CORRUPT WNBA Referees IGNORE Caitlin Clark ATTACK During Atlanta Dream Game
You’d think a professional league might protect their rising star? But nope. Either the referees are WNBA Atlanta Dream superfans or they need to get their vision checked immediately because they just ignored another attack on Caitlin Clark of WNBA Indiana Fever.
Is Brittney Griner Hurt? Dream’s Bizarre Decision on 6’9 Star vs Caitlin Clark’s Fever Raises Concern
The scoreboard read 81-76, but the story told in Indiana’s preseason clash with Atlanta wasn’t just about the numbers. While fans were preoccupied with Caitlin Clark’s spectacular threes and TeHina Paopao’s debut, something much more curious was unfolding on the court. Brittney Griner, Atlanta’s towering 6’9 center, seemed to disappear after a mere two minutes of play. What started as a promising showcase for Griner quickly became an enigma that left fans and analysts alike wondering—what exactly happened to the Dream’s star?
Griner, who had already impressed in her Atlanta debut with 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 80-70 win over the Washington Mystics, appeared ready to make a statement. She hit a 24-foot three-pointer in the opening minutes, but after just two minutes of play, Griner was seen racing back to the locker room. Indy Star’s Chloe Peterson reported, “BG just ran back to the locker room about two minutes into the game. Didn’t look serious (considering the running), but something to monitor. Fast-paced game so far, as Dream lead 6-4.” It was puzzling—Griner had been fully healthy in her previous performance, so what was behind her abrupt departure?
It wasn’t long before it was confirmed that Griner would be done for the day, with the Dream’s PR department attributing it to a “rest decision.” Peterson updated, “BG is done for the day. No injury, per Dream PR, just rest.”
However, not everyone was convinced. YouTuber Rosalina Lee commented, “Brittney Griner was only in for two minutes. She did not go out with an injury. I didn’t really fully understand it. Like they said that she just went out for rest, but like who gets tired after two minutes? That’s just bizarre.”
It is bizarre, but her latest post on X only added to the intrigue. On May 14, Griner shared a sneak peek of her audiobook, completely bypassing any mention of the unusual exit from the game, or addressing whether there was an underlying issue. Despite the lack of clarification, her upbeat social media presence suggests that everything might indeed be fine.
Pao Pao shines for the Dream in Griner’s Absence
And while Brittney Griner’s sudden exit from the game left the Dream scrambling, a rookie seized the opportunity to shine. Former South Carolina Gamecocks guard Te-Hina Paopao made a strong impression, finishing the game against Indiana with 14 points in just 21 minutes. Her performance included several highlight-worthy moments, such as a block against Lexie Hull in the second quarter that had fans buzzing.
Paopao found herself frequently matched up against one of the best in the league, Caitlin Clark, throughout the game. The two exchanged jaw-dropping step-back three-pointers in the second quarter, one after the other. The WNBA’s official social media account couldn’t help but highlight the moment, captioning the video with: “We’re trading s in ATL! Caitlin Clark nails a step-back triple, followed by Te-Hina Paopao with one of her own. Both tied at 11 PTS to lead all scorers.”
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Lexie Hull also praised Paopao’s fearless play, noting, “It’s great to see rookies coming in and playing with confidence. It shows the game’s continuing to grow.” Hull added that rookies no longer act like they’re out of place, but are instead making a name for themselves, which is exciting for any rookie to experience in their early games.
And speaking of a rookie making a statement! With 5:02 left in the second quarter, Paopao was all over Clark, trying to block one of her signature threes. Clark, never one to back down, gave a little nudge and sank the shot. But Paopao wasn’t having it. With 4:20 left, she drained her own three-pointer, proving she’s got the chops to go toe-to-toe with the best.
And off the court? Paopao stayed true to her roots. Selected 18th overall in the second round, she could’ve been soaking in the WNBA Draft buzz in New York, but instead, she kept it real with family in Oceanside, California. “I’ll be having the draft party at home just because I want my family to be there,” Paopao shared, reminding us that no matter how high you climb, it’s the ones who ground you that truly matter.
