Half of PWHL Twitter seems to believe Knight only "got away with" forcing a trade because she gets special privileges or whatever, so a short list of athletes that said "trade me or I quit":
Dick Allen, Atlanta Braves, 1974 (retired to avoid reporting, ended up having his rights flipped to Philly)
Kenny Anderson, Toronto Raptors, 1998 (didn't want to play in Canada, got flipped to Boston the next week)
Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat, 2025 (got himself suspended and ultimately traded to Golden State)
Donn Clendenon, Houston Astros, 1968 (retired to avoid playing for a racist manager, re-signed with the Expos later)
J.D. Drew, Philadelphia Phillies, 1997 (played indy ball for a year, re-entered the draft, was taken by the Cardinals)
Curt Flood, St. Louis Cardinals, 1969 (went to the Supreme Court, he retired while waiting for the case to resolve)
Cutter Gauthier, Philadelphia Flyers, 2024 (traded to the Ducks for Jamie Drysdale)
James Harden, like every two years when he gets bored, he always ends up getting moved
Hideki Irabu, San Diego Padres, 1997 (refused to leave Japan until he was traded to the Yankees)
Andrei Kirilenko, Philadelphia 76ers, 2015 (refused to report, went back to Russia, who can blame him?)
Rostislav Klesla, Buffalo Sabres, 2014 (went back to Czechia rather than play in Buffalo)
Eric Lindros, Quebec Nordiques, 1991 (told Quebec he wouldn't play for them, got drafted anyway, forced his way to Philly)
Haason Reddick, New York Jets, 2024 (refused to report for six months until he got a better contract)
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers, 2021 (sat out half the season before he was traded to the Nets)
Egor Zamula, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2025 (straight up refused to report, got his contract voided, signed with CBJ)
Are you telling me that Hilary Knight has less pull than Haason Reddick? Than Cutter Gauthier? Than fucking EGOR ZAMULA??