After a monumental gold medal win in the 2024 Paris Olympics, superstar Brittney Griner became visibly emotional as the national anthem played to commemorate the victory. Notably, this seemingly newfound sense of patriotism drastically contrasts the attitude she displayed toward the Star Spangled Banner just several years ago.
During the heightened racial tensions in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in 2020, Griner followed in the footsteps of many woke athletes who protested the national anthem amid accusations that the United States embodied racism. During the summer of 2020, Griner even went as far as to suggest that the WNBA shouldn’t play the national anthem before games.
“I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season,” she said that July. “I think we should take that much of a stand.” Griner continued, “I’m going to protest regardless,” she added. “I’m not going to be out there for the national anthem. If the league continues to want to play it, that’s fine. It will be all season long, I’ll not be out there. I feel like more are going to probably do the same thing. I can only speak for myself.”
However, after she returned from her stint in the Russian penal system after being arrested in 2022 on drug charges, Griner appears to have a different outlook toward America, appreciating that freedoms that cannot be taken for granted. The WNBA star spent roughly ten months in a Russian prison before being released in a prisoner swap.
Speaking about the privilege of competing in the Paris Olympics, Griner said, “I didn’t think I would be here. And then to be here and winning gold for my country, representing when my country fought for me so hard to even be standing here. This gold medal is going to hold a special place among the other two I was fortunate to win.”
Last year, The American Tribune reported on comments from Griner explaining how the national anthem “hit different” after returning stateside from her international incarceration. “Hearing the national anthem, it definitely hit different,” she stated. “It’s like when you go for the Olympics, you’re sitting there, about to get gold put on your neck, the flags are going up, and the anthem is playing, it just hits different. “Being here today … it means a lot.”
Earlier this year, The Tribune reported on more recent comments from Griner, claiming she was “blown away” by criticism of her being unpatriotic. She said, “Everyone has made a mistake before.” However, she disputed the claims that it was “unpatriotic” for her to kneel in protest while the national anthem played. The WNBA player maintained that it was “her right as an American” to protest.
She further stated, “You have the right to protest, the right to able to speak out, question, challenge and do all these things,” Griner said. “What I went through and everything, it just means a little bit more to me now. So I want to be able to stand. I was literally in a cage [in Russia] and could not stand the way I wanted to.”
However, Griner emphasized the joy of hearing the national anthem and being able to stand for it. “Just being able to hear my national anthem, see my flag, I definitely want to stand. Now everybody that will not stand or not come out, I totally support them 100%. That’s our right as an American in this great country,” she explained.
Watch recent comments from Griner about being called “pops” below:
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