A new controversy has erupted in the sports world after LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey made an explosive statement regarding WNBA star Brittney Griner.
In a shocking demand, Mulkey called for Griner’s immediate removal from the U.S. national team, going so far as to suggest that she should “go back to Russia” and that she “doesn’t deserve to represent this country.”
The comments, which have sent shockwaves through both the basketball community and the broader sports world, are the latest chapter in a complicated history between the two figures.
The fallout from Mulkey’s remarks is already building, with many questioning whether the long-standing rift between her and Griner has finally boiled over into outright hostility.
Mulkey, who coached Griner at Baylor University from 2009 to 2013, has had a notoriously strained relationship with the WNBA star. While Griner led Baylor to an NCAA championship and became one of the most dominant collegiate players of all time under Mulkey’s leadership, their relationship soured in the years that followed.
Griner has previously spoken about feeling unsupported by Mulkey, particularly regarding her sexuality and identity. After coming out as gay following her college career, Griner revealed that she felt Baylor’s program, under Mulkey’s leadership, discouraged open conversations about LGBTQ+ topics.
The tension deepened when Mulkey refused to publicly advocate for Griner’s release during her 10-month detention in Russia in 2022. While many players, coaches, and public figures demanded Griner’s return, Mulkey remained silent—a silence that was widely criticized.
Now, her latest remarks seem to have taken the feud to an entirely new level.
During an off-the-cuff media session, Mulkey was asked about Griner’s inclusion in the U.S. national team as the WNBA prepares for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Rather than offering a diplomatic response, Mulkey launched into a scathing critique.
“She doesn’t deserve to represent this country,” Mulkey reportedly said. “After everything, after going to Russia, after the way she’s acted, why should she get to wear that jersey? There are plenty of other players who would love that opportunity and who actually respect what it means.”
Mulkey didn’t stop there. She then referenced Griner’s highly publicized detention in Russia, where she was imprisoned on drug charges before being released in a high-profile prisoner exchange brokered by the U.S. government.
“She’s lucky she even got to come back here at all,” Mulkey continued. “She should be grateful, but instead, she acts entitled. Maybe she should go back to Russia if she loves it so much.”
The remarks quickly spread across social media, with reactions pouring in from players, analysts, and fans.
Mulkey’s comments have been met with widespread criticism, with many accusing her of being unnecessarily cruel and divisive.
WNBA legend Sue Bird was one of the first to respond, calling Mulkey’s words “disgusting.”
“You don’t have to like someone personally, but to say something like that about a fellow American who went through what BG did? That’s just wrong,” Bird said.
Dawn Staley, head coach of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team and a vocal supporter of Griner, also weighed in.
“This is beyond basketball,” Staley said. “This is about humanity. We celebrate our athletes, we don’t tear them down because of personal grudges.”
Even NBA stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant chimed in, both expressing their disappointment with Mulkey’s statement.
“This is just hate, plain and simple,” Durant tweeted. “There’s no room for this kind of talk in our game.”
As of now, Team USA has not issued an official statement regarding the controversy, but many are calling for them to condemn Mulkey’s remarks. Some even believe that the U.S. Olympic Committee should take action against Mulkey in some form, especially considering her influence in women’s basketball.
Meanwhile, Brittney Griner has yet to respond publicly. Sources close to the Phoenix Mercury star say she was “deeply hurt” by the comments but has chosen to stay focused on her game rather than engaging in a public feud.
One anonymous WNBA executive suggested that Mulkey’s comments may backfire.
“This might actually make Team USA rally around Griner even more,” the source said. “If anything, it proves exactly why players like her are so important—because they represent resilience and strength.”
Predictably, the controversy has sparked heated debates among fans. Some are siding with Mulkey, arguing that Griner’s actions in Russia were irresponsible and that she should not be representing the country on an international stage.
Others, however, see Mulkey’s comments as cruel, unnecessary, and reflective of long-standing biases in sports.
“This isn’t about patriotism. This is about personal grudges and discrimination,” one fan wrote on Twitter. “Kim Mulkey has been trying to erase BG for years, and now she finally said the quiet part out loud.”
Others have pointed out the hypocrisy of Mulkey’s stance, noting that other athletes with past controversies have been welcomed back onto national teams without this level of criticism.
“People make mistakes. But BG paid the price, and she was brought home by her country. That should be the end of the discussion,” another fan added.
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The fallout from Mulkey’s remarks is still unfolding, but it’s clear that this story is far from over. Will USA Basketball issue a response? Will Mulkey face any repercussions? And most importantly, will this controversy affect Brittney Griner’s status on the U.S. team?
For now, Griner remains focused on preparing for the Olympics, while the basketball world waits to see whether Mulkey will clarify, apologize, or double down on her shocking statement.
One thing is certain—this controversy has reignited the long-standing divide between Mulkey and Griner, and it’s unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.
