Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner and her teammates were confronted by a Blaze Media YouTube personality in Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Saturday morning before flying to Indiana after the team played twice in Arlington, Texas, this past week.

Alex Stein, a Dallas native who has gained some notoriety for confronting politicians, posted a photograph on Twitter saying, "I just met my favorite WNBA player. Video coming soon." Stein then also posted a brief clip of him yelling at Griner as she walked through the airport.

The league said Saturday that Griner has been approved to fly charter for WNBA games. It's unclear why she was not doing so Saturday.

"As we gather additional information about today's incident at the Dallas airport, it has come to our attention that this was orchestrated by a social media figure and provocateur. His actions were inappropriate and unfortunate," the league said in a statement. "The safety of Brittney Griner and all WNBA players is our top priority. Prior to the season, the WNBA worked together with the Phoenix Mercury and BG's team to ensure her safety during her travel, which included charter flights for WNBA games and assigned security personnel with her at all times. We remain steadfastly committed to the highest standards of security for players."

Late Saturday afternoon, the Mercury also released a statement.

"We are reviewing the incident that took place today at the Dallas airport. The health and well-being of our players and staff are our top priority and we will always take every step within our power to protect player safety.

"We are committed to our support of BG and advocating for all American hostages abroad. We will continue our support of marginalized communities and fighting the kind of hate that targeted us today. No one, regardless of identity, should ever fear for their safety. We will be coordinating with the WNBA on next steps."

Griner's teammate Brianna Turner said on social media about the incident: "Player safety while traveling should be at the forefront. People following with cameras saying wild remarks is never acceptable. Excessive harassment. Our team nervously huddled in a corner unsure how to move about. We demand better."

Player safety while traveling should be at the forefront. People following with cameras saying wild remarks is never acceptable. Excessive harassment. Our team nervously huddled in a corner unsure how to move about. We demand better.

— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) June 10, 2023

Griner is playing in the WNBA again this year after missing all of last season. She was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport in February 2022 when she was returning to Russia to continue her overseas basketball season there. Russian customs officials said they found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage, which she later acknowledged in court while saying she had no criminal intent and had packed them in haste.

In August, Griner was sentenced to a nine-year prison term, but in December was freed through a negotiated prisoner exchange between the United States and Russian governments.

Griner has been warmly welcomed back by crowds at home in Phoenix and on the road. This past week, she returned to her home state of Texas. The Mercury fell to the Dallas Wings on Wednesday and Friday. They next play Sunday against the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis.

For cost reasons, the WNBA primarily flies via commercial airlines, saying the league as a whole cannot afford charter flights and that allowing some of the 12 teams to do so would cause a competitive imbalance issue. The league announced earlier this year that it will have charter flights for all playoff games this season and certain regular-season games that are played on back-to-back days requiring air travel.

Griner being approved by the league to charter for all games is an exception because of the publicity surrounding her detainment and release. However, her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, said she thinks the entire Mercury team and all teams need to charter flights.

"Brittney Griner and the WNBA players are leaders who inspire hope for a better, more inclusive and less divided America," Kagawa Colas said via social media. "They are celebrated for the ways their activism inspires positive change. In doing that, they also become targets for hate, threats and violence.

"And today's incident is a clear reminder of that. We cannot celebrate these women and their leadership without also protecting them. It's past time for charters and enhanced security measures for all players."

The subject of Griner's safety during travel was extensively discussed prior to the season. The Mercury and the WNBA said plans had been formulated for the team's trips, which included security. Speaking to media on opening night, May 19, in Los Angeles, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said that strategy would be revisited throughout the season to make sure it was meeting Griner's and the team's needs.

"We have the travel plan set for the 20 away games," Engelbert said. "We have a set security plan now, but obviously we have to be agile with that. It's really important that we evaluate it periodically. The Phoenix Mercury are going to lead on that."

The players' union -- the WNBPA -- said in a statement Saturday that the Dallas incident is more evidence that charters are needed for teams throughout the WNBA season. However, travel accommodations are part of the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement most recently agreed to in 2020.

"As we continue to hear from our members throughout the start of the season and particularly today with the situation involving the Phoenix Mercury at the Dallas airport, we are quite clear that the matter of charter travel is NOT a 'competitive advantage' issue," the union said. "We cannot help but wonder if the league and teams preclude more reasonable and flexible rules regarding charter travel in 2023 in order to seek leverage on this issue at the bargaining table.

"What BG and all of her Phoenix teammates experienced today was a calculated confrontation that left them feeling very unsafe. Everyone who was paying attention knew this would happen. We could have and should have been more proactive.

"Allowing teams to fly charter is ONLY about player health and safety, and until the league and teams take this issue seriously, situations like this will continue to occur. Every commercial flight forced upon our players is a threat to their health and safety. We implore the league and the teams not to wait another day to change the rule regarding travel."

The old saying goes that it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt.

That's exactly what happened to the man who plays Miami Heat mascot Burnie, as he had to go to a local emergency room Friday night after twice getting punched by UFC star Conor McGregor during an on-court bit during Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Miami, according to a report.

