Watch: Mercury's Brittney Griner and Sparks rookie Rickea Jackson indulge in physical altercation as tensions flare

By Atishay Jain

Modified Sep 18, 2024 05:01 GMT

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Phoenix Mercury veteran Brittney Griner and LA Sparks rookie Rickea Jackson were involved in a heated physical altercation on Tuesday during a 2024 WNBA regular season game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The incident unfolded with 18.8 seconds left in the second quarter, as tensions flared between the two players while a Mercury player shot a free throw.

As both Griner and Jackson focused on positioning themselves for a potential rebound, the free throw was made, sparking a brief physical clash. Griner swung her right arm, pushing the 23-year-old Jackson away.

The altercation escalated as the two exchanged heated words, with Jackson attempting to shove the 33-year-old Griner. Agitated by the rookie's actions, the 10-time WNBA All-Star made a move toward Jackson but was held back.

Despite being separated, Griner and Jackson continued to exchange words.

Both players were ultimately ejected from the game, while Crystal Dangerfield and Sophie Cunningham were each assessed technical fouls for their involvement in the altercation.

Before the altercation, Griner and Jackson were having contrasting performances on the court. The Mercury star was on fire, scoring 14 points on an impressive 7-of-8 shooting from the field. She also added three rebounds, one assist, and two blocks before her ejection, having played 14:22 minutes.

In contrast, Jackson struggled with her shot, managing just eight points on 2-of-11 shooting, including 0-of-4 from beyond the arc. The Sparks rookie recorded three rebounds and one steal before being ejected after 19:41 minutes of play.

Phoenix Mercury register win over LA Sparks

Despite missing star player Brittney Griner for the second half, the Phoenix Mercury secured a gritty 85-81 road victory over the LA Sparks. The win boosted the Mercury's record to 20-19 for the season, while the Sparks fell to 7-32.

Five Mercury players scored in double figures, with Sophie Cunningham and Griner each contributing 14 points. Diana Taurasi and Natasha Cloud added 13 points apiece, while Mikiah Herbert Harrigan chipped in with 10 points.

For the LA Sparks, Dearica Hamby was the standout performer, narrowly missing a double-double with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. She also tallied nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Li Yueru made a strong impact off the bench, contributing 19 points and 12 rebounds.