Alex Bruno
In an unexpected twist that has sent shockwaves through the sports community, ESPN has quietly removed WNBA star Brittney Griner from their prestigious GOAT (Greatest of All Time) list. The reason? According to an insider at the network, Griner has been deemed “not a good person,” a criterion that seems to have suddenly become more important than her undeniable achievements on the basketball court.
This decision, which has already ignited heated debates among sports fans and commentators, appears to reflect a shift in how ESPN evaluates greatness—one that considers an athlete’s off-court behavior as heavily as their on-court performance.
Brittney Griner, a towering figure in women’s basketball, has been a dominant force since her college days at Baylor. Her impressive list of accolades includes multiple Olympic gold medals, WNBA championships, and All-Star selections. For years, she has been considered a shoo-in for any list celebrating the greatest athletes of all time, particularly in women’s sports.
However, ESPN’s recent decision to drop her from their GOAT list has left many fans scratching their heads. According to an anonymous source within the network, the decision was made after much internal deliberation, with executives concluding that Griner’s character did not align with the values they want to promote.
“We hold our GOAT list to the highest standards,” the source said. “It’s not just about what you do on the court—it’s about who you are as a person. And in this case, we felt that Brittney Griner didn’t meet those standards.”
The response to ESPN’s decision has been overwhelmingly negative. Fans took to social media to voice their disapproval, with many accusing the network of overstepping its boundaries.
“Who cares if she’s not perfect? She’s one of the best to ever play the game!” tweeted one disgruntled fan. “This is sports, not a personality contest.”
Other fans pointed out the hypocrisy of the decision, noting that many athletes who are widely regarded as GOATs in their sports have had controversial personal lives.
“Are they going to take Michael Jordan off the list next?” one fan asked. “He had his issues, too. But that doesn’t change what he did on the court.”
Even fellow athletes weighed in on the controversy. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal tweeted, “Brittney Griner is one of the best, period. This decision is ridiculous.”
ESPN’s decision raises important questions about what it means to be the greatest. Traditionally, the term GOAT has been associated with an athlete’s performance in their sport—their stats, their impact on the game, and their ability to win championships. But with this move, ESPN seems to be suggesting that character and personal behavior should also play a significant role in determining who gets to be on the list.
This redefinition of greatness has sparked a broader conversation about whether personal morality should influence an athlete’s legacy. For some, this is a welcome change that reflects the importance of being a role model. For others, it’s a dangerous precedent that could lead to the exclusion of some of the most talented athletes in history simply because they didn’t live up to an arbitrary moral standard.
Critics of ESPN’s decision are quick to point out the potential dangers of this new approach. If off-court behavior becomes a deciding factor in who gets to be called a GOAT, where does it end? Will other athletes with controversial personal lives be next on the chopping block?
Sports commentator Skip Bayless voiced his concerns during a recent broadcast. “This is a slippery slope,” Bayless warned. “If we start judging athletes based on their personal lives, we’re going to see a lot of names disappear from those lists. We’re here to celebrate what they do on the court, not to pass judgment on their lives.”
As the controversy rages on, Brittney Griner has remained largely silent. She has not made any public statements about her removal from ESPN’s GOAT list, and those close to her say she’s focusing on her game rather than the drama off the court.
However, Griner did post a cryptic message on her Instagram story shortly after the news broke. The post featured a quote from former NBA star Allen Iverson: “They don’t know what it’s like to walk in my shoes.”
While it’s unclear whether this was a direct response to ESPN’s decision, many of her fans took it as a sign that Griner is unfazed by the controversy.
In a brief statement, ESPN defended their decision, though it did little to quell the backlash. “At ESPN, we believe that greatness is about more than just athletic performance. It’s about character, integrity, and the ability to inspire others. We felt it was important to reflect these values in our GOAT list,” the statement read.
But for many fans, this explanation fell flat. “Greatness in sports should be about what happens on the court,” one critic wrote. “If we start bringing personal lives into it, we’re going to lose sight of what really matters.”
ESPN’s decision to drop Brittney Griner from their GOAT list may have broader implications for how we define greatness in sports. As the debate continues, it’s clear that this move has struck a nerve with fans, athletes, and commentators alike.
For now, Brittney Griner remains one of the most dominant forces in women’s basketball, with or without ESPN’s endorsement. But the controversy surrounding her removal from the GOAT list has sparked a larger conversation about what it means to be the greatest—and who gets to decide.
As sports fans continue to grapple with these questions, one thing is certain: Brittney Griner’s legacy is far from over, and her impact on the game will be felt for years to come, regardless of whether she’s on a list or not.