The man who plays Burnie, according to The Athletic, received pain medication, was sent home and is doing well.

Conor McGregor KO'd the Heat mascot ? #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/IRAKzuMKp2

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 10, 2023

As part of the skit, Burnie, who was dressed in a fighter's robe and large gloves, moved toward McGregor at midcourt in a fighting stance. McGregor, who was promoting a pain-relief spray, floored Burnie with a left hook and then landed a straight punch to the face of the mascot's headgear as Burnie was lying face-up on the floor.

McGregor, the first fighter in UFC history to hold simultaneous championships in two different weight classes, is serving as a coach in Season 31 of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality television show.

McGregor has not competed since breaking his left leg in a fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

The Heat, who lost 108-95 on Friday, will attempt to avoid getting knocked out by the Denver Nuggets, who have a 3-1 lead and can clinch the NBA championship in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series on Monday night (8:30 ET, ABC).

The Toronto Raptors are hiring Memphis Grizzlies assistant Darko Rajakovic as the franchise's next head coach, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

The Raptors offered the job to Rajakovic on Saturday and the sides are finalizing a contract that's expected to be completed soon, sources said.

Rajakovic, a native of Serbia, emerged out of an exhaustive process to sell Raptors president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster on his candidacy to replace Nick Nurse.

Rajakovic's hiring leaves the NBA with no more head-coaching openings.

Rajakovic arrived from Serbia in 2012 as a G League head coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder before advancing onto the OKC bench and making stops with the Phoenix Suns and Grizzlies. He eventually elevated into Taylor Jenkins' top assistant with the Grizzlies.

The Raptors wanted a coach whom they believed could coach a contending team should the franchise stay on its current path with veterans, or a rebuilding roster should they eventually transform the roster to younger players and draft assets, sources said.

Golden State's Kenny Atkinson and Milwaukee's Charles Lee were other coaches given serious consideration in the process, sources said.

Toronto dismissed Nurse after going 41-41 this season before losing to the Chicago Bulls in the 9-10 game of the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.

The Cincinnati Reds reinstated TJ Friedl on Saturday, with fellow outfielder Jake Fraley taking his place on the 10-day injured list.

In corresponding moves, the Reds recalled Kevin Herget from Triple-A Louisville and optioned fellow right-handed reliever Joel Kuhnel to the same location.

Friedl, 27, has not played since May 30 due to a left hamstring strain. He is batting .326 with three homers and 20 RBIs in 42 games this season.

Fraley, 28, is dealing with a right wrist contusion after being hit by a pitch during Tuesday's 9-8 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is hitting .262 with seven homers and a team-high 38 RBIs in 55 games.

Herget, 32, is 1-2 with one save and a 4.79 ERA in 12 relief appearances this season for Cincinnati.

Kuhnel, 28, has pitched in two games for the Reds with no decisions and an 8.10 ERA in 3⅓ innings.

Mired in a seven-game losing skid, the New York Mets made a series of roster moves Saturday that included designating right-handed reliever Tommy Hunter for assignment.

Hunter, 36, pitched in Thursday's 13-10 loss to the Atlanta Braves and Friday's 14-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits with three home runs in 2⅔ innings over the two games. Over 14 games this season, Hunter is 0-1 with a 6.85 ERA.

The team also optioned left-hander Zach Muckenhirn to Triple-A Syracuse and recalled right-hander John Curtiss and left-hander Josh Walker from Syracuse. Muckenhirn, 28, also appeared in Friday's loss in Pittsburgh, giving up three runs on six hits over 2⅓ innings. He has a 6.00 ERA through six appearances this season.

Curtiss, 30, missed the entire 2022 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He pitched in 11 games for the Mets in April and May, posting a 4.85 ERA in 13 innings. Walker, 28, walked two batters in one scoreless inning during his major league debut May 16 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He is 2-1 with a 1.45 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 18⅔ innings at Syracuse.

Minnesota Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco returned to the 10-day injured list Saturday because of his troublesome left hamstring.

Polanco, 29, was reinstated from the IL on June 1 after missing 12 games with the same injury. He is batting .250 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 30 games in his 10th season with the Twins.

The 2019 All-Star is a lifetime .270 hitter with 103 homers and 415 RBIs in 782 games.

Minnesota recalled infielder Edouard Julien from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move. He made his MLB debut April 12 and is batting .226 with four homers and eight RBIs in 19 games with the Twins.

American Murphy wins women’s title with men’s victory going to Uganda’s Chemutai on final day of World Mountain and Trail Running Champs

Grayson Murphy is already a popular figure on the mountain and trial running circuit after previous world title victories have helped her build a 100,000-plus following on Instagram, where she goes under the name of “Racin’ Grayson”.

The American will doubtless gain a few more fans this weekend, too, after capturing the women’s gold in the ‘mountain classic’ up-and-down race on the final day (June 10) of the World Championships in Innsbruck-Stubai in Austria.

Grayson won this title back in 2019 and is also a former XTERRA trail running world champion in addition to being a former 3000m steeplechaser on the track with a best of 9:25.37.

