Brittney Griner Bio
Brittney Yvette Griner is an American professional basketball player widely regarded as one of the most dominant centers in women’s basketball history. Born on October 18, 1990, in Houston, Texas, she has built a career defined by shot-blocking, scoring, and a long list of championships across the WNBA, NCAA, FIBA, and international club play. A three-time Olympic gold medalist with the United States, Griner stands 6 feet 9 inches tall and is recognized globally for her rare combination of size, mobility, and skill. She currently plays in the WNBA and continues to be a central figure in the growth of the women’s game.
Early Life and Background
Brittney Yvette Griner was born in Houston, Texas, the daughter of Raymond Griner, a Harris County deputy sheriff and two-tour Vietnam War veteran, and Sandra Griner. She has three older siblings. Growing up in Houston, Griner faced the challenge of being taller than most girls her age, an experience that shaped her early years and later fueled her advocacy against bullying.
She attended Nimitz High School in Houston, where she lettered in basketball and also played varsity volleyball as a freshman. 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. Her dunks attracted national attention, with one YouTube video being watched more than 6.6 million times and leading to a meeting with Shaquille O’Neal.
During her senior season, Griner dunked 52 times in 32 games, including a single-game record of seven dunks against Aldine High School. She led the Nimitz Cougars to the Texas 5A girls basketball state championship game and was named a WBCA All-American. In recognition of her impact, Houston mayor Bill White declared May 7, 2009, Brittney Griner Day.
Path to Basketball
Griner was named the nation’s number-one high school women’s basketball player by Rivals.com in 2009 and was selected for the All-American basketball team that same year. She chose to play college basketball at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, joining the Baylor Lady Bears, a perennial national powerhouse.
As a freshman, Griner set the all-time single-season record with 223 blocked shots and recorded Baylor’s first triple-double, a milestone in the program’s history. She became the seventh woman to dunk in a college basketball game and only the second woman to dunk twice in a single college game. By the end of her freshman year, she was recognized as one of the greatest shot blockers in women’s basketball history.
Across her four seasons at Baylor, Griner evolved from a raw, dominant defender into a complete player, earning multiple All-American selections and the program’s first national championship since 2005. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education in 2019.
Brittney Griner Career
Early Career (2013–2014)
The Phoenix Mercury selected Brittney Yvette Griner as the first overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft. In her debut on May 27, 2013, against the Chicago Sky, she tied the WNBA dunk record by recording two dunks, becoming the third WNBA player to dunk and the first to do so twice in a single game. She finished the season averaging 3.0 blocks per game and was named a WNBA All-Star, though a right knee injury kept her out of the All-Star Game.
In 2014, Griner’s offensive game expanded, with averages of 15.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game. She set a WNBA record with 11 blocks in a regular-season win over the Tulsa Shock and became the first WNBA player to dunk in a playoff game. The Mercury, featuring Griner, Diana Taurasi, and Candice Dupree, finished 29–5, the best record in league history, and swept the Chicago Sky in the WNBA Finals to capture the franchise’s third championship.
WNBA Breakthrough (2015–2019)
Despite a seven-game suspension at the start of the 2015 season, Brittney Yvette Griner delivered the most prolific defensive season in WNBA history, averaging a then-record 4.0 blocks per game. She set a WNBA playoff record with 11 blocks in a game-one victory against the Tulsa Shock, and the Mercury advanced to the second round before being swept by the Minnesota Lynx.
In 2017, Griner posted a career-high 38 points against the Indiana Fever and led the WNBA in scoring for the first time with 21.9 points per game, while also leading the league in blocks for the fifth consecutive season. She followed that with another scoring title in 2019, when she also recorded 34 points in a single game and led the league in blocks for the seventh straight year.
Across the 2015–2019 stretch, Griner earned multiple All-WNBA First and Second Team selections, established herself as the league’s premier two-way center, and remained a perennial All-Star. Her combination of scoring, rim protection, and physicality made her the focal point of every Phoenix lineup.
