Phoenix Mercury’s Griner, other players receive suspensions from WNBA
Aug 13, 2019, 10:02 AM | Updated: 11:02 am
Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball between Jantel Lavender #42 and Nneka Ogwumike #30 of the Los Angeles Sparks during a WNBA basketball game at Staples Center on August 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
The WNBA has issued suspensions following the altercation towards the end of the Phoenix Mercury and Dallas Wings game Saturday, the league announced in a press release Tuesday.
Mercury center Brittney Griner and Wings forwards Kristine Anigwe and Kayla Thornton played roles in the fight with 6:25 remaining in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game.
Griner was given a three-game suspension for throwing punches and pushing Thornton’s face. Anigwe has been suspended for two games for instigating the fight, and Thornton has been suspended for two as well for escalating the altercation.
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Referees handed out ejections to six players after Griner and Anigwe got tangled up in the lane. Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi and Dallas forward Kaela Davis were also ejected for leaving the bench area during the altercation.
Taurasi was suspended one game and received a $500 fine. Phoenix forward DeWanna Bonner was also fined $500 for escalating the incident.
Griner’s suspension will begin Aug. 14, when Phoenix hosts the Connecticut Sun. Taurasi, who is suffering from an injury, will not serve her suspension until she is medically cleared to play.
