Brittney Griner Files for Divorce After Eight Years

WNBA star Brittney Griner has filed for divorce from her wife Cherelle Griner after an eight-year marriage. The 35-year-old Olympic gold medalist submitted the documentation in Fulton County, Georgia, citing the marriage as “irretrievably broken.” According to the filings, the couple has been living separately since July 24.

Brittney’s lawyer expressed the hope that the matter could be resolved privately, noting there would be no further comments at this time. Representatives for Cherelle have not yet responded to requests for comment.

The couple married in June 2018 after meeting at Baylor University, where Brittney was a top-ranking basketball player on the NCAA Division I women’s all-time scoring list. Cherelle, a 33-year-old attorney, was a vocal advocate for Brittney’s release when she was detained in Russia in February 2022. Russian authorities accused Brittney of possessing a vape canister with cannabis oil. She was convicted of drug charges and sentenced to nine years but was released in December 2022 as part of a prisoner swap arranged by President Joe Biden’s administration.

In 2024, the couple welcomed their first son. Brittney is pursuing joint custody, as shown in the court documents. This divorce marks her second; her previous marriage to former WNBA player Glory Johnson ended in annulment less than a month after their 2015 wedding. During their brief marriage, Johnson became pregnant with twins through in vitro fertilization, and Brittney was later required to pay child support.