Atlanta Dream Era (2025)
On January 28, 2025, it was reported that Brittney Yvette Griner would sign a one-year contract with the Atlanta Dream in free agency. The move came after her long stint with the Phoenix Mercury and signaled a fresh chapter for the veteran center heading into the 2025 WNBA season.
The Dream added Griner to bolster their frontcourt with one of the most accomplished centers of her generation. Her veteran presence, scoring inside, and shot-blocking ability were expected to provide Atlanta with a steadier interior anchor as the team pursued a deeper playoff run in 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Griner’s game is built around her exceptional 6-foot-9 frame, soft hands, and finishing touch around the rim. She excels in the paint on both ends of the floor, ranking among the WNBA’s all-time leaders in blocks while also developing into a reliable scorer and rebounder. Her ability to anchor a defense and protect the rim has defined her value to every team she has played for.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature moments, Brittney Yvette Griner set the WNBA single-game record with 11 blocks in 2014, became the first WNBA player to dunk in a playoff game, and led Baylor to the 2012 NCAA championship. She also earned three consecutive Olympic gold medals with Team USA, in 2016, 2021, and 2024, cementing her status as one of the most decorated players in the history of the sport.
Brittney Griner Career Wins
Across her WNBA, NCAA, FIBA, and international club career, Brittney Yvette Griner has compiled a résumé highlighted by a WNBA championship, an NCAA title, three Olympic gold medals, and multiple league scoring and blocking crowns. She is the only NCAA basketball player, men’s or women’s, to record at least 2,000 points and 500 blocked shots.
WNBA Highlights
Griner won her lone WNBA championship in 2014 with the Phoenix Mercury, capping a record-setting 29–5 regular season. She is a 10-time WNBA All-Star (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), a two-time WNBA scoring champion (2017, 2019), and an eight-time WNBA blocks leader. She was also named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015.
Other Wins and Performances
Overseas, Griner won four EuroLeague championships with UMMC Ekaterinburg, in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2021, and helped her teams capture three Russian National League titles from 2015 to 2017. She was the MVP of the 2014 WCBA All-Star Game while playing for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls and led Baylor to the 2012 NCAA title, where she was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Brittney Griner Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Brittney Yvette Griner was raised in Houston, Texas, as one of four siblings. Her father, Raymond Griner, served as a Harris County deputy sheriff and is a two-tour Vietnam War veteran, and her mother is Sandra Griner. Sports and discipline were central themes in the Griner household, helping shape Brittney’s path to basketball.
Personal Life
Brittney Yvette Griner publicly came out as a lesbian in a 2013 interview with SI.com and has since been a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility and anti-bullying efforts. She married her current spouse, Cherelle Watson, in June 2019 after the couple became engaged in August 2018. In 2024, Griner and Watson welcomed a son, expanding their family.
Griner was previously engaged to and briefly married fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson in 2015; the couple’s divorce was finalized in June 2016. She is also a memoirist, having co-written In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court with Sue Hovey, published in 2014.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 WNBA season marked a new chapter for Brittney Yvette Griner after she signed with the Atlanta Dream in free agency. Joining a youthful roster, Griner provided veteran leadership and a steady interior presence as the team pushed to climb out of the league’s lower tier. Her shot-blocking and post scoring remained central to Atlanta’s defensive identity and half-court offense.
Throughout the season, Griner continued to demonstrate the durability and consistency that have defined her career, appearing in the majority of the Dream’s games and serving as a mentor to younger teammates. Her conditioning and adaptation to a new system were key storylines as Atlanta worked to integrate an established star into its developing core.
Looking ahead, Griner’s 2025 performance positioned her as a valuable offseason acquisition and a potential trade or free-agency target for contenders. As Atlanta evaluated its long-term roster, Griner’s production, leadership, and championship pedigree were expected to influence the franchise’s direction heading into the next WNBA offseason.
