The WNBA game between the Phoenix Mercury and Los Angeles Sparks saw tempers flare as Brittney Griner and Rickea Jackson got into a scuffle, leading to their ejections and a social media storm.
- Sep 19, 2024
AceShowbiz - On Tuesday night, Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury and Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks clashed in a fiery altercation during their fourth and final WNBA matchup of the 2024 season at Crypto.com Arena. The clash began towards the end of the second quarter when Griner appeared to catch Jackson with an elbow during a free throw boxout. Jackson retaliated by shoving Griner, resulting in both players squaring off and having to be separated.
The incident led to immediate ejections for both players, marking the first ejection of Jackson's young career. The altercation quickly went viral on Instagram, garnering over 50,000 likes and sparking a social media frenzy. Fans took the opportunity to troll Griner, who didn't hesitate to respond with fiery rebuttals.
"Come and get me then!" Griner replied to a fan who told her to go back to Russia. "Cuz mf's want to try me and they can get this action?" she clapped back in another comment.
However, some people think Griner should just ignore those trolls as former NBA star Matt Barnes chimed in, critiquing Griner for engaging with trolls. "You too old for this comment section," Barnes remarked.
Jackson, who has been a standout rookie for the Sparks, also took to social media. When a fan mocked her, saying she ran away from Griner, Jackson threw shade at her rival while quipping, "@alyssadpetty creating space for the size up bookie butt."
Both players were slapped with two technical fouls each, leading to automatic ejections. Despite the incident, the Mercury managed to secure a win, adding a bright spot heading into the playoffs. Griner's ejection, while not ideal, won't significantly impact the Mercury's playoff aspirations. They have the No. 7 seed locked up and next face the Minnesota Lynx.
Jackson has been a rare bright spot for the Sparks in an otherwise challenging season, with averages of 13.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Her potential to make the All-Rookie First Team remains strong, despite the team's struggles following a season-ending injury to Cameron Brink.
While tensions flared both on-court and online, it remains to be seen if any further disciplinary actions will be taken. As the Mercury prepare for the upcoming playoffs and the Sparks wrap up their season, the spotlight remains on how these two fiery competitors will channel their passions moving forward.