“I am overjoyed, but also very tired,” she said. “This gold medal is a special one as I was sidelined last year due to injury and it was a long way back. I am very proud that I managed to listen to my body during that time – it paid off. And a big thank you to everyone who supported us along the route – it was really encouraging!”

Tove Alexandersson from Sweden led after the first of two 7.5km laps. But on the steep climb from the old town toward the Ölberg, Alexandersson crumbled and Murphy moved past her.

The American cruised away to take gold in 64:29 with Alexandersson clocking 65:26 in second and Joyce Muthoni of Kenya third in 66:40.

With Alice Goodall in 10th, Scout Adkin 12th, Phillipa Williams 21st and Holly Page 55th, the GB & NI team won team silver behind winners Kenya and ahead of France and the United States.

The demanding 15km route, which passed through hell – or “Höll” – a section that is notorious from the UCI Road World Championships, once again asked everything from the athletes.

Uganda’s Chemutai handled the course in style, though, as he clocked 56:14 ahead of Kenyan Ombogo Kiriago Philemon (56:22) and German Filimon Abraham (56:27). Patrick Kipngeno, world champion in the uphill-only race earlier in the championships, came in fourth but he helped Kenya win team gold.

Joe Steward was leading Brit in 18th with team-mates Jacob Adkin in 20th, Andrew Douglas in 22nd and Chris Richards in 31st not far behind.

Chemutai said: “I didn’t know whether or not I was going to win today, but I felt very good, the weather was great and the steep route here in Innsbruck suited me very well.”

Andy Murray reached his first singles final on British soil in almost seven years by beating Jordan Thompson in straight sets at the Surbiton Trophy.

He meets Austria's Jurij Rodionov or Belgian Zizou Bergs in Sunday's final.

Murray's most recent British singles final appearance was in 2016 when he beat Novak Djokovic in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London.

"It was a very, very tight first set but I improved a bit in the second set, served well and started hitting the ball better from the back of the court so hopefully I can continue that in the final," Murray said.

"To get the opportunity to play in the final tomorrow will be great. I'm obviously looking forward to that - it's been a while since I've won a tournament on home soil and hopefully I can do that tomorrow."

Sunday's final will be streamed live from 14:00 BST on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app and the BBC Red Button.

Murray skipped the French Open to prioritise his grass-court preparations for Wimbledon and has also revealed he will enter next week's Nottingham Open, live on the BBC, as a wildcard.

Before then, the world number 43 has the opportunity to claim a second ATP Challenger Tour title in as many months, following his win over Tommy Paul in Aix-en-Provence in May.

Murray was pushed all the way by Thompson in a high-quality opening set, with the world number 71 winning 11 of 12 points in a three-game burst to cancel out the Scot's early break of serve.

However, the former world number one edged an enthralling tie-break and then claimed a crucial break in a controversial start to the second set.

Thompson wanted a point replayed after a spectator shouted out during play but the umpire ruled Murray's winner legal and - after a freak, short rain delay amid otherwise glorious sunshine - he broke serve.

The Australian lost his way thereafter as Murray broke the Thompson serve twice more, albeit while also dropping his own serve once, to seal victory.

Swan earns chance to become British number one

In the women's event, Katie Swan - who will replace the injured Emma Raducanu as British number one if she wins the title - will meet Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer in Sunday's final.

The 24-year-old, who beat top seed Tatjana Maria in the last eight, dropped just one game as she took only an hour to comfortably defeat compatriot Lily Miyazaki 6-1 6-0.

"Today was probably one of the best matches I've played in my career - it was near perfect," Swan said. "I am really happy I was able to produce that and I can't wait to play in the final tomorrow."

Hopes of an all-British final were ended by Katie Boulter's 6-3 6-2 defeat by 33-year-old Wickmayer in Saturday's second semi.

Boulter would have been guaranteed to depose Raducanu at the top of the British rankings had she reached the final but that chance now falls to Swan.

Iga Swiatek maintained her recent grip on the French Open by fighting past Karolina Muchova to win her third Roland Garros title in four years.

Czech player Muchova, 26, broke for 4-3 in the decider, but Poland's Swiatek, 22, finished strongly to triumph.

Swiatek, who has now won four Grand Slams, is the first woman to defend the title since Justine Henin in 2007.

Muchova - told to quit last year by doctors because of injuries - showed remarkable resolve to fight back from a set and 3-0 down, not only making a contest of what had been a one-sided match but moving to within two service holds of a first major title.

However, she lost in one of the cruellest ways by producing a double fault on Swiatek's first match point.

Swiatek instantly dropped her racquet and dropped to her haunches, bursting into tears on the court before hugging Muchova when she came around the net.

As Swiatek ran up to the stands to celebrate with her team - like she did after winning 12 months ago - Muchova sat in her chair contemplating what might have been.

Muchova received a rapturous standing ovation when she went to collect her runners-up prize, which led to her being overcome with emotion.

"It was so close yet so far. That's what happens when you play one of the best in Iga," she said.

More to follow.