Brionna Jones DROPS BOMBSHELL About Cathy Engelbert’s Handling of Brittney Griner
Brionna Jones Drops Bombshell About Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and Brittney Griner Scandal: WNBA Rocked by Controversy
The WNBA has been thrown into turmoil after Connecticut Sun star Brionna Jones reportedly dropped explosive allegations regarding Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s alleged handling—and aggressive cover-up—of Brittney Griner’s eligibility. What started as quiet whispers has erupted into a scandal the league may struggle to recover from.
Rise of Brionna Jones—And a Sudden Sideline
Jones, affectionately known as “Covergirl,” had been on a meteoric rise. With her team sporting “Covergirl” t-shirts in support, Jones had just clinched the 2021 Most Improved Player title and 2022’s Sixth Woman of the Year. Her stats rivaled every starter in the league, and the Connecticut Sun ran a whole campaign to spotlight her as the WNBA’s next big star.
But while Jones was quietly dominating the paint, a storm was brewing elsewhere. The entire league—and its marketing machine—remained laser-focused on Brittney Griner, the 6’9” Olympic gold medalist and media sensation. When Griner was arrested and detained in Russia in 2022, the league panicked. Griner, they believed, was the face of the brand, the lynchpin for their national image.
The Hidden Battle: Griner’s Return and the Rise of Controversy
While Griner was stuck overseas, Jones was building her own legacy, but the second Griner returned, the league’s eyes—and opportunities—snapped back to her. Even as Jones suffered a devastating Achilles injury in 2023, effectively derailing her season and career momentum, the league quietly sidelined her story in favor of pushing Griner front and center.
Rumors began to swirl that Engelbert had buried Jones’ spotlight intentionally, going so far as to cover up Griner’s “biological gender”—an allegation that, if true, defies league rules and throws decades-worth of eligibility standards into question. Documents were allegedly withheld and whistleblowers silenced, all to keep Griner’s image spotless and on the court, regardless of the internal fallout.
League Culture and Commissioner’s Silence
The situation only deteriorated as other WNBA stars, including Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, came under fire during the league’s heated 2024 season. Racially charged hate and even death threats floated around social media, yet Engelbert responded publicly by downplaying the feud as merely “a great rivalry” akin to Bird-Magic. Sadly, her response was seen as tone-deaf, egregiously minimizing the very real threats and issues plaguing players of color in the league.
To make matters worse, Engelbert was blasted for misleading claims about WNBA player salaries—boldly claiming that athletes could earn up to $700,000, a figure only possible if overseas pay, endorsements, and sponsorships were included. Players like Seattle’s Gabby Williams were quick to debunk these claims, exposing the actual league base salary as closer to $70,000 for most players.
Controversy on the Court: Officiating and Griner’s Treatment
Fans and analysts also began to notice the league’s apparent double standard when it came to Griner’s physicality on the court. She seemed to benefit from favorable calls, with referees looking the other way when she initiated physical contact. Clips of WNBA games began circulating online, with Griner engaging in near-brawl scenarios without so much as a technical.
With all this swirling, opportunities for Brionna Jones evaporated—media spots, brand deals, and on-court moments seemingly vanished overnight for Jones, while the Griner narrative dominated every press conference.
Bombshell: Arrest and What Comes Next
Now, with Brionna Jones reportedly sharing receipts and witnesses coming forward, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has allegedly been arrested—an unprecedented moment in pro sports. The reaction from the league and its players? Radio silence. Not a single post, story, or statement acknowledging Engelbert, indicative that her relationship with both locker room and front office had soured long before.
Jones, refusing to back down, has hinted that this is merely the beginning. If even half her claims check out, this could shake the very foundations of the WNBA and lead to the fall of powerful figures thought to be untouchable.
A League at a Crossroads
As allegations pile up and the story continues to unravel, the future of the WNBA hangs in the balance. Will the truth come out and justice be served—or will more cover-ups and manipulations keep real stars like Brionna Jones from their rightful place in the spotlight?
Stay tuned. This is just the beginning—and the world is watching.
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