GRINER'S CASH
What is Brittney Griner’s salary?
The WNBA star has earned money playing in both the United States and overseas
BRITTNEY Griner made a name for herself in the NCAA and has since continued her success as part of the WNBA.
In March 2024, she re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury, causing fans to become curious about her salary.
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Who is Brittney Griner?
Brittney Griner was born on October 18, 1990, in Houston, Texas, as the youngest of four siblings.
She is the star center for the WNBA team Phoenix Mercury.
The six-time WNBA All-Star told Elle in 2013 that growing up with the build of a basketball player led to teasing in school.
The memory of the seventh grade, in particular, stuck out.
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Griner told Elle that other girls would comment on her physique and say, "What are you?"
After hearing those comments, she would go home and cry in her room, "Just thinking, like, Why am I even here? Why am I even alive?"
Griner now believes basketball saved her life and gave her renewed purpose.
WNBA star Brittney Griner lands back in USA after Russia prisoner swap with ‘merchant of death’ arms dealer Viktor Bout
She embraced who she was and, in high school, came out to her parents.
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Although her mom was supportive, she said, her dad didn't get on board and told her, "I ain't raising no lesbian."
"My dad always told me to just be who I was, but I don't think he knew exactly how I took it," she said.
"He finally got on board that either you accept your daughter and take her for what she is and you unconditionally love her, or you're not going to have her."
When Griner was drafted by the WNBA in 2013, she was given a platform to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
She later volunteered at the Phoenix LGBTQ youth center.
When it burned down in 2017 of suspected arson, Griner donated the $5,000 she won for the WNBA's Cares Community Assist Award to the youth center.
Throughout her career, Griner has won numerous awards and accolades, including the WNBA Championship in 2014 and the WNBA Scoring Champion in 2017 and 2019.
Additionally, she went on to win a gold medal with Team USA at the 2016 Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
She then earned her second gold medal with Team USA at the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan.
Griner is currently the only NCAA basketball player to score 2,000 points and block 500 shots.
When she is not on the court, she can often be found at home, spending time with her wife, Cherelle, whom she married in 2019.
The pair announced in April 2024 that they were expecting their first child together.
What is Brittney Griner's net worth and salary?
In the NBA, the average player's annual salary is roughly $7 million, and the highest-ranking player, Stephen Curry, makes $40.2 million.
However, the WNBA makes far less. The average annual salary in the WNBA for the 2021 season was $120,648, up from $74,349 in 2019.
A top salary position in the WNBA is roughly $221k, with Griner earning what is known as a 'supermax salary' of around $227k a year.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Brittney Griner has an estimated net worth of about $5 million.
Her net worth comes from her accomplishments not only playing for the WNBA but also playing for teams overseas.
For example, she earned $600k in 2014 playing for a Chinese team, and over eight years, she earned $1.5 million playing for Russia.
Despite the wealth, after Griner was released from Russian detention, she vowed to never play overseas again, unless its at the Olympics.
"I’m never going overseas to play again unless I represent my country at the Olympics," the WNBA star said, via NBC News.
"If I make that team, that’ll be the only time I leave U.S. soil and that’ll be to represent USA."
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When did Brittney Griner get released from Russia?
Griner was detained while going through Russian customs on March 5, 2022.
Russia claimed that Griner was smuggling hashish oil in the vape cartridges found in her bag, and they escorted her to jail on drug charges.
Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, said in a statement, “We are aware of the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representation in Russia, her family, her teams and the W.N.B.A. and N.B.A."
On May 13, 2022, Griner's detention was extended another 30 days, and Russian authorities denied a request for house arrest, according to ESPN.
"The court granted the petition of the investigation and extended the term of U.S. citizen Griner's detention until May 19," TASS, a Russian news agency, reported in March.
Griner's agent would not provide additional information to news agencies, saying, "As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are not able to comment further on the specifics of her case, but can confirm that as we work to get her home, her mental and physical health remain our primary concern."
On August 4, 2022, however, a Russian court found Griner guilty of drug possession and smuggling.
Russian prosecutors asked a judge to sentence Griner to 9 1/2 years in prison but ultimately, she was sentenced to 9 years in prison.
Griner apologized to her Russian teammates, saying, "This is my second home and all I wanted to do was win championships and make them proud.
"I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn't end my life here," Griner added.
On July 7, 2022, she then pleaded guilty to drug-related charges in Russia.
The star athlete told the court, "I'd like to plead guilty, your honor.
"But there was no intent. I didn't want to break the law," she added.
"I'd like to give my testimony later. I need time to prepare."
A few months later, the US announced on December 8, 2022, that a deal was struck to release Brittney.
The high-profile prisoner swap exchanged International arms dealer Viktor Bout with Griner.
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She returned to the US on December 9, 2022, and has since resumed her WNBA career while she awaits the arrival of her first child.
Though Griner has stayed relatively silent since her release, on May 1, 2024, she will open up about the 10-month ordeal during an exclusive 20/20 interview with Good Morning America host Robin Roberts.