WNBA star Brittney Griner harassed at Dallas airport; incident sparks calls for increased player safety measures

Brittney Griner and her Phoenix Mercury teammates were confronted by Alex Stein, a right-wing YouTuber, at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Saturday.
Stein aggressively harassed Griner, shouting questions about her detention in Russia and accusing her of hating America, before Mercury security personnel intervened.
The WNBA, Mercury and Griner's agent condemned the harassment and called for enhanced security protocols to protect players, including mandating charter team flights.
The WNBA had approved Griner to charter her own flights this season due to safety concerns, but most teams still fly commercial, raising concerns about player vulnerability.
The incident has highlighted the additional scrutiny and threats faced by WNBA players, especially Black women and those who advocate for social justice.