Griner-Plum Rift Rocks USA Camp: Veterans’ Clash Over Leadership Sparks Fallout…
Tensions boiled over at the USA Basketball Women’s National Team training camp on its opening day, as Olympic gold medalists Brittney Griner and Kelsey Plum engaged in a heated confrontation that has insiders buzzing about a potential rift in the veteran core.
The drama unfolded during a high-intensity scrimmage at Duke University’s Cameron Indoor Stadium, where the 18-player roster – including newcomers like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers – is gearing up for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. Sources close to the team describe the incident as stemming from a disagreement over on-court leadership. Griner, the 6’9″ Phoenix Mercury center and 2016 Olympic MVP, reportedly challenged Plum’s play-calling in a fast-break drill, accusing the Las Vegas Aces guard of “hogging the ball” and undermining team chemistry. Plum, a two-time Olympian known for her sharpshooting, fired back, allegedly calling out Griner’s post-detention rust and “lack of mobility” since her 2022 release from Russian imprisonment.
Eyewitnesses say the exchange escalated quickly, drawing stares from rookies like Angel Reese and JuJu Watkins. “It was like watching two alphas collide,” one assistant coach told reporters off the record. “BG wants respect as the enforcer, but Kelsey’s the engine – and neither backs down.” The fallout reportedly led to an impromptu team huddle led by head coach Kara Lawson, with Griner storming off to the locker room and Plum venting to fellow Aces alum Jackie Young.
This isn’t their first brush with friction. Plum and Griner shared the Paris 2024 gold-medal roster, but subtle post-game interviews hinted at stylistic clashes – Griner’s paint dominance versus Plum’s perimeter pace. Camp organizers, including managing director Sue Bird, downplayed the spat as “passionate dialogue,” emphasizing unity ahead of LA 2028. Yet, whispers of Griner’s last-minute roster uncertainty (she was initially listed but briefly removed) fuel speculation: Is this a sign of deeper divides as USA blends vets with the Clark generation?
Teammates rallied post-incident, with Chelsea Gray mediating a private sit-down. “We’re family; we fight, we fix,” Gray posted on X later. But for Griner, 35, and Plum, 30 – both WNBA All-Stars eyeing extended national runs – today’s clash could redefine their legacies. As drills resume tomorrow, all eyes are on whether this “fallout” forges steel or fractures gold
