Brittney Griner had an eventful night on Wednesday as she was ejected during the third quarter of her team’s 88-85 victory over the Wings. The ejection came after Griner received two technical fouls in quick succession, the second of which followed an incident involving referee Angelica Suffren.
The situation escalated when Griner, clearly frustrated with a foul call, approached Suffren. The Dream center received her first technical for her protest and followed the referee, leading to another technical when contact was made, which resulted in her ejection. Video footage revealed that while Griner seemed to follow the referee, it was a member of the Dream’s coaching staff who may have inadvertently touched Suffren in an attempt to diffuse the situation.
Griner’s performance was subdued, contributing just four points and four rebounds before her early exit, which marks a challenging season for her as she posts career lows in scoring, minutes, and rebounds. Earlier this season, Griner was in the spotlight for a controversial moment involving Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, where speculation about her comments was rampant. She clarified that her language was not offensive.
Despite Griner’s struggles, the Atlanta Dream have shown resilience this season. Their latest win brings their record to 16-11, just 1.5 games away from securing the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. This shows that while Griner is facing personal challenges, her team continues to rally and stay competitive in the league.
Overall, the incident serves as a reminder of the passion athletes bring to the game, and how crucial it is for them to manage their emotions while advocating for their play. As the playoffs approach, the Dream’s ability to navigate such situations could be pivotal to their success.