As of Friday afternoon, the WNBA has not issued an official statement regarding Griner’s conduct or whether the league plans to investigate the alleged remarks.
The controversy comes at a critical moment in Griner’s career as she continues to reintegrate into professional basketball following her high-profile detainment in Russia in 2022.
Griner was convicted of drug smuggling after cannabis oil was discovered in her luggage at a Moscow airport and sentenced to nine years in prison.
She returned to the U.S. in December 2022 after the Biden administration negotiated her release in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Who had been serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. Bout, often dubbed the “Merchant of Death,” has reportedly resumed weapons activity since the exchange.
The incident between Griner and Clark has reignited broader discussions around sportsmanship, race, and the application of league discipline in professional women’s athletics.
