Riley Gaines (main frame) and Brittney Griner (Top right)- Source: Getty Images

"I have so many questions" - Riley Gaines reacts to Brittney Grinner claiming she has become a 'dad' following birth of her son

Modified Jul 24, 2024 18:39 GMT

Riley Gaines has reacted to Brittney Griner referring to herself as a father following the birth of her son. Griner and her wife, Cherelle welcomed their son a few days ago and the basketball player can’t keep calm.

In an interview on the CBS Sports show, “We Need to Talk,” Griner clarified to the reporter that she is a father and broke the news of the birth of her son. She added that it makes her sad to be leaving him so soon but she has to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games.

The Phoenix Mercury player will again don the American jersey, competing for the U.S. women’s national basketball team in Paris. She was a vital part of the team that won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and defended the title at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

"Pops pops…I’m super excited, well, I guess I’ll just drop it. He is here, that’s my man. He is amazing. They say as soon as you see him, everything that you thought mattered just goes out the window, and that’s literally what happens," Brittney said.

"It kind of sucks because I’ve got to leave, but at the same time, he’ll understand. My whole phone is turned into him now," she added.

Riley Gaines has been a huge critic of transgender athletes who refer to themselves as females competing in women’s sports and she could not help but comment on Brittney’s remarks.

Gaines shared the controversial video on her X handle and wrote in the caption:

"I-.... have so many questions."

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"There’s a war on women" - Riley Gaines opens up on her fight for women’s rights in sport

House Oversight Committee Holds Hearing Examining Female Athletics And Title IX - Source: Getty

Riley Gaines insisted that transgender athletes are fighting women by competing in the sport and making names for themselves.

The former Kentucky University swimmer first made headlines with her prowess in the water. During the 2022 NCAA Championships, Gaines tied for fifth place with transgender athlete Lia Thomas in the women’s 200m freestyle.

At the event, there was only one trophy to be handed and organizers awarded Thomas. That move awakened Gaines’ fight for justice for women and she has been vocal about it ever since.

"There's a war on women. You don't see women demanding to compete against men, or demanding to use men's restrooms," she told News Week.

"This new war on women is a heck of a lot more severe than the last one, because our officials can't even define what a woman is. They're trying to erase us," she added.

To fight for women’s rights, Riley Gaines authored a book, ‘Swimming Against the Current: Fighting for Common Sense in a World That's Lost Its Mind’ and also has a podcast, Gaines for Girls where she shares her experience as a woman in sport and how to make women’s sports better.