange for Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms dealer. Griner spoke about her experience of being imprisoned during her appearance on the “Funky Friday” podcast in July. She said:

"I had a cellmate in the very beginning. I thought something was off with her. She acted like a child, but she was a grown woman, but she very much acted like an adolescent child. And then she had burn marks all over herself, and I found out after the fact that she was selling videos online of her husband and her child — together. And that’s who they had me in a cell with."

More about Brittney Griner's ejection from a WNBA game, as rumors about her allgeged potential suspension emerges

Brittney Griner, who has been playing for the Atlanta Dream since February of this year, was ejected during the July 31 match against the Dallas Wings.

According to the New York Post, the ejection took place during the third quarter of the game after Griner allegedly bumped into referee Angelica Sufreen, who had issued her a foul. This foul was, in fact, the second one to be issued against Griner. The first had been issued seconds earlier after she continued to argue with the referee. She had been asking for a foul against Haley Jones of the Dallas Wings, who had allegedly pushed Griner while attempting to make a basket.

After the first foul was issued, Brittney Griner continued to follow the referee around, while a staff member from her team attempted to calm her down. It cannot be said for certain if Griner actually touched the referee. However, according to the rules, her ejection—which is typically issued in cases involving severe offenses—led to her leaving the premises of the court.

This tense situation with a WNBA official led many to question whether she had been given a suspension. Although the rumors are false, this would not be the first time such rumors have emerged about Brittney Griner.

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According to ESPN, Brittney Griner and her then-partner, Glory Johnson, who played for the Tulsa Shock, were both suspended for seven games. The suspension followed a domestic violence incident involving the two players. In 2019, she was once again suspended along with two other players from the Phoenix Mercury. The trio had gotten involved in an on-court altercation during a game against the Dallas Wings.

Following the ejection last Tuesday, it was announced on Sunday that Brittney Griner has sustained a neck injury. She is not expected to play in the game against the Chicago Sky on Thursday, August 7.

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