WNBA

Brittney Griner is getting SCREWED by the WNBA -- so says the WNBA Players Association, which claims Griner's 7 game suspension for domestic violence is "excessive and inappropriate."

We broke the story ... Griner and her wife Glory Johnson were each hit with 7 game suspensions after they were both arrested for attacking each other at their AZ home on April 22nd.

So far, neither woman has appealed the punishment -- but the WNBA strongly believes they should.

"There is a significant segment of the WNBA players who feel that, while a suspension may have been warranted, a suspension of seven games (20% of the season) is excessive and inappropriate," a WNBA P.A. rep tells TMZ Sports.

The P.A. says it's concerned that the punishment would set an unfair precedent for the league -- considering both women were first time offenders.

The P.A. also says a 7 game suspension would have a "significant economic impact" on the WNBA as a league.

But the biggest problem, according to the P.A., the organization says it can't formally fight the league without Griner and Johnson giving their blessing -- and so far, they've been mum.

Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson just got their wedding gift from the WNBA -- 7 game suspensions without pay for their domestic violence arrests last month.

Griner plays for the Phoenix Mercury, and Johnson for the Tulsa Shock -- and each will begin their suspensions when the WNBA season begins in June. The season is only 34 games long ... so 7 games is roughly 20% of the season.

You'll recall ... the couple got arrested after brawling with each other in their Phoenix area home. They were engaged at the time, but went through with their wedding 2 weeks later.

The WNBA President Laurel Richie says she consulted with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver -- as well as several abuse counselors and domestic violence groups -- before reaching her decision.

In addition to the suspensions ... Brittney and Glory will have to attend individual counseling sessions.

The WNBA also released more details about the fight ... saying Glory was diagnosed with a concussion following the brawl.

WNBA star Brittney Griner has tied the knot with the woman who cut and bit her during a blowout fight that resulted in their arrests just 2 weeks ago.

Britney and Glory Johnson said "I do" in Phoenix Friday, a week after Brittney pled guilty to disorderly conduct. Glory wore a full length strapless gown, and Brittney a business suit with tennis shoes.

It's a risky move ... getting hitched after a fight that left both of them bloodied and injured. In fact, on the day of the arrest Brittney told cops she and Glory were having serious relationship issues.

Nonetheless, it looked like a beautiful wedding.

Good luck to both.

The host of VH1's "Couples Therapy" says she desperately wants to get WNBA star Brittney Griner and her fiancee Glory Johnson on the show ... telling TMZ Sports they "need a hell of a lot of work."

Both Brittney and Glory were arrested last week for attacking each other in their AZ home -- and Dr. Jenn Berman says the show would be the perfect place for them to work out their issues before they tie the knot.

Dr. Berman -- a former rape and domestic violence counselor -- also says domestic violence is a serious problem in the gay and lesbian community because they tend to hide it more often.

"There's a lot of shame in the gay community when there is domestic violence because there is a kind of a sense of 'Hey, we've been fighting to be recognized as a couple and now we have this?!'"

Berman also offers the couple advice -- but says she could be most effective if Griner and Johnson agree to get her help in person ... on Season 6.

WNBA star Brittney Griner has pled guilty to disorderly conduct stemming from her domestic violence arrest last week ... and has entered a counseling program ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke with Brittney's attorney David Michael Cantor who tells us Griner struck a plea deal with prosecutors in Goodyear, Arizona ... where Brittney and her fiancee Glory Johnson were arrested following a blowout fight at their home.

Cantor tells us Griner agreed to plead guilty to disorderly conduct -- and if she keeps her nose clean while she completes a 26 week domestic violence counseling program, all charges will be dropped ... including the original assault charge.

Cantor says, "The day after her arrest, prior to the Court’s requirements being imposed, Brittney voluntarily began counseling and will continue to attend in addition to the required court’s counseling."

We're told that Brittney is also being investigated by the WNBA -- and she "cooperating fully" with the league.

TMZ Sports has obtained the 911 call ... in which you can clearly hear WNBA star Brittney Griner and her fiancee Glory Johnson screaming at each other while brawling in their Arizona home.

The scene was chaotic ... as Glory's sister tried to tell the 911 operator that the two women were going after each other on April 22nd ... throwing plates and bowls across the house.

Props to the 911 operator -- who, despite the yelling and screaming on the other line, took control of the situation ... getting Glory's sister to step outside so she could get all the info responders needed.

Once cops arrived, both Brittney and Glory were arrested for domestic violence -- after each suffering minor injuries in the fight.

The two have issued a statement apologizing for their actions and explaining that they still plan on getting married next month.

1:37 PM PT -- TMZ Sports also obtained photos of the injuries sustained by both Griner and Johnson ... and another person who was in the house at the time of the attack.

You can see the injuries to the WNBA stars appear to be pretty minor -- but the friend suffered a nasty gash on the side of his neck.

WNBA stars Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson are NOT cancelling their wedding ... despite the fact they were both arrested for domestic violence this week ... but say they are actively "seeking help."

As we previously reported, the two -- who are set to be married on May 8th -- were busted at their home in Arizona after cops say they attacked each other during a heated argument.

Now, Johnson has issued a statement ... accompanied with a pic of the two looking chummy ... saying, "WE'RE OK! @brittneygriner and I are home, injury-free, and still wedding planning!"

"We know we must set better examples, even during the most trying times, and we are EXTREMELY sorry for all the negative attention we brought to ourselves, our family, and the league."

