The fallout from Grant Afseth’s decision to step away from covering the Dallas Wings has continued to ripple through the basketball world, and on Thursday, it reached a former NBA All-Star.
Michael Redd used his platform to voice out in support of Afseth. His message included a harsh reality check of what the game may be missing right now.
What Did Michael Redd Say About the Grant Afseth Drama?
Afseth, a longtime WNBA beat writer who also news on Take Flight Media, announced this week that he was stepping away from covering the team. He mentioned receiving a graphic death threat targeting him and his family. The message reportedly came from someone claiming to be a fan of Wings rookie Azzi Fudd.
It looked like the fan was upset over what they viewed as overly harsh criticism of the No. 1 overall pick’s rookie season. There is no indication that Fudd was aware of or endorsed the message sent in her name.
Been catching up on what Grant Afseth (and his family) are dealing with. It kind’ve stinks.
Grant, to my knowledge, covers the W, and covers it pretty well. For somebody to threaten his family over a story, to run him off the Wings team beat, that’s got nothing to do with being…
— Michael Redd (@MichaelRedd_) August 13, 2026
Redd addressed the situation directly in a post on X. “Been catching up on what Grant Afseth (and his family) are dealing with. It kind’ve stinks. Grant, to my knowledge, covers the W, and covers it pretty well. For somebody to threaten his family over a story, to run him off the Wings team beat, that’s got nothing to do with being a fan,” the NBA All-Star said.
“Situation has me thinking a lot about love. This game needs more love in it. The players need it, the people covering it need it, the fans pouring their hearts into it need it. We can disagree on a take or a call or a roster move and still lead with heart and humility. It’s not that hard,” Redd added.
The former Bucks guard’s comments joined a wave of support for Afseth from around the league. Wings head coach Jose Fernandez addressed the situation following a win over the Toronto Tempo this week.
He called the behavior “really disappointing” and noted that even coaches have had their social media accounts hacked amid the tension surrounding the team.
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Afseth has not said whether he plans to return to WNBA coverage. Take Flight Media confirmed he would no longer be covering the Wings following the threat, and no law enforcement action has been publicly disclosed.
Fudd, meanwhile, has continued playing through an inconsistent rookie season, averaging 13.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 steals for a Wings team still fighting for a playoff spot in the season’s final stretch.
