The WNBA Commissioner EXPOSED For Protecting Brittney Griner: Stephen A. Smith Ignites Controversy

The WNBA has just been rocked by a bombshell no one saw coming, sending the internet into a frenzy. Stephen A. Smith, one of the loudest voices in sports media, went live on TV and threw Brittney Griner’s name into a wild conversation about a rumored DNA test linked to her time in Russia. Behind the scenes, the league’s commissioner is reportedly fuming.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about pushing baseless conspiracies. Here’s what was said, how fans are reacting, and why this might be the ugliest PR storm the WNBA has faced in years.

The Scandal Breaks

Brittney Griner has already made global headlines—her arrest in Russia and dramatic release were followed by millions. But now, a new layer of controversy has pulled the WNBA into a situation they clearly weren’t prepared for. The commissioner’s silence is only making things worse.

Rivalries are usually good for sports, but in women’s sports, social media vitriol complicates everything. The hate, the misogyny, the homophobia, and the racism—there’s no place for it in sports. The WNBA wants to be known as a uniter, but now, negativity is overshadowing the positives. Last year, the league brought tens of millions of new fans, but now people are demanding answers—and getting nothing.

Is the DNA story even real? Or is the bigger question how much more drama the WNBA can survive before fans, sponsors, and even players start calling them out directly?

Stephen A. Smith Stirs the Pot

Stephen A. Smith, ESPN’s most recognizable voice, casually tossed Griner’s name into a segment about truth in sports—dragging her Russian ordeal back into the spotlight. He hinted that a DNA test done in Russia supposedly revealed something the public never heard about. Instantly, the mood shifted. This wasn’t a faceless troll or a shady Reddit rumor—this was Stephen A. on national TV, planting the seed in front of millions.

He didn’t confirm or deny the rumor—he dangled it like bait. Within minutes, clips of the moment were blowing up on TikTok and X, with people screaming, “Did he just say that?” For the WNBA, this was their worst-case scenario. When a personality like Stephen A. repeats a rumor, especially one previously dismissed, it breathes new life into it. The minute his words hit the air, all eyes turned to one person: WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert.

The Commissioner’s Silence

Kathy Engelbert isn’t just a figurehead—she’s the league’s first commissioner, the powerhouse behind its expansion, new sponsors, and rebranding. But her silence on the Brittney Griner mess is deafening. No press release, not even a casual “We’re aware of the chatter.” Nothing. When you stay quiet during a storm like this, it doesn’t calm people down—it makes them believe the rumor might have teeth.

Ironically, the WNBA is thriving. Ratings have skyrocketed, jumping over 170%. The league added its first new team since 2008—the Golden State Valkyrie. Headlines are about packed arenas and viral highlights, not empty seats. Sponsors are throwing money at the league, networks are giving prime coverage, and the hype feels real.

But instead of focusing on the Valkyrie’s debut or AJ Wilson’s MVP chase, the trending conversation is stuck on Brittney Griner—not her skills or comeback story, but her voice, her body, and a so-called Russian DNA test with zero proof. The league’s biggest win is being hijacked by its most toxic scandal.

The Internet Fuels the Fire

As the WNBA celebrated its huge opening week, a random courtside clip of Brittney Griner started blowing up online. She was simply chatting, but the audio captured her deep voice, and that was enough to send trolls into a frenzy. Longtime fans know her voice has always been deep—she’s spoken openly about it in interviews. But casual viewers acted like it was breaking news.

Millions viewed the clip in hours, with comments like, “That’s a dude. He gets to dunk on women all day, then shower with them, too. This has to stop.” Another troll posted, “That’s a dude. Never one time have I thought otherwise.” The same tired conspiracy Stephen A. had stirred up was alive again.

Trolls then dug up infamous shirtless pool footage that’s circulated for years. Every time Griner trends, that clip gets recycled. Fans rushed to defend her, but trolls doubled down, shifting attention back to her body instead of her game.

The Deeper Story

All roads lead back to Russia. In 2022, Griner was arrested at the Moscow airport for carrying vape cartridges, sentenced to nine years before a high-profile swap brought her home. The world watched every second, and she became a target in ways most players couldn’t imagine.

But here’s what the internet forgets: Brittney spoke about her voice and body long before Russia, and long before Stephen A. mentioned her name. In a 2015 ESPN feature, she opened up about the pain of having a deep voice, being teased as a child, mocked for her height and development, and sounding “like a boy.” That wasn’t rumor—that was her lived experience.

She admitted it hurt so much she’d avoid speaking in certain settings just to dodge jokes. This isn’t some internet mystery—it’s a story she’s already told in her own words. Fast forward nearly a decade, and Griner is still fighting the same battle in 2024.

Her memoir, “Coming Home,” dives deeper into growing up in a body the world never let her simply exist in. She writes about being ridiculed for her height, chest, and voice. Kids told her she sounded like a grown man before she even reached high school. That pain followed her for years, shaping her self-image.

That’s why Stephen A’s comments cut so deep. When he tossed out that DNA test line, he wasn’t just stirring gossip—he was reopening wounds Griner has bravely shared, again and again.

The League’s Crossroads

Now, Kathy Engelbert can’t hide. She’s been selling the WNBA as the future of women’s sports, hyping this season as the biggest breakthrough ever. Sponsors are lining up, ticket sales are breaking records, and she’s promised this is the league’s moment.

But instead of headlines about the Golden State Valkyrie or Caitlyn Clark smashing TV ratings, the conversation is hijacked by Brittney Griner’s body and a reckless rumor Stephen A. Smith handed the world. The real question isn’t if the league responds—it’s what happens if they don’t.

2025 was supposed to be the year the WNBA turned the corner and became the story in sports. But with Brittney at the center of this storm again, the league’s biggest moment might be defined by the very controversy Engelbert prayed would never return. If that happens, the future of the WNBA could shift forever.

So, as this storm rages on, one thing’s clear: the world is watching—and the next move could change everything.

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