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7 Most Controversial Moments in WNBA History

by Spencer Toth - 10/22/2026

Most controversial moments in WNBA history Brittney Griner

The WNBA has grown into one of the most prominent professional basketball leagues in the world, and is arguably the most popular female sports league in North America. However, there has been no shortage of controversy in the WNBA, and it feels like the quantity and intensity of these scandals has only increased in recent seasons. Some of these moments came on the court, while others stemmed from broader political topics on players’ rights, public safety, and the responsibilities of professional sports organizations. The WNBA is on a steady upward trajectory, and as the league wraps up its 30th season, let’s take a look at the most controversial moments in WNBA history. 

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#1 Brittney Griner’s Russian Detention and Prisoner Exchange (2022)

One of the most internationally significant controversies involving a WNBA player began in February 2022 when Brittney Griner took a trip to Moscow. Griner had travelled to Russia to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA offseason, which was a common arrangement for WNBA stars looking to make extra income throughout the year. Russian authorities discovered cannabis vapes in her luggage, and Griner was promptly arrested on drug-related charges. She ended up pleading guilty to committing the crime, but maintained that she never intended to break Russian law. This came as Russia was preparing to invade Ukraine, which added more political tension to her ensuing trial. Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison, a harsh verdict for a crime of this nature. The United States government decided she was unjustly imprisoned, and elected to do a prisoner swap to secure her release. Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms dealer, was serving a 25-year sentence in the United States, and was sent back to Russia to facilitate the deal. Griner returned to the court after nearly ten months of detention to resume her career with Phoenix in 2023. This proved to be the most controversial WNBA moment of all-time as it garnered international media coverage, and is still heavily scrutinized to this day. 

#2 Enes Kanter Freedom’s WNBA Confrontations (2026)

Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom became involved in a series of WNBA controversies during the 2026 season surrounding his public opposition to transgender women competing in women’s sports. Freedom declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft after declaring that he was now female, sparking immediate outrage from players, coaches, the WNBA board, and the general public. The controversy reached its peak on August 23, 2026, when Freedom attended a game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever wearing a shirt defining a woman as an adult human female. During the third quarter of the game, Sky guard Natasha Cloud approached Freedom courtside and began pointing and shouting in his direction. Freedom didn’t back down, stood up and stepped partially onto the court before security intervened. Freedom was subsequently removed and banned from attending all future Sky home games. Freedom maintains that he was punished for expressing his views, while the Sky ownership raised concerns about his conduct and the possibility he was attempting to provoke players. Fast forward to October 20, 2026, and Freedom was then denied access to his original seat for Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, and refused alternative seating provided by the Atlanta Dream. Freedom’s attempt to become eligible for the WNBA Draft was also denied, but he remains a central figure in this ongoing controversy. 

#3 The Sparks-Shock Brawl: Malice in the Palace II (2008)

The July 22, 2008 matchup between the Los Angeles Sparks and Detroit Shock produced the largest on-court altercation in WNBA history. With just 4.2 seconds remaining at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Sparks rookie Candace Parker and Detroit forward Plenette Pierson became entangled following a free throw, and tensions escalated. Pierson knocked Parker backwards as she attempted to stand, Parker subsequently pulled Pierson to the floor, and players from both teams rushed onto the court. Detroit assistant coach Rick Mahorn entered onto the court to intervene, but knocked Sparks center Lisa Leslie to the floor, prompting further altercations. Detroit’s Cheryl Ford had to be removed from the court in a wheelchair after suffering a knee injury while attempting to break up the brawl. The WNBA issued suspensions to 10 players and Mahorn, with Pierson receiving the longest suspension at four games. This incident would have already been a national story, but the fact it took place in the same arena as the famous Malice in the Palace incident involving the Detroit Pistons only added to the storyline. 

