BRITTNEY GRINER BREAKS HER SILENCE ON VIRAL CLARK INCIDENT: “I WOULD NEVER SAY THAT”

In the wake of a viral video that ignited controversy and speculation across social media platforms, WNBA star Brittney Griner is finally speaking out—and she’s making it crystal clear: she did not call Caitlin Clark a “f***ing white girl.”

The incident in question stems from a May 22 matchup between Griner’s Atlanta Dream and Clark’s Indiana Fever. Griner was seen on the bench visibly frustrated following a foul call, and lip-readers on X (formerly Twitter) quickly circulated footage that they claimed showed Griner using a racial slur directed at Clark. The internet erupted with debates, think pieces, and commentary from all sides.

But on Sunday, as the Dream prepared to take on the Washington Mystics in D.C., Griner addressed the rumors head-on.

“Would Never Say That.”

“I was mad about a call,” Griner said firmly before the game. “But I would never say something like that. There’s no place for that in our league.”

Her tone was calm but serious—determined to set the record straight after weeks of silence.

“Honestly, I don’t even remember exactly what I said in the heat of the moment,” she continued. “But I know it wasn’t that. That’s not who I am, and that’s not what I stand for.”

Speaking to OutKick reporter Dan Zaksheske, Griner was adamant that race had nothing to do with her frustration on the bench.

“I was upset,” she acknowledged. “It happens. We’re competitors. But I’ve been in this league too long to go there.”

The Viral Lip-Reading Frenzy

The clip in question quickly gained traction following the Dream’s 91-84 loss to the Fever on May 22. With cameras lingering on Griner, who had just returned to the bench, many fans claimed they saw her mouth the words “f***ing white girl”—and speculation spread like wildfire.

Was it directed at Clark? A referee? Another player entirely?

Despite the lack of audio evidence, the court of public opinion was already in session. Some accused Griner of harboring racial bias. Others defended her, pointing out how unreliable lip-reading can be—especially in the chaos of a live sporting event.

Regardless, the clip spawned thousands of heated replies, video breakdowns, and fan theories—none of which included Griner’s side of the story.

Until now.

Why the Silence?

So why did it take Griner nearly a month to speak out?

According to those close to her, she wasn’t trying to avoid the topic—she just didn’t want to fuel speculation without facts. Friends and teammates say Griner was stunned by the narrative forming around her and wanted to ensure her response was measured and not reactionary.

“She’s not someone who speaks just to make noise,” said one Dream staffer, speaking anonymously. “She wanted to make sure when she addressed it, people understood the truth—no spin, no drama.”

A League Already Under the Microscope

The controversy arrives during a time of intense scrutiny for the WNBA. With rookies like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese bringing in record-breaking viewership, the league has found itself at the center of mainstream sports coverage like never before. But that increased attention has also meant heightened tensions, polarizing storylines, and viral moments blown out of proportion.

The so-called “Clark Effect” has sparked not only admiration, but also resentment among some players and fanbases. Media framing has often painted Clark as a media darling while others, like Reese and Griner, are portrayed in more controversial lights.

Griner’s incident, whether misinterpreted or not, tapped into that fragile undercurrent of race, rivalry, and media narrative that’s been simmering all season.

Clark’s Camp Has Stayed Silent

Notably, Caitlin Clark has made no public comment regarding the alleged incident.

Her team, the Indiana Fever, has also remained quiet. Sources close to the organization say they were aware of the video but chose not to escalate the situation without clear proof.

“She’s focused on basketball,” said a source close to Clark. “She doesn’t want to get involved in side dramas, especially if there’s no evidence it was about her.”

Dream Crush Mystics as Griner Stays Composed

While the controversy lingers off the court, Griner returned to business on the court on Sunday, helping lead the Dream to a dominant 89-56 win over the Washington Mystics. Though she scored just two points, she added eight rebounds, playing a strong defensive role throughout the game.

The victory was decisive, but the cloud of controversy still hung over the post-game interviews, where Griner was again pressed for more details.

Her response remained unchanged: “People are going to believe what they want. But I know what I said—and what I didn’t say.”

The Broader Conversation

The incident, whether based on a misunderstanding or not, has sparked important conversations within and around the WNBA:

How do media narratives shape player perception?

Are fans too quick to judge players based on lip-reading and social media speculation?

Is the league doing enough to protect its athletes from misinformation and public backlash?

Experts argue that in an age of instant virality, context is often lost, and players can be tried in the court of public opinion long before facts are confirmed.

“Social media has no patience for nuance,” said one sports media analyst. “And when you add race, gender, and competition into the mix, everything becomes combustible.”

