Brittney Griner is asked if she ‘had to have sex with Vladimir Putin to get released from Russia’

Brittney Griner was asked by a DFW Airport heckler if she should “have sex with Vladimir Putin” to secure her release from Russia in the wake of her drug smuggling conviction last year.

The WNBA star spent nearly 10 months locked up in Mordovia before being returned to America in a controversial prisoner swap with Viktor Bout – commonly known as ‘The Merchant of Death’.

The response from the American public was not overwhelmingly positive after Griner’s return, given her earlier comments about boycotting the national anthem – only to have her opinion reversed when she returned from imprisonment in Russia.

That led to conservative YouTuber Alex Stein filming Griner at Dallas Airport and trying to ask her questions, which were met with silence by the WNBA star.

In the full clip, released Sunday, Stein can be heard saying, “Was that a fair trade for the Merchant of Death?” I know you kill it on the field, but he kills it in real life.

Griner was harassed at the airport in Dallas as she and her teammates were walking to their plane

Griner was back on the field on Sunday as the Phoenix Mercury beat the Indiana Fever

“Is it true that you had to have sex with Vladimir Putin to be released from Russia? Briton? What about his wife?’

The incident has led to Phoenix Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard confirming that the team will make travel adjustments for upcoming road races to avoid similar situations in the future.

While she declined to reveal further details about the change in their travel plans, Nygaard did mention security concerns.

The coach was not happy with what happened at the airport as the Mercury left Dallas to go to Sunday’s game against the Indiana Fever.

“No one should be the victim of targeted harassment,” Nygaard said before the game. “I am thankful that our team and staff are in good physical condition.

“I am especially grateful that BG is now back here in the United States for 185 days. If she’s home drives some people crazy, it clearly says more about them than it does about her.”

The Mercury tour party was eventually escorted to a room at the airport to get away from the bickering.

“Obviously, that’s nothing anyone wants to deal with, especially on a business trip for work,” said Brianna Turner, a Phoenix center. “We represent the league, we represent the city of Phoenix, our organization and in times like these we don’t want to cause a big spectacle.

Griner is pictured running her bag through a scanner after being approached by a sniffer dog at Moscow Airport in February 2022

Griner spent nearly 10 months in a Russian penal colony for drug smuggling last year

She was involved in a high-profile prisoner exchange with ‘Merchant of Death’ Viktor Bout (above)

“We don’t like throwing phones or saying things. I think the lesson is that you live and learn, but I don’t know what you’ll do if it happens again.”

While the WNBA said it has been working to keep Griner and all players safe, the players’ union said on Saturday that the league needs to do a better job of offering charter flights.

New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart, who serves on the union’s executive committee, is all for Griner flying the way she wants.

“I think, you know, extra precautions need to be taken and you know, I don’t think anyone is against BG having charter flights whenever she wants so she can be herself and travel and feel comfortable to feel. safe,” said Stewart. “Because that’s the last thing we want is what happened yesterday.”

Griner scored 29 points as the Mercury won 85-82 against the Fever on Sunday.