Keith Olbermann and USA Today come to the defense of Christine Brennan after the Women's National Basketball Players' Association (WNBPA) accused her of fueling "racist, homophobic and misogynistic vitriol" with an interview question.
Keith Olbermann and USA Today have condemned a statement issued by the Women's National Basketball Players' Association (WNBPA) that attacked USA Today columnist Christine Brennan over an interview question she asked a player.
Last week, the WNBPA called out Brennan, saying she fueled "racist, homophobic and misogynistic vitriol" online following an interview with Connecticut Sun guard Dijonai Carrington.
WNBPA Draws Fire for Attack on USA Today Columnist
In the interview, Brennan asked Carrington if she intended to hit Caitlin Clark in the eye during a playoff series and then asked if she was laughing about it afterward.
Carrington shared a screenshot of an offensive email she received on her social media prior to Game 2 of the Sun's first-round playoff series against the Indiana Fever. The email directed a racial slur and threats at Carrington.
WNBPA Draws Fire for Attack on USA Today Columnist
"To unprofessional members of the media like Christine Brennan: You are not fooling anyone. That so-called interview in the name of journalism was a blatant attempt to bait a professional athlete into participating in a narrative that is false and designed to fuel racist, homophobic, and misogynistic vitriol on social media. You cannot hide behind your tenure," the association said in its statement.
Olbermann, a former ESPN host, called the WNBPA's statement a "bad move" and criticized the association for attacking Brennan, who he said has been a supporter of women's sports.
WNBPA Draws Fire for Attack on USA Today Columnist
"If you think [Brennan] has any agenda besides supporting and covering women's sports, you should close your union and suspend WNBA play until you read in on what SHE fought to get where she is. The ‘unprofessional’ ones here are the leaders of your organization. You owe Chris Brennan an unreserved apology for slandering her," Olbermann wrote in an X post.
Brennan thanked Olbermann in her own post.
USA Today also defended its employee, saying that journalists ask questions and seek truth.
"Journalists ask questions and seek truth. At USA Today, our mission is to report in an unbiased manner," the company wrote. "We reject the notion that the interview perpetuated any narrative other than to get the player's perspective directly. Christine Brennan is well regarded as an advocate for women and athletes, but first and foremost, she's a journalist."
Fox News' Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
In addition to Olbermann and USA Today, others have also come to Brennan's defense, including ESPN's Stephen A. Smith.
"I've known Christine Brennan for 30 years. I've always found her to be a fair and objective journalist. I believe she asked a legitimate question in her interview with Dijonai Carrington and that her motives were not malicious," Smith said on "First Take."
The WNBPA has not responded to the criticism of its statement.
