Atlanta Dream center Brittney Griner has come under fire from conservative voices after a viral video clip appeared to show her directing controversial remarks at Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark.
The incident occurred near the end of the Fever’s 81–76 win over the Dream at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Thursday. Cameras captured Griner appearing to call Clark “trash,” with some online observers claiming she also used the phrase “f***ing white girl” following a foul called on Natasha Howard. However, due to a lack of clear audio, whether Griner actually made that specific remark remains unverified.
Despite the ambiguity, the footage quickly circulated online, fueling widespread backlash and speculation.
Conservative commentator and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines shared the video on social media, alleging that Griner had insulted Clark with a racial slur. “Just a reminder: this is who we traded for the Russian Merchant of Death,” Gaines tweeted, referencing Griner’s 2022 release from a Russian prison in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout. “Now imagine if Clark had said the inverse,” she added.
Others joined the chorus of criticism. Philip Anderson, a right-wing activist who calls himself a “January 6 survivor,” commented that Clark was “a fool for bending the knee” and called the trade for Griner “the worst ever.” Conservative pundit Paul Szypula slammed the WNBA for its silence on the issue, writing, “Will the WNBA condemn, fine, and suspend Griner for this racist comment? Of course not.”
In contrast, sports journalist Jemele Hill pushed back on the claims. Sharing the same clip, Hill said the accusations were based on misinformation. “1) The foul had nothing to do with Caitlin Clark. It was called on Griner for contact with Natasha Howard,” Hill wrote. “2) She clearly says ‘trash’ and ‘f***ing wack call,’ not ‘white girl.’”
Former NBA player Ron Harper also weighed in, cautioning against racial interpretations. “They will always test Caitlin Clark, not because she is white, but because she is one of the best players in the WNBA,” Harper tweeted. “Stop thinking this is about color.”
Two days after the incident, Griner cut short a halftime interview with CBS Sports during a game against the Dallas Wings. As referees walked by, she was heard shouting, “Be f***ing better,” further drawing attention to her recent on-court frustrations.
As of now, the WNBA has not issued a public statement regarding the incident.
