Brittney Griner Files for Divorce

WNBA player Brittney Griner has initiated divorce proceedings after an eight-year marriage. The 35-year-old Olympic gold medalist filed for divorce in Fulton County, Georgia, citing the marriage to Cherelle Griner as irretrievably broken, as per court documents. The documents reveal that the couple has been separated since July 24.

A lawyer for Brittney Griner stated to NBC News that they hope the matter can be resolved privately. No further comments were made available. Representatives for Cherelle Griner have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Both attended the premiere of ‘The Brittney Griner Story’ during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre in Park City, Utah.

The couple wed in June 2018 after meeting at Baylor University. Brittney Griner distinguished herself there, ranking second on the NCAA Division I women’s all-time scoring list.

Cherelle Griner, aged 33, is an attorney who advocated for Brittney’s release following her detention in Russia in February 2022. Russian officials found a vape canister with cannabis oil in her luggage.

Brittney Griner faced drug charges in Russia and received a nine-year sentence. She was released in December 2022 via a significant prisoner swap arranged by President Joe Biden’s administration. The couple welcomed their first son in 2024. Brittney Griner is pursuing joint custody according to the divorce filings.

This marks Brittney Griner’s second marriage. Her previous marriage to WNBA player Glory Johnson in 2015 ended shortly afterward with a filing for annulment. During that brief marriage, Johnson became pregnant with twins via in vitro fertilization. Brittney Griner was mandated to pay child support for the twins from 2016.