Brittney Griner’s evening took a turn for the worse on Tuesday when she was thrown out of the game following a heated altercation with Los Angeles Sparks rookie Rickea Jackson, which almost escalated into a fight.
In the footage you can see Griner had to be held back by her teammates after things almost got physical with Jackson. Just moments before the situation was diffused, Griner seemed to clench her right fist, prompting players and coaches to step in between her and Jackson. The incident occurred just before halftime during a Phoenix free throw. Griner was trying to box out Jackson and Li Yueru when she pushed her forearm into Jackson. After getting tangled up, Griner turned and raised her elbow toward Jackson’s face. This led to both players shoving each other until teammates and coaches intervened.
Griner and Jackson were both ejected from the game. Griner exited the game with 14 points and three rebounds. The 10-time WNBA All-Star is currently the top rebounder on her team, averaging 6.5 rebounds per game.
It’s been a significant year for Griner, even though the season has had its challenges, with the Mercury currently sitting at 19-20 in the WNBA standings.
In July, Griner and her wife Cherelle celebrated the arrival of their first son, whom they named Bash.
“He is amazing,” Griner said while speaking with CBS Sports. “They said as soon as you see them, everything that you thought mattered just goes out the window. That’s literally what happened.”
Griner and her wife Cherelle, a lawyer, tied the knot in 2019 after meeting during their college days at Baylor University. Just weeks after welcoming their first child, Griner traveled to Paris to assist Team USA in securing its seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal, marking the ninth gold for women’s basketball since the sport was added to the Olympics in 1976.
The Olympics represented a significant milestone for the two-time AP Player of the Year. While she has earned three gold medals with Team USA in total, this was her first Olympic appearance since being held in Russia for 10 months. Griner was filled with emotion as she celebrated their victory in Paris.