The WNBA suspended Mercury C Brittney Griner and Shock F Glory Johnson "seven games each Friday for their domestic violence arrest last month -- the league's longest ban in its 19-year history," according to Doug Feinberg of the AP. The ban "represents nearly one-fifth of the 34-game regular season." The WNBA also said that Griner and Johnson "must undergo individual counseling." If either "fails to comply with that condition or those by the court, the league reserves the right to revisit the case." WNBA President Laurel Richie said, "It is our strong belief that violence has absolutely no place in society, in sports or in this league. As president, it is my responsibility to protect the league and uphold its values." Feinberg noted Griner and Johnson, who were married this month, "were arrested April 22 on suspicion of assault after they fought in a home they recently bought." Griner "pled guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct and entered a diversion program." The longest suspension until now "had been for six games, given to Kara Braxton" in '09 after her second DUI (AP, 5/15).
TOUGH, BUT FAIR: ESPNW's Mechelle Voepel wrote suspending Griner and Johnson "was the right thing to do," and the WNBA "went about it in the right way." The fans and media who "kept this topic on the front burner over the past three weeks did the right thing, too." It "was OK to question how and when the league would act, because this was too important an issue for the WNBA to have any lapse in leadership." By "detailing how she came to her conclusions -- talking to all parties involved, reading the police report, seeking advice from domestic violence experts, getting counsel from the NBA -- Richie removed any doubt about her commitment to aggressive but fair leadership on a difficult issue." She "explained why it took the time it did and provided a thorough blueprint" (ESPNW.com, 5/15). In Tulsa, John Klein wrote the WNBA "came down with a significant penalty" for Griner and Johnson that "should send a serious message about domestic violence." It would appear to be a "tough but fair penalty and sends a clear message that the WNBA takes domestic violence seriously." The WNBA has "made it clear it considers any type of domestic violence to be a serious issue" (TULSA WORLD, 5/16).
