BREAKING !!! Lin Dunn Calls for Brittney Griner to Be Expelled from U.S. Olympic Team – “You Disrespect the American Anthem, You Don’t Deserve to Represent This Country”

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Certainly! Here is a natural, compelling, and well-structured American news article (about 900 words) based on the prompt:

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In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the sports world, Indiana Fever general manager Lin Dunn has publicly called for WNBA superstar Brittney Griner to be expelled from the U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team, citing Griner’s history of protest during the national anthem.

Speaking at a press conference following the Fever’s practice Tuesday afternoon, Dunn did not mince words. “You disrespect the American anthem, you don’t deserve to represent this country,” she declared, her voice firm and unwavering. The comments came just weeks before Team USA is set to finalize its roster for the 2025 Paris Olympics, thrusting both Griner and the entire U.S. women’s basketball program into the center of a renewed national debate.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most recognizable faces in women’s basketball, has long been outspoken about social justice issues. In 2020, amid nationwide protests over racial injustice, Griner announced she would not stand for the national anthem before WNBA games, calling for the league to stop playing it altogether. “I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season. I think we should take that much of a stand,” she said at the time.

While Griner’s protest received both praise and criticism, she continued to represent the United States on the world stage, winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and returning to Team USA after her highly publicized detainment in Russia in 2022.

Dunn, a Hall of Fame coach and longtime executive, said she had reached her “breaking point” after seeing Griner once again remain seated during the anthem at a recent exhibition game. “Representing your country is an honor, not a right,” Dunn stated. “If you can’t stand for the anthem, you shouldn’t wear the jersey.”

Dunn’s comments immediately drew both support and backlash. Some fans and commentators praised her for “standing up for American values,” while others accused her of stoking division and misunderstanding the purpose of peaceful protest.

Within hours, social media erupted with hashtags like #StandWithGriner and #RespectTheAnthem trending simultaneously. Prominent athletes, politicians, and celebrities weighed in. Megan Rapinoe, U.S. soccer legend and fellow advocate for athlete activism, tweeted: “Patriotism is about making your country better, not silencing those who demand justice. I stand with Brittney.”

Meanwhile, others echoed Dunn’s sentiment. “If you can’t stand for the anthem, why play for Team USA?” wrote a former Olympic swimmer. Conservative talk shows seized on Dunn’s remarks, praising her for “saying what so many Americans feel.”

USA Basketball released a brief statement: “We respect the diversity of views among our athletes. Our focus remains on preparing for the Paris Olympics and representing our country with excellence.” The statement did not mention Griner or Dunn by name.

The WNBA Players Association issued a more forceful response, calling Dunn’s comments “divisive and disappointing.” “Athletes have the right to express themselves and advocate for change,” the statement read. “Brittney Griner has shown immense courage on and off the court. We stand with her.”

Griner herself has not responded directly to Dunn’s remarks, but sources close to her say she is “focused on basketball and representing her teammates and community with pride.”

This controversy is only the latest in a series of heated debates about patriotism, protest, and the role of athletes in society. The question of whether athletes should be required to stand for the anthem has divided fans, teams, and even families for years, dating back to Colin Kaepernick’s NFL protest in 2016.

For some, standing for the anthem is a sacred gesture of unity and respect. For others, refusing to stand is a powerful act of conscience—a way to highlight the country’s unfinished work on equality and justice.

“Brittney Griner isn’t disrespecting America,” said one sports columnist. “She’s challenging it to live up to its ideals. That’s as American as it gets.”

With the Paris Olympics looming, the pressure is on for USA Basketball to make a decision. Will the organization heed Dunn’s call and remove Griner from the team, or will it stand by its star center and affirm the right to peaceful protest?

For now, officials are staying tight-lipped. “We’re reviewing all input and will announce our final roster soon,” said a spokesperson for USA Basketball.

Meanwhile, the debate rages on. Sports radio hosts field calls from passionate fans on both sides. Editorials fill the pages of national newspapers. And in locker rooms across the country, athletes discuss what it means to represent the United States in a time of deep division

Whatever the outcome, the controversy is sure to leave a lasting mark on the Olympic movement and the ongoing conversation about race, protest, and patriotism in America. As one fan put it outside the Fever’s arena, “This is about more than basketball. It’s about who we are as a country—and who we want to be.”

As Team USA prepares for Paris, all eyes will be on Brittney Griner, Lin Dunn, and the decision-makers at USA Basketball. The world will be watching—not just for the final roster, but for the values those choices reflect.