Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner Bio

Brittney Yvette Griner, born on October 18, 1990, in Houston, Texas, is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall, Griner is widely recognized as one of the most dominant centers in the history of women’s basketball. A three-time Olympic gold medalist and a WNBA champion, she has built a career defined by record-setting shot-blocking, scoring titles, and historic achievements on both the collegiate and professional stages.

Beyond her on-court impact, Griner is a prominent voice for inclusion, social justice, and athlete activism. After being detained in Russia in early 2022, she became the subject of an international diplomatic effort and was eventually released in a prisoner swap later that year. Her return to the WNBA in 2023 marked a powerful comeback, and she continues to influence the next generation of players through her play and her public platform.

Early Life and Background

Brittney Yvette Griner was born to Raymond Griner, a Harris County deputy sheriff and two-tour Vietnam War veteran, and Sandra Griner. She grew up in Houston alongside three older siblings and developed physically at a remarkable pace, eventually reaching a height of 6 feet 9 inches. From an early age, her size set her apart in school, and she experienced bullying, which she later said helped shape her resilience and sense of identity.

Griner attended Nimitz High School in Houston, where she quickly became one of the most talked-about young athletes in the country. Beginning in her sophomore year, she practiced with the boys’ basketball team and worked with a Nimitz football coach to develop her leg strength in preparation for learning to dunk. During her junior season, a YouTube video featuring her dunks went viral, drawing millions of views and leading to a notable meeting with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.

In her senior year, Griner led the Nimitz Cougars to the Texas 5A girls basketball state championship game and set a single-game record with seven dunks against Aldine High School. She recorded 25 blocks in a game against Houston Alief Hastings, the most ever by a female in a U.S. high school game, and finished her senior season with 318 blocks. Houston mayor Bill White declared May 7, 2009, as Brittney Griner Day, recognizing her extraordinary impact on the city’s sports scene.

Path to Basketball

Griner’s path to elite basketball was shaped by her willingness to challenge norms. She was the nation’s No. 1 high school women’s basketball player according to Rivals.com, earned WBCA All-American honors, and led her team in the 2009 WBCA High School All-America Game. Her size, mobility, and shot-blocking instincts made her a unique prospect, drawing national attention before she even reached college.

Griner chose to play college basketball at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, joining the Baylor Lady Bears. As a freshman, she set the all-time single-season record with 223 blocked shots, immediately establishing herself as one of the greatest shot blockers in women’s college basketball history. Her rapid development in Waco positioned her as the top overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft, setting the stage for a landmark professional career.

Brittney Griner Career

College Career (2009–2013)

Griner’s four seasons at Baylor University redefined what was possible for a center in the women’s game. As a freshman, she recorded Baylor’s first triple-double with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 blocked shots, and became only the seventh woman to dunk during a women’s college basketball game. She set an NCAA tournament record with 14 blocked shots in a single game and finished that tournament with 35 blocks, the most in NCAA Women’s Tournament history at the time.

By her junior season, Griner was the most decorated player in college basketball. She led Baylor to an undefeated 40-0 season and won the 2012 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship with a dominant performance against Notre Dame in the title game. She was named AP Player of the Year, the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, and a three-time All-American, becoming the only NCAA basketball player to both score 2,000 points and block 500 shots. She later completed her bachelor’s degree in education in 2019.

WNBA Career and Phoenix Mercury Breakthrough (2013–Present)

The Phoenix Mercury selected Brittney Griner as the first overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft. In her debut on May 27, 2013, she tied the WNBA dunk record and became the third WNBA player to dunk and the first to dunk twice in one game. She was named a WNBA All-Star as a rookie and led the league in blocks, establishing herself immediately as a defensive force. In 2014, she set a WNBA record with 11 blocks in a regular-season game against the Tulsa Shock and later became the first WNBA player to dunk in a playoff game.

Griner’s second season culminated in a WNBA championship. The Mercury finished 29-5, setting the league record for most regular-season wins, and swept the Chicago Sky in the WNBA Finals to capture their third title. Griner set WNBA Finals records in Game 1 for most blocks in a game and most blocks in a quarter. She won back-to-back WNBA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2014 and 2015, led the league in blocks for eight seasons, and captured WNBA scoring titles in 2017 and 2019.

