COUPLESWhy Are Brittney Griner and Wife Cherelle Divorcing? What the Court Filing Reveals
Brittney Griner filed for divorce from her wife, Cherelle Griner, after eight years of marriage.
Aug. 9 2026, Published 8:00 a.m. ET
Brittney Griner and her wife, Cherelle, are going their separate ways after eight years of marriage.
The estranged couple first met when they were students at Baylor University in Texas. They later became engaged and tied the knot on June 18, 2018.
Their marriage was put to the test in 2022, when the Phoenix Mercury star was stopped at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport after a customs dog alerted officers to her carry-on bag. A search uncovered vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, prompting authorities to take her into custody and charge her with smuggling narcotic drugs into the country.
On August 4, 2022, Brittney was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. She was released on December 8 of that year.
Here's everything to know about Brittney and Cherelle's ongoing divorce.
When Did Brittney Griner File for Divorce From Wife Cherelle Griner?
Brittney and Cherelle Griner were married for eight years.
According to court documents obtained by a news outlet, Brittney filed for divorce from her wife of eight years in Fulton County, Ga., on July 30.
The WNBA star described their marriage as "irretrievably broken" in the court records.
Do Brittney Griner and Wife Cherelle Have Children?
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Brittney and Cherelle Griner met when they were students at Baylor University.
Brittney and Cherelle share a 2-year-old son, Bash, whom they welcomed in July 2024. The professional basketball player is seeking joint legal custody of their child in the divorce filing.
What Happened to Brittney Griner?
Brittney Griner was released from Russian prison in December 2022.
Brittney spent nearly 10 months in Russian custody following her February 2022 arrest at a Moscow airport on drug-related charges. She was sentenced to nine and a half years in a Russia prison after she was found guilty of drug charges on July 7, 2022.
She was transferred to a penal colony in November 2022, a few weeks before the U.S. confirmed she was released in a prisoner exchange with Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
"It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn," Brittney wrote on Instagram at the time. "I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help."