Looking Ahead

The Atlanta Dream won’t face Clark’s Indiana Fever again until July 11—a game that now carries additional weight, whether the players like it or not.

Will tensions rise on the court? Or will both stars use the opportunity to rise above the noise?

For now, Griner says she’s focused on staying true to herself—and playing the game she loves.

“People are going to talk,” she said. “But I’m going to keep showing up, keep playing hard, and keep representing my team the right way.”

SEE MORE: Who is Sophie Cunningham? Caitlin Clark’s new ‘bodyguard’ teammate emerging as a WNBA icon

Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham has become the second-most popular WNBA player among many circles of fans in recent days after aggressively protecting teammate Caitlin Clark from players who hit her.

During a game against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, Cunningham started a brawl between the two teams after several physical plays against Clark.

Cunningham’s persona and popularity skyrocketed in the days that followed, as she is slowly becoming an icon among the WNBA’s newer fans.

Cunningham’s follower count on social media has rapidly multiplied

June 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) in the second half against the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)

Prior to Tuesday’s game, Cunningham had fewer than 400,000 followers on TikTok.

At the time of publication, she has 1.2 million on TikTok and that number is only growing.

She has an estimated increase of more than 300,000 followers on Instagram since the game as well, with a total of more than 800,000 at the time of publication.

Sportico estimates that her increase in followers could be worth over $1 million.

“It’s unprecedented growth,” Addison Abdo, who represents Cunningham as a senior director at sports management agency PRP, told the outlet. “We work with some pretty big athletes that have gone viral for some pretty big things, but this has been something that I haven’t seen before—this type of growth in this short amount of time … was very new territory.”

Cunningham comes from a family of southern farmers

A five-part feature series by Cunningham’s alma mater, the University of Missouri, recounted her family’s southern farm roots.

Cunningham learned to ride horses and drove four-wheelers to the family’s grain silos.

“So much of our success goes back to what we learned here,” Cunningham said of working on the farm. “We loved coming out to the farm to help. We found out how to work hard and work together. It made us farm strong.”

Cunningham even had a special name for her farmer grandparents: “Maw Maw and Paw Paw.”

Cunningham played football with boys in high school

Cunningham was born into a family of athletes, as her parents, Jim and Paula Cunningham, each played sports at the University of Missouri. Her father played football, and her mother competed in track and field.

So Sophie ended up in sports right away.

She played girls’ basketball and volleyball at Rock Bridge High School in Missouri, but even ended up following in her dad’s footsteps on the football field.

A 2014 article by the Columbia Missourian reported that Cunningham was the first female to ever score any points for the team in history, when she kicked two of four extra points in place of the team’s regular kicker, who had suffered a torn ACL.

Cunningham even handled kick-off duties.

“I was so nervous,” Cunningham told the outlet. “I mean, I’ve never played football before in all my life. Right when I got the ball (on the opening kickoff), I couldn’t hear anything. I just put the ball down and kicked it.”

Cunningham has been able to fight since she was a very young child

With Cunningham earning the nickname “the enforcer” for the Fever, fans counting on her to protect Caitlin Clark can take confidence in knowing she is a black belt in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo.

She earned the black belt at just the tender age of six.

Cunningham’s martial arts experience earned the affection of ESPN host Pat McAfee.

“It feels like Caitlin Clark is going to get treated in a certain way in this league for a long time. She’s not a rookie anymore. She has already proved herself. She has won. And then there was some ladies last night that were trying to get a little physical,” McAfee said during an episode of his show Wednesday.

May 17, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) poses for a photo on Saturday, May 17, 2025, before a game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.  (Grace Smith- Imagn Images via IndyStar)

“And last year, I think something we noticed… when Caitlin would get bullied, nobody would do nothing… They bring in Sophie Cunningham, I had no idea Sophie Cunningham was a black belt at the age of six! Boom! ‘Jacy Sheldon, that’s cute. You want to poke [Clark] in the eye?… I’ll take a take-foul, and you’ll eat the deck a little bit here.'”

Cunningham was once criticized for wearing a hat that resembled a MAGA hat

Back in June of last year, Cunningham posted a photo of herself wearing a red hat with white text on social media, and swarms of critics rushed to speak out against her for perceived support of Donald Trump.

June 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) and Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon (4) get into a fight in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)

However, the hat simply said “Hot Cowgirl Summer.”

Cunningham’s team at the time, the Phoenix Mercury, even had to make a post from the official team account to clarify what the hat said.

OutKick has previously reported that Cunningham has been regularly criticized by WNBA fans who have nicknamed her “MAGA Barbie.”

Cunningham’s official political views are unknown.