Brittney Griner is undeinably among the most popular WNBA stars. She is renowned for her defensive play and dunks. Notably, she holds the record for most dunks in the history of the league with 26 dunks. Despite her remarkable basketball skills, Griner remains a controversial player. Due to this, the recent announcement of Griner and ESPN partnering for scripted series did not sit well with the fans.
The Walt Disney Co. will team up with BRITTNEY GRINER to tell her story across multiple platforms, including ESPN and ABC.
ESPN Films will roll out Griner doc. ABC’s Robin Roberts will do a one-on-one interview with the WNBA star, who was arrested and imprisoned by Russia. pic.twitter.com/xN5DSK7tit
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) December 7, 2023
In addition to ESPN, Griner has also signed with Disney and ABC for multiple projects. The 33-year-old made her debut in the WNBA after being picked by the Phoenix Mercury. In the next season, Griner will complete a decade in the league. Throughout her journey, she has proved to be a key player for the Mercury.
One of the most controversial aspects of Griner’s life was the drug case wherein she was detained by Russia. In a nutshell, vape cartridges with hashish oil were discovered in her bag by customs officials. Griner pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years. However, she was released in December 2022 because of a prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russian governments.
Furthermore, when the announcement of the scripted series on Griner’s life broke down, fans flooded the social media handles with their reactions. One said, “Why in the hell does her story need to be shown on Disney? Kids don’t need to look up to this woman.” Additionally, one fan tweeted to mock, “Not gonna watch even if you pay me.” Along similar lines, other fans expressed how no one is interested to know her story.
Brittney Griner aims to serve as an inspiration
The WNBA star Brittney Griner aims to serve as an inspiration by telling her personal story. She released a statement talking about how proud she is to partner with ESPN and Disney to share her side of the story. In addition to this, she explained the reason behind as, “Its incredible potential to inspire hope around the world and their proven ability to do just that.”
Furthermore, she disclosed that the last two years have been the most difficult, transformative, and illuminating of her entire life. Grinner expressed her gratefulness to be at a place now where she can share the same journey with her fans.
Additionally, as per various sources, the scripted series on Griner’s life is already in the making. The documentary that will be produced by ESPN Films will include exclusive footage, records, and letters of Griner’s time in prison. It would be fascinating to see how this unfolds and what level of impact it would have.