Brittney Griner

Nowadays, the world has progressed at a breakneck pace, and one of society's most pressing issues, gender discrimination, is being eradicated with each passing day. In several areas, including government, education, sports, and entertainment, to name a few, women have been inspiring their fellow youngsters and future generations to fulfill their ambitions without being intimidated by what is perceived as a male-dominated culture. Among many such inspirational people, we will discuss Brittney Griner today, who has served as a role model for many young female athletes.

Brittney Griner is an American professional basketball player who plays in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) on behalf of the Atlanta Dream. Griner plays as a team along with other basketball legends like Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, Elena Delle Donne, Sue Bird, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and so on. Similarly, the athlete is one of the 11 respective women who have secured an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA championship, a FIBA World Cup gold medal, and a WNBA championship.

How Old Is Brittney Griner?

Brittney Griner was born on October 18, 1990, in Houston, Texas, United States. Her zodiac sign is Libra, and she is American by nationality. She belongs to the African-American ethnicity and follows Christianity.

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Griner grew up in Houston with her parents, Raymond and Sandra Griner. She came out as a lesbian during her college years at Baylor University. Initially, her father reacted poorly, and she faced challenges in their relationship. During her senior year, her father asked her to live with an assistant coach.

Today, Brittney has a positive and "glorious" relationship with her parents. She is married to Cherelle Griner since June 2019, and they have one child.

Brittney Griner is a highly decorated athlete. She has won three Olympic gold medals (2016, 2020, 2024) and earned multiple WNBA honors. She currently plays for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA.

What Is Brittney Griner's Parents' Ethnicity?

Brittney Griner’s parents, Raymond and Sandra Griner, are both African American. Her father, Raymond, has deep family roots in Texas. Genealogical research from the PBS series Finding Your Roots, aired in February 2026, traced his lineage back to his great-great-grandfather, Henry Adams, and further into the era of slavery in Texas.

Griner’s mother, Sandra, has ancestral ties to Louisiana. Records from the 1760s show her seventh great-grandparents were Marie Kuan Kuan, an enslaved Black woman, and Pierre Matto, a white man from France. Their children were recorded as "mulatto," reflecting a multiracial lineage within her African American heritage.

Raymond Griner is a two-tour Vietnam War veteran and retired Harris County deputy sheriff. Sandra Griner raised Brittney and her three older siblings as a stay-at-home mother in Houston, providing a strong foundation that shaped Brittney’s life and career.

What Was Brittney Griner Born As?

Brittney Griner was born Brittney Yevette Griner on October 18, 1990, in Houston, Texas. She was assigned female at birth and has consistently identified as a woman throughout her life.

Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall with a deep voice and a bold, masculine-leaning style, Griner has been the subject of internet rumors and conspiracy theories, but these claims have been repeatedly debunked by medical professionals and public records.

Griner embraces both masculine and feminine traits and has said she feels most comfortable expressing herself in her own skin. Growing up, she faced bullying and was often mistaken for a boy, but she turned these challenges into strength.

Today, she is a prominent advocate for LGBTQ plus rights and has spoken out against legislation targeting transgender athletes, using her platform to inspire and support others.

How Many Siblings Does Brittney Griner Have?

The women’s basketball champion, Brittney Griner, shares a close bond with her three siblings: two sisters, Shkera Griner and Pier Griner, and one brother, Declaro Griner.

Apart from that, other details about her siblings have remained undisclosed. But many people often wonder and search on the internet, "Does Brittney Griner have a twin brother?" and the answer is no. 

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Is Brittney Griner Highly Educated?

As per the academic training of Brittney Griner, she attended a public secondary school consisting of two campuses in her hometown, called Nimitz High School. During her high school days, in 2009, Rivals.com even declared Brittney as the nation’s No. 1 sportswoman in basketball. Later, Griner enrolled at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where she continued to pursue basketball.

Is Brittney Griner Married?

Brittney Griner publicly came out as a lesbian during a February 11, 2013, interview with SI.com. She is currently married to her long-term partner turned wife, Cherelle Griner (née Watson), who is an entrepreneur, teacher, and influencer.

The couple first met while studying at Baylor University, but began dating in early 2018. They announced their engagement on August 2, 2018. Within ten months of being fiancées, Brittney and Cherelle Watson tied the knot on June 18, 2019.

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In July 2024, they welcomed their first child, a son named Bash Raymond Griner. Brittney has shared that she prefers to be called "Pops" by her son. Cherelle, now a practicing lawyer, celebrated her first official Mother's Day with Bash in May 2025.

On the 6th anniversary, Brittney shared a sweet carousel post with her wife and wrote, 

Happy 6th Anniversary Baby. There is no person that I would want to spend my life with than you. You’re my life-line in this world. I can’t believe 6 years have passed. It’s going too quick and I just want to enjoy and savor every second with you. I love you Always! @cherelletgriner 

Brittney’s career has also seen notable changes recently. In early 2025, she moved from the Phoenix Mercury to join the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA.

In January 2026, Brittney and Cherelle attended the Sundance Film Festival for the premiere of the documentary The Brittney Griner Story, which highlights their relationship and her resilience during her 2022 detainment.

