Brittney Griner’s Latest Actions During The National Anthem Have Put Every American On Notice
Brittney Griner was on her own.
A sideline camera caught Brittney Griner during the national anthem. She stood in a navy Connecticut Sun hoodie. She looked up and appeared to sing along.
The clip spread fast after House of Lowlights posted it.
“Brittney Griner was the ONLY Connecticut Sun player to stand for the national anthem,” the account wrote. “That Russian prison changed her perspective real quick.”
Brittney Griner was the ONLY Connecticut Sun player to stand for the national anthem
That Russian prison changed her perspective real quick 😭 pic.twitter.com/XkVH6YlZA1
— House of Lowlights (@HouseLowlights) August 30, 2026
The video does not show a speech; it shows a stare and moving lips. Griner was not in the starting lineup. She still took a visible spot while the song played. Teammates in white warmups lined the floor. Security and fans nearby placed hands over hearts. The moment now sits next to other WNBA anthem clips from this month.
Why Brittney Griner’s Anthem Clip Hit So Hard
Brittney Griner (Image Credits: Imagn)
This is not her first anthem debate. However, Griner has changed her stance on the song. In 2020, she told The Arizona Republic the league should skip the song.
“I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season,” she said. “I think we should take that much of a stand.”
She also left the floor before the anthem that year.
So what happened? One of the commentators credited Russia for changing the frame. Officials detained her for nearly 10 months in 2022. A U.S. prisoner swap brought her home that December. After her return, she told reporters she wanted to stand.
“I was literally in a cage and could not stand the way I wanted to,” she said. “Just being able to hear my national anthem and see my flag, I definitely want to stand.”
She later put it in family terms.
“It means everything to me honestly,” she said. “My dad fought for our country. He is a Marine.”
She added that the country saved her life.
“I’m able to represent them again and it just means so much more.”
Tears on the 2024 Olympic podium already showed that shift. This sideline clip put it back in a regular-season gym.
What Brittney Griner’s Gesture Now Signals
Brittney Griner. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The WNBA keeps giving fans anthem contrast. Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham put a hand over her heart before a Fever-Liberty game. Her teammates stood with hands behind their backs, while Liberty players stayed in the locker room.
Griner’s personal year already sat in public view. She filed for divorce from Cherelle Griner in late July. Court papers called the marriage irretrievably broken. Cherelle had lobbied Washington during the Russia crisis. That history now rides beside a 14-second anthem video.
The tape still shows one clear act. Brittney Griner stood, looked up, and sang. The league cannot hide that frame. Every anthem from here will invite the same test.
