WNBA fans once again turned Brittney Griner into a lightning rod after a recent post on X highlighted her basketball legacy.
The account I talk hoops on X pointed out that Griner is the only player in women’s basketball history to win Defensive Player of the Year multiple times at both the NCAA and WNBA levels. That framing didn’t last long before the replies from WNBA fans shifted away from basketball.
Now entering her 13th WNBA season, Griner remains best known for her defense. She’s the WNBA’s all-time blocks leader and still holds the NCAA record with 748 career blocks — the most by any player, men’s or women’s, in college basketball history.
That résumé didn’t stop the backlash from WNBA fans.
@TimLilly7171 said, “They keep saying ‘she’ but he’s a dude. Russia didn’t have a problem with keeping him in a man’s prison so why does Americans still hold him in such high regard?”
They keep saying “she” but he’s a dude. Russia didn’t have a problem with keeping him in a man’s prison so why does Americans still hold him in such high regard?
— Tim Lilly (@TimLilly7171) January 28, 2026
@echavis added, “Shes underperformed in the pros. One ring”
Meanwhile, @dnmintz joked, “So, you have a tall man blocking a lot shorter women. Why is this so great! Should not even be considered!!”
While the WNBA continues to wait for its CBA to be finalized, Griner has stayed active by playing with Vinyl BC in the Unrivaled 3×3 league. Even that hasn’t quieted the criticism.
“Brittney should still be in prison”: WNBA fans lash out on Brittney Griner ahead of her documentary premiere
The reaction followed Griner into another conversation altogether.
Ahead of the premiere of The Brittney Griner Story, WNBA fans again flooded social media with harsh responses. The documentary is set to debut Tuesday at Sundance before airing on ESPN later this year and focuses on her detention in Russia. It also includes an interview with former U.S. President Joe Biden, who discussed his efforts to help secure her release.
WNBA fans didn’t hold back.
@SmathersRussell said, “Nobody cares about these two anti Americans. Brittney should still be in a prison for breaking the law. Instead we trade a war monger for an athlete.”
@lastcal2005 added, “Oh the criminal that got arrested for taking illegal drugs into Russia and than Biden trading her for a Liget hardcore criminal who went back and started selling guns again. Nobody gonna watch this sh**.”
Meanwhile, @GodfatherJamesB said, “Who cares. We want to see Sophie!”
Griner was detained for 293 days in 2022 after customs officials at a Moscow airport found vape cartridges containing less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage. Years later, discussion around her still rarely stays limited to basketball.
