Britney Griner Reveals How Refs Helped Indiana Fever Win Game 1 vs Aces

In a surprising and candid statement, WNBA star Brittney Griner has stirred controversy by claiming that referees played a key role in the Indiana Fever’s Game 1 win over the Las Vegas Aces in the current playoff series.

Griner, known for speaking her mind, didn’t mince words when asked about the Fever’s surprising victory over the defending champions.

“Let’s be real — the refs were on their side from tip-off,” Griner said in a post-practice media session. “There were calls being made for Indiana that we wouldn’t get in a regular-season game, let alone the playoffs.”

Her comments sparked immediate debate across sports media and social platforms, with some fans agreeing that the officiating appeared inconsistent, while others accused Griner of deflecting from her team’s poor performance.

“It’s no secret who brings the ratings right now. But let’s not forget, this is still competition. Let the players decide the game — not the whistles.”

The WNBA has not commented on Griner’s remarks, but insiders suggest the league is reviewing Game 1 officiating as part of its routine post-game evaluations. No formal complaints have been filed by the Aces organization as of now.

The series continues with Game 2, and all eyes will be on both the players and the officials, as tensions rise and accusations of bias loom large.

WNBA Star Brittney Griner Explains Three-Day Silence After Loss to Indiana Fever

Brittney Griner is in the midst of a crucial career crossroads at the moment. The 10-time WNBA All-Star is set to become a free agent in the offseason after her one-year deal with the Atlanta Dream comes to an end. At this point, it is unclear what the future holds for the two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

Griner’s 12th WNBA season ended on a bitter note. This is after the Dream suffered an 87-85 loss against the Indiana Fever in Game 3 of their first-round matchup. That was the end of the line for Atlanta, and quite possibly, Griner’s last game in a Dream uniform.

The 34-year-old took to social media on Monday to send her gratitude to the Atlanta faithful. It was not exactly a farewell message, but rather a show of appreciation for how they had supported her throughout the season.

Interestingly, Griner posted her statement three days after the Dream’s loss to the Fever, which was on Thursday, Sept. 18. In her message, the six-time All-WNBA center also revealed that she needed some time after the season-ending loss to Indiana.

“Needed the weekend… Thank you to ALL the ATL fans for the support we received this season ‼️” Griner posted on Threads.

Griner regularly posts on Threads, often even multiple times a day. However, she had to take a three-day hiatus after the loss to the Fever, perhaps to process the heartbreaking defeat.

Upon her return, however, Griner made sure to express her appreciation to the Dream fans, who were also left disappointed. Atlanta had an impressive run in the regular season, finishing on a six-game winning streak to secure the No. 3 spot with a 30-14 record, only to suffer a first-round exit at the hands of an injury-marred Fever side.

The upcoming offseason will be very interesting for Griner as she considers renewing her contract with the Dream or potentially moving on to her next WNBA team.