After missing the entire 2022 season due to her detention in Russia, Griner returned to the WNBA in May 2023 and received a standing ovation from the crowd. She continued her decorated career with the Phoenix Mercury through 2024 and was reported on January 28, 2025, to be signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Dream in free agency, beginning a new chapter in her professional journey.

Driving Style and Strengths

Griner’s playing style is defined by her exceptional length, shot-blocking instincts, and developing offensive game. Standing 6 feet 9 inches with an arm span of 87.5 inches, she protects the rim at an elite level and has averaged multiple blocks per game across nearly every season of her career. Her combination of size, mobility, and improving perimeter shooting has made her one of the most unique and difficult matchups in the women’s game.

Notable Events and Milestones

Among her most notable milestones, Griner is the all-time NCAA women’s career dunks leader with 18 dunks, a 2014 WNBA champion, a 10-time WNBA All-Star, and a three-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA in 2016, 2021, and 2024. Baylor University retired her No. 42 jersey in February 2024, cementing her legacy in collegiate athletics.

Brittney Griner Career Wins

Across her professional career, Brittney Griner has accumulated an impressive list of victories at every level. She won a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014, captured back-to-back Russian league titles with UMMC Ekaterinburg, earned two FIBA Women’s World Cup gold medals in 2014 and 2018, and helped the United States win Olympic gold in 2016, 2021, and 2024. She has been selected to 10 WNBA All-Star Games and has led the league in blocks on eight occasions.

WNBA Highlights

Griner’s WNBA resume includes a 2014 championship with the Phoenix Mercury, 10 All-Star selections between 2013 and 2024, two scoring titles in 2017 and 2019, and eight blocks-leading seasons. She set multiple WNBA records, including 11 blocks in a regular-season game, 11 blocks in a playoff game, and the most blocks in a Finals game. She was also named to the WNBA’s list of the 25 greatest players of the league’s first 25 years.

Other Wins and Performances

Internationally, Griner helped Team USA win gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the 2024 Paris Olympics, in addition to FIBA Women’s World Cup titles in 2014 and 2018. She also won back-to-back Russian Premier League championships with UMMC Ekaterinburg in the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons, and was named MVP of the 2014 WCBA All-Star Game during her time in China.

Brittney Griner Family

Family Background and Basketball Lineage

Griner was raised in a close-knit Houston family. Her father, Raymond Griner, served as a Harris County deputy sheriff and was a two-tour Vietnam War veteran, while her mother, Sandra Griner, raised Brittney alongside her three older siblings. Her family’s support, particularly through difficult chapters of her life, has been a constant presence in her story. The dedication and discipline shown by her parents helped shape the work ethic that has defined her basketball career.

Personal Life

Brittney Griner publicly came out as a lesbian in a 2013 interview with SI.com and later published a memoir, In My Skin, addressing bullying and self-acceptance. She became engaged to Cherelle Watson in August 2018, and the couple married in June 2019. In 2024, Griner and her wife announced a pregnancy, and their son was born in July 2024. Griner has continued to use her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility, social justice, and the rights of Americans detained abroad.

2025 Season Performance

Brittney Griner’s 2025 season marks the start of a new chapter with the Atlanta Dream, after being reported on January 28, 2025, to have signed a one-year deal with the franchise in free agency. The move signaled a fresh opportunity for Griner to extend her Hall of Fame-caliber career in a new environment, and it generated considerable excitement among Dream supporters eager to see her pair with the team’s emerging core.

As a veteran center and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Griner remains a dominant interior presence, capable of anchoring a defense, controlling the glass, and finishing around the rim. Her leadership, shot-blocking instincts, and scoring touch in the paint are expected to play a central role in Atlanta’s rotation, particularly as the team builds its identity around a blend of youth and championship experience.

With multiple WNBA All-Star selections, two scoring titles, and eight blocks-leading seasons already on her resume, Griner continues to be a stabilizing force on any roster. Her transition to the Atlanta Dream is expected to add both production and mentorship as the franchise pushes forward in 2025.