WNBA Coach Is APPALLED More People Didn't Show Up For Brittney Griner's Return

On Saturday, Vanessa Nygaard, coach of the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), expressed her bewilderment that Los Angeles fans did not turn up in droves for the return of controversial player Brittney Griner.

Following a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, Nygaard addressed Griner's return by saying, “I mean, it was great. But like honestly, c’mon now LA. We didn’t sell out the arena for BG? Like, I expected more, you know, to be honest. Right, it was great, it was loud. But how was it not a sellout? How was it not a sellout?”

As Mediaite previously reported, "an announced crowd of 10,396 was on hand for the game on Friday, roughly half of the arena’s capacity. Those who were there gave Griner a loud ovation during the pregame ceremonies, as a video tribute to the Phoenix Mercury star played on the big screen."

For context, Griner was detained by Russian authorities in 2022 on drug charges -- allegedly illegally carrying hashish oil into the country. Griner's detainment generated significant public controversy. After all, Griner was infamous for her refusal to stand for our national anthem. -- saying, "We should not play the national anthem during our season.” Griner has recently expressed her support for the anthem, following her release, stating she now more than ever appreciates the freedom to protest she is afforded by our constitution. 

But Biden's December 2022 deal to release Griner on the basis of a prisoner exchange was even more divisive than her detainment -- exchanging arms dealer Viktor Bout for the WNBA star. Indeed, it enraged politicians on both sides of the aisle. 

As Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) said at the time, "The Russians and other regimes that take American citizens hostage cannot pretend that there is equivalence between the Brittney Griner’s of the world and people like Viktor Bout, the so-called ‘Merchant of Death.’ Nothing could be further from the truth, and we cannot ignore that releasing Bout back into the world is a deeply disturbing decision. We must stop inviting dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans overseas as bargaining chips..."

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) also offered his perspective, saying of the release, "It’s heartening to hear Brittney Griner has been released and will be reunited with her friends and family in the United States. Nevertheless, it’s concerning that the Biden administration has released Viktor Bout in what was clearly a blackmail demand. Bout is one of the most dangerous men in the world and an arms dealer who conspired to kill Americans and aid terrorists, and his release makes every American less safe -- so does the manner of his release, which will encourage terrorists and rogue regimes to seize more Americans as hostages."