Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner has broken her silence following the harassment incident she experienced at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport involving YouTuber Alex Stein. Griner believes this event marks a critical turning point for the WNBA and its policies regarding charter flights.

During a video call introducing the Mercury's interim head coach, Nikki Blue, Griner expressed her views on the situation, stating her belief that the option for private or charter flights should have been available already. She described the incident as "rock bottom" for the league and emphasized the importance of player safety. Griner stressed that waiting for an incident to occur before implementing change is a dangerous approach.

The incident, which took place on June 10, involved Stein approaching Griner and asking provocative questions, including one about her imprisonment in Russia. Mercury security intervened, and one of Griner's teammates labeled Stein as "weird."

Following the incident, the Mercury released a statement emphasizing their commitment to player safety and support for Griner. The WNBA also issued a statement reaffirming their dedication to ensuring player security, noting that they had worked with the Mercury and Griner's team to arrange charter flights for WNBA games and provide security personnel.

Previously, the league had only pre-approved two charter flights for the entire season, with a "hybrid plan" allowing Griner individual charter flights thereafter. However, reports suggest that the Mercury are now permitted to use charter flights for the remainder of the season following the incident.

The league is also expanding charter flight options for teams through a partnership with JSX. The issue of charter flights has been a long-standing debate within the WNBA, with team owners like the Mercury's Mat Ishbia and the New York Liberty's Joe Tsai advocating for their increased use.