"We are actively seeking help in order to do BETTER."

WNBA superstar Brittney Griner won ANOTHER big award Thursday ... "Mugshot of the Day" ... a title bestowed upon her by the people at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

As we previously reported, Griner and her fiancee Glory Johnson were each arrested on Wednesday for domestic violence after an argument at their Arizona home turned violent.

The M.C.S.O. posted their mugshots on their official website -- as it does with EVERY mugshot -- where they ask users to vote for their favorite mugshot of the day.

On Thursday, Brittney won by a landslide.

WNBA superstar Brittney Griner says her engagement to Glory Johnson is STILL ON ... despite their domestic violence arrests this morning ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Griner's attorney David Michael Cantor tells us ... "The last few months have been an extremely stressful time for Brittney and Glory. They will continue to work through these hardships together."

As we previously reported, both Griner and Johnson -- who's also in the WNBA -- were arrested for assault in Arizona this week after cops say they attacked each other during a heated argument.

The couple has been engaged since last year and are scheduled to get married on May 8th.

Griner's attorney did not say if the two will be pushing back the wedding date in light of the arrests -- but says the two are determined to "handle this family matter."

9:06 AM PT -- According to the police report, obtained by TMZ Sports, Brittney told cops the two had been fighting for days and were having serious "relationship issues."

As for the specific incident, cops say there were several people at the home when Brit and Glory began to argue -- and the fight turned physical.

Cops say Brittney admitted to throwing a dog bowl at the wall -- and then the two began fighting.

Glory's sister eventually called police because people "couldn't get them pulled apart" and she didn't want anyone to get hurt.

When cops arrived, officers say Brittney had several cuts -- and a bite wound. Glory was bleeding from the lip.

The WNBA says it's actively investigating the incident.

WNBA superstar Brittney Griner -- and her WNBA star fiancee Glory Johnson -- were both arrested for allegedly attacking each other in Phoenix yesterday ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us cops were called to Griner's home around 4:30 PM on Wednesday -- after receiving a call about a domestic dispute between the two women.

When cops arrived, we're told officers observed "minor physical injuries" on both Brittney and Glory.

Both women were arrested and booked by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for assault and disorderly conduct. Griner and Johnson were released around 4 AM on Thursday.

Griner plays for the Phoenix Mercury.

The two got engaged last August and had been planning to get married next month in Phoenix. No word if the wedding is still on.

Glory and Brittney had been gushing about each other on social media in the days before the arrest.

In fact, Brit posted a pic of the two kissing on Tuesday with the caption: "EveryDay Every Second! I fall for you like I fell way back before I had the nerves to even approach you! My Queen My Rock My Universe!"

WNBA superstar Brittney Griner is taking a hard stand on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Indiana -- saying if the Women's Final 4 was in the Hoosier State, she would've BOYCOTTED.

Griner -- who's openly gay and set to marry her GF Glory Johnson later this year -- was at LAX last night when she told us, "If the Women's Final Four was there, I damn sure wouldn't have went."

She added, "I wouldn't want to be discriminated [against]."

Willis McGahee's a man who knows what he likes ... and he REALLLYY likes WNBA star Maya Moore.

The former NFL running back was hosting a charity event at Couture nightclub in Hollywood Thursday night when he told us he's got a big crush on the 25-year-old basketball phenom.

By the way, he's not the only huge sports star infatuated with Moore -- DeMarcus Cousins had a thing for her back in the day ... but Maya shot him down.

Willis hopes he stands a better chance ... even delivering a personal message for her.

Good luck.

WNBA superstar Brittney Griner got knifed by a mad man in China who chased her and some of her teammates as they got onto a team bus.

According to Griner's rep, the Phoenix Mercury player suffered a cut on her elbow during the attack on Monday, but the injury wasn't bad enough for her to go to a hospital.

Griner is playing for a Chinese team during the WNBA offseason. She was leaving practice in Beijing at the time of the attack.

The rep says the man actually ran onto the bus with Griner and the other players -- cornering them for about 5 minutes ... before voluntarily leaving. Griner was wearing a thick winter coat which apparently protected her from a more serious cut.

She posted a video of police cornering the suspect after the left the bus.

WNBA superstar Britney Griner has a message for the Ohio man begging to be released from jail so he can watch LeBron James play next year ... dude, get a TV.

The All-Star center was at LAX when TMZ Sports asked her about Jason Goudlock, an Ohio prisoner who made headlines for asking for parole from his 20-year sentence ... so he could watch the Cavs.

Peep the clip -- anyone expecting some sympathy from the 6'8" ball swatter will be sorely disappointed.

Lisa Leslie thinks there's nothing worse than being a little man, but says short guys should go after tall girls anyway ... just not her.

Leslie was doing a little food shopping Wednesday in Calabasas when our photog asked her if she had any advice for all the short guys trying to get with tall chicks.

It's not LeBron ... it's not Jordan ... not Magic, Bird or Shaq -- the greatest NBA player of all time is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ... so says ex-NBA star Michael Cooper.

The Coop -- who just took the head coaching gig with the WNBA's Atlanta Dream -- was at LAX yesterday when we asked him to name the best pound-for-pound baller in the history of the league.

"I have to go with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar," Cooper said ... "He had the most unstoppable shot."

Cooper would know ... he played with Kareem for years during his stint with the Lakers.

One more thing -- Cooper also gave props to ex-teammate Magic Johnson for saving the entire WNBA.

Lakers -- they stick together.