The WNBA suspended Phoenix Mercury standout Brittney Griner and Tulsa Shock forward Glory Johnson seven games without pay following their domestic violence arrest in April, the league announced Friday.
League president Laurel J. Richie announced the punishment, which amounts to roughly 20 percent of the season, in a statement.
“It is my responsibility to protect the league and uphold its values,” Richie’s statement read. “Our athletes represent the WNBA, and they all must abide by the league’s standards of conduct. In this case, Brittney and Glory failed to do so, and that is unacceptable.”
The two All-Stars were arrested on April 22 on suspicion of assault and disorderly conduct after the couple got into a fight at their Phoenix home. The two got married shortly after the incident.
Griner, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2013 WNBA draft, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct charges and will attend 26 weeks of domestic violence counseling. The charges will be dropped once Griner completes the counseling. Johnson’s case is still pending.
Richie added both players will be required to attend individual counseling sessions with a counselor that is “satisfactory” to the league.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