#4 Sex Toys Thrown Onto WNBA Courts (2025)

During the summer of 2025, the WNBA experienced an unusual string of disruptions with spectators throwing sex toys onto the court. The first widely reported incident came on July 29th in a matchup between Atlanta and Golden State, when a bright green object was hurled from the stands and landed close to the players late in a tied game. Security personnel quickly removed the object, but then three days later, a similar incident occurred. This sparked a string of incidents at other WNBA venues, with at least 11 sex toys thrown onto the court during the 2025 season. What appeared to be an isolated, poorly judged prank turned into a league-wide controversy. Players and coaches criticized the behaviour, and increased security measures were put in place across the league. The incidents received significant coverage across social media, with videos circulating widely beyond traditional WNBA audiences. This raised concerns about the treatment of female professional athletes as the league experienced increased visibility across the nation. 

#5 Caitlin Clark Left Off the 2024 Olympic Team

Caitlin Clark’s rise to superstar status began during her college tenure, and reached new heights when she was the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She became one of the most recognized faces in the WNBA before she even played a single minute, and her arrival was generating a significant amount of buzz around the league. However, when USA basketball announced its 12-player roster for the Paris Olympics in June 2024, Clark’s name was absent. The decision immediately sparked widespread debate about the selection process and whether or not the team should have included one of basketball’s fastest-rising stars. USA Basketball said the lack of experience from Clark left her off the roster, as they prioritized developed stars with international experience. All 12 selected players had previous national team experience, while Clark had not yet competed for the squad. Critics argued that her popularity and shooting ability should have gotten Clark on the roster, while supporters of the decision pointed out that experience and results should be prioritized over popularity. Clark would go on to become the face of the league, selling out arenas around the country, but never tasted international glory. The United States went on to win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games, but Clark’s absence remained a heavily discussed topic. 

#6 Dearica Hamby’s Pregnancy Discrimination Allegations (2023)

Dearica Hamby’s departure from the Las Vegas Aces developed into a major controversy surrounding allegations of pregnancy discrimination and workplace misconduct. Hamby spent eight seasons with the Aces, and won the 2022 WNBA championship with a 3-1 victory over the Connecticut Sun. She was then traded shortly after the fact to the Los Angeles Sparks in January 2023. Hamby publicly accused the Aces of mistreating her as the trade conveniently came shortly after announcing her pregnancy with her second child. She alleged that her pregnancy was a factor in why the Aces traded her, and the WNBA subsequently launched an investigation. After interviews with 33 individuals and a thorough review of internal communication, the league suspended Aces head coach Becky Hammon for two games without pay after determining comments she made to Hamby violated workplace policies. The Aces also lost a first round draft pick over a separate investigation at the time. In August 2024, Hamby took things a step further with a federal lawsuit against the Aces and the WNBA. The lawsuit was dismissed in May 2025, and the Aces and Hamby agreed to mutually dismiss their remaining cases in December of the same year. 

#7 Disputed Foul Decides the 2024 WNBA Finals

The 2024 WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx went down to a pivotal decisive 5, and colluded with one of the most controversial officiating decisions in league history. The Liberty were seeking the franchise’s first championship with the powerhouse Lynx looking for a fifth, and Game 5 went down to the wire. Minnesota held a 60-58 lead when Liberty star Brienna Stewart drove towards the basket with 5.2 seconds remaining. She drew a shooting foul at the expense of Alanna Smith, and Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve immediately challenged the play. Following a video review, officials upheld the decision, allowing Stewart to knock down two free throws to tie the game. Minnesota failed to score on its final possession, the Liberty won 67-62 in overtime, and the city of New York got its first taste of WNBA glory.  The officiating generated widespread criticism, as it appeared as though there was very minimal contact by Smith on Stewart during the penultimate possession. The Liberty also attempted 25 free throws compared to just eight for the Lynx, leading to Reeve publicly criticizing the officials after the game. The championship was decided by this call, and the Lynx still feel as though their chance to compete for a title was ripped away by the officials in New York. 

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