Who are Brittney Griner’s parents?
SHE IS one of the world's top basketball players, with a long list of incredible professional achievements under her belt.
Yet few know about the upbringing that allowed Brittney Griner to develop and hone her exceptional talent.
Who is Brittney Griner?
Griner was born on October 18, 1990, in Houston, Texas, and plays for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association.
A two-time Olympic gold medallist with the US women's national basketball team and six-time WNBA All-Star, Griner is one of the most prominent female basketball stars in the country.
Griner was the first openly gay athlete to land an endorsement deal with Nike.
She garnered international attention in 2022 when she was detained in Russia and sentenced to nine years in prison for drug smuggling.
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She discussed her challenges as a gay African American woman in her 2014 memoir In My Skin: My Life on and off the Basketball Court.
Her basketball career and endorsements have helped Griner to compile a net worth of about $5 million and a yearly salary of $227k.
The basketball star, previously dubbed a once-in-a-generation athlete, was released from jail in December 2022 on a one-for-one prisoner swap.
Following Griner's detainment in Russia, her wife Cherelle Watson, a teacher, publicly fought for her release.
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In April 2024, the couple announced they were expecting a child together.
Who are Brittney Griner's parents?
Growing up with parents Sandra Griner, a stay-at-home mother, and Raymond Griner, a sheriff and Vietnam veteran, life was not all roses.
The famed athlete struggled with her sexuality and was called "freak" at school "just for being different", as she stood head and shoulders taller than her classmates in middle and high school.
She told Aljazeera America in 2014: "I did hit rock bottom at one point".
A self-described "daddy's girl", Griner came out to her mother during her freshman year of high school but hid her sexual identity from her father until her senior year.
When he learned the truth, he kicked her out of their family home.
The teen spent six weeks living with an assistant coach before she was allowed to return.
The WNBA star has reportedly since repaired her relationship with her parents, who were among the first to recognize her talent on the court.
She has posted several heartfelt tributes to her mother and father on social media over the years.
Does Brittney Griner have siblings?
Griner has three siblings: a brother named Decarlo Griner and two sisters, Shkera Griner and Pier Griner.
The four children were raised by their parents Sandra and Raymond in various parts of Texas, including Dayton, Humble, and Harris.
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Their childhood consisted of hunting for squirrels, riding go-carts on their property, and playing plenty of sports.
Despite the level of exposure Griner's profession attracts, the athlete's siblings have so far managed to keep a low profile.