Brittney Griner and Rickea Jackson kicked out of game following dispute during Sparks vs. Mercury matchup | Sports

Tuesday evening was purported to be a celebration for the Los Angeles Sparks, their fan appreciation evening on the ultimate house game of the common season. It was additionally a possibility for the Southern California crowd to honor one of its personal, as Phoenix Mercury legend Diana Taurasi performed what might be her remaining skilled game in Los Angeles.

Instead, the competition was marred by an altercation between Sparks rookie Rickea Jackson and Mercury star Brittney Griner. Both had been ejected with 18.8 seconds to play within the first half after a dialog between the 2 following a free-throw field out escalated in entrance of the Phoenix bench.

Security rushed onto the court docket, as did Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts, to assist separate the gamers, however a associated confrontation between Sophie Cunningham and Crystal Dangerfield additionally resulted in technical fouls for the pair.

L.A. was up seven factors on the time of the ejection and took an eight-point lead into halftime. However, Phoenix junked up the game after the break, pressuring full court docket and sinking again right into a zone protection that pissed off the Sparks right into a 10-point third quarter. The Mercury went on to win 85-81.

The WNBA rulebook states, “During an altercation, all players not participating in the game must remain in the immediate vicinity of their bench. Violators will be suspended, without pay, for a minimum of one game and fined. Any such suspension will commence prior to the start of the player’s next game.”

The Phoenix teaching employees appeared to efficiently maintain any bench gamers from involving themselves within the incident. Regardless, a one-game suspension wouldn’t be terribly damaging to the Mercury, who've one game remaining within the common season and are locked into the No. 7 seed for the playoffs.

Of better concern is the availablity of Griner going ahead. The Phoenix heart entered the game with 4 technical fouls, so she has not but reached the automated suspension complete of seven. However, the league might decide that the altercation with Jackson calls for better self-discipline. Griner was beforehand suspended three video games for a near-brawl in 2019. What transpired with Jackson shouldn’t rise to that stage, however that's for the WNBA to resolve.

“Not a clear explanation (from the referees),” Tibbetts mentioned when requested in regards to the fracas postgame. “I haven’t looked at the video or anything like that so we’ll see.”

Phoenix finishes the common season at house in opposition to Seattle on Thursday earlier than touring to Minnesota for the primary spherical of the playoffs. Los Angeles concludes its season in opposition to Minnesota on Thursday and will hope to welcome Jackson again for the conclusion of what has assuredly been an all-rookie marketing campaign.

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(Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)