American Basketball Stars Spark Outrage with Olympic Crowd Antics
The American Olympic basketball camp was rocked by controversy this week as two of the team’s biggest names – Sabrina Ionescu and Brittney Griner – were involved in separate incidents that have drawn the ire of fans and pundits alike.
In the first flashpoint, rising star Ionescu was caught on camera appearing to taunt the crowd following the USA’s dominant win over Belgium. Footage shows the 25-year-old point guard making a series of exaggerated gestures and shouts in the direction of the Belgian supporters as she left the court.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with many accusing Ionescu of “unsportsmanlike” and “disrespectful” conduct unbecoming of an Olympian. “That kind of behaviour has no place in our game,” fumed former player and commentator Lisa Leslie. “She should know better than to rile up the crowd like that.”
If Ionescu’s antics were viewed as crass, then the actions of teammate Griner have sparked outrage of an altogether different level. The towering center, who only recently returned to the US team after her high-profile detention in Russia, was seen making an obscene gesture towards the crowd following the Belgium clash.
“Griner has shown a complete lack of class,” raged one commentator. “For someone who has been through so much, you’d hope she’d have a greater appreciation for representing her country. This is a slap in the face to her team-mates and all American athletes.”
With the Olympics just weeks away, USA Basketball will no doubt be working overtime to rein in their star players and prevent further public relations disasters. But the damage to the team’s image may already have been done – and the fallout from this saga is sure to rumble on.