Brittney Griner's Ex-Wife

Before her marriage to Cherelle Griner, Brittney Griner was married to fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson. Fans celebrated when the couple announced their engagement on August 14, 2014.

However, their relationship faced challenges quickly. On April 22, 2015, police responded to a domestic dispute at their home in Goodyear, Arizona. Both Brittney and Glory were arrested for assault and disorderly conduct.

Despite the controversy, the couple held their wedding on May 8, 2015, at a resort in Phoenix, Arizona. Soon after, the WNBA suspended both players for seven games due to the prior charges.

Brittney filed for an annulment on June 5, 2015, calling the marriage a "huge mistake." She cited fraud and duress, but a judge denied the annulment in August 2015. Following the denial, the couple moved forward with divorce proceedings, which were finalized in June 2016 after a year-long legal battle.

The couple had children during this period. Glory Johnson gave birth to premature twins, Ava Simone and Solei Diem, in October 2015. Brittney was legally tied to the twins and was ordered in April 2016 to pay $2,516.97 per month in child support.

As of 2026, Brittney Griner has been married to Cherelle Griner since June 18, 2019. They welcomed their son, Bash Raymond Griner, in July 2024. Glory Johnson continues her professional basketball career and is the primary parent to her twin daughters.

Is Brittney Griner A Mother?

Brittney Griner became a parent in 2024 with her wife, Cherelle Griner. Their son, Bash Raymond Griner, was born on July 8, 2024. Brittney has famously shared that she prefers to be called "Pops" by her son rather than "Mom." She has described parenthood as life-changing, saying that "everything you thought mattered just goes out the window" the moment you see your child.

Previously, Brittney was married to fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson. Glory gave birth to twin daughters, Ava Simone and Solei Diem, in October 2015. Brittney had no biological ties to the twins, but a judge ordered her to pay $2,516.97 per month in child support. She does not have an active parenting role with the twins, and her focus is now on raising Bash with Cherelle.

Brittney and Glory’s divorce was finalized in June 2016 after a year-long legal battle. The split followed complications from Glory’s pregnancy announcement in June 2015, which came shortly after Brittney filed for an annulment.

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As of 2026, Brittney and Cherelle often share glimpses of life with Bash. Brittney balances her professional basketball career with parenting, emphasizing the importance of playing professionally in the U.S. so she can stay close to her family.

How Much Is Brittney Griner Net Worth?

According to the celebrity net worth,  Brittney Griner’s net worth is estimated at approximately $5 million. She built her wealth over more than a decade as a professional basketball player. Selected as the first overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury, Brittney has set numerous legendary records.

She is the only NCAA basketball player to score over 2,000 points and block more than 500 shots. She was named AP Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

Griner has represented the United States in international competitions, winning three Olympic gold medals (2016, 2020, 2024) and two World Cup golds. She has also played for top overseas teams, including the Zhejiang Golden Bulls and UMMC Ekaterinburg.

While with Zhejiang, she signed a four-month contract reportedly worth $600,000, significantly higher than her rookie salary with Phoenix.

She continues to earn from endorsements, including major deals with Nike, Puma, Gatorade, and Beats by Dre. Her cumulative WNBA career earnings total approximately $1,532,916.

In February 2025, Brittney signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Dream for $214,466. She played as the primary center during the season but suffered a mid-season neck injury in August 2025. Upon returning, she moved to a bench role for the first time in her career, finishing the season with career-low averages of 9.8 points and 5.2 rebounds.

As of 2026, her contract with Atlanta has expired. She is now an unrestricted free agent.

What Happened To Brittney Griner?

Brittney Griner was in Russia during the WNBA off-season when she was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport near Moscow on February 17, 2022. She faced charges for possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil and admitted in court that she had made an honest mistake.

The prosecution sought a nine-year prison sentence. On August 4, 2022, she was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony and fined 1 million rubles. After spending ten months in detention, Brittney was released on December 8, 2022, through a one-for-one prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, negotiated by President Joe Biden.

Following her release, she pledged she would not play overseas again except when representing the United States at the Olympics, citing the pay gap in women’s basketball as the reason many players had historically felt compelled to go abroad.

As of 2026, Brittney is an unrestricted free agent. Her one-year contract with the Atlanta Dream, worth $214,466, ended with the 2025 season, and she is eligible to sign a new contract starting March 11, 2026. Off the court, her story has become a powerful media narrative.

In January 2026, the documentary The Brittney Griner Story premiered at the Sundance Film Festival as part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, providing an intimate look at her detainment and her wife Cherelle Griner’s relentless efforts to bring her home.

The following month, on February 17, 2026, Brittney released Coming Home (Adapted for Young Adults), a version of her memoir designed to inspire younger readers with her story of resilience and determination.

Brittney continues to stay active in basketball. She is competing in the second season of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league in Miami as part of the "Vinyl" team. In February 2026, she reached a milestone of 300 career points in the league, proving that even after immense challenges, her talent, drive, and impact on the sport remain as strong as ever.

How Tall Is Brittney Griner?

The 31-year-old sportswoman, Brittney Griner, has an athletic body type, and she stands at the height of 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m, 206 cm) and weighs around 93 kg (205 lbs). Whereas Brittney's wife, Cherelle, is 5 feet 6 inches tall. Additionally, she has long brown hair and black eyes.

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