Riley Gaines Slams WNBA Over OutKick Media Credential Denial

Former NCAA swimmer and vocal sports commentator Riley Gaines has raised her voice once again, this time over the WNBA's refusal to grant media credentials to OutKick for coverage of select games. The controversy stems from a video Gaines shared, which appears to show WNBA star Brittney Griner making a questionable comment after fouling out in a game against the Indiana Fever, the team of rising star Caitlin Clark.

Gaines didn’t hold back, pointing out that while the audio isn’t clear, the solution is simple: ask Griner directly. Yet, as she noted, no one has—except OutKick, which attempted to pursue the story but hit a wall when their credential requests for two Atlanta Dream games were denied by both the Los Angeles Sparks and the Connecticut Sun. The reasoning? 'Limited space,' with priority given to outlets with a history of covering the teams.

This isn’t just about one video or one comment. Gaines highlighted a pattern, noting that OutKick has never struggled to secure credentials for professional sports leagues in the past. The sudden 'space constraints' seem, to her, suspiciously timed. She also touched on the WNBA’s recent investigation into alleged racist fan behavior at a Fever-Sky game, suggesting a broader context of tension within the league.

Despite the setback, Gaines made it clear that this won’t silence the tough questions. OutKick remains committed to digging deeper, credentials or not, ensuring that the uncomfortable topics in sports don’t get swept under the rug. This story isn’t just about access—it’s about accountability in a league under increasing scrutiny.