[6][7] She had a breakout senior year in 2012, as the three-time All-American was named the AP Player of the Year, the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, led Baylor in winning the National Championship, and won the Best Female Athlete ESPY Award. After Vietnam, he returned to the United States. On Thursday, following Griner's release, her wife embraced US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office. [57] By the end of the season, Griner led the league in the scoring for the second time in her career and would continue to lead the league in blocks for the seventh straight season. He says he is very thankful for everything President Biden and his staff did to get Brittney out of Russia. "I'm just standing here overwhelmed with emotions," she said. [26] Houston mayor Bill White declared May 7, 2009, Brittney Griner Day. After leading the Nimitz Cougars to a state championship game in her senior year - during which she dunked the ball a record 52 times in 32 games - she was named to the illustrious Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American team, and scored 20 points in its showpiece game. The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their f. When asked about the possibility of Griner being swapped for a Russian prisoner in the US, Mr Ryabkov said: "There are no formal or procedural reasons to talk about any further steps" until the trial has concluded. [62][63][64][65], Griner plays overseas in the WNBA off-season. In 2018, she became engaged to Cherelle Watson. [42], After winning the championship on April 3, 2012, Griner decided to withdraw her candidacy for a roster spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team. On June 7, 2017, Griner scored a career-high 38 points along with 9 rebounds in a 9890 overtime win against the Indiana Fever. In the 2015 season, despite missing the first seven games due to a suspension stemming from her domestic violence case, Griner would have the most prolific defensive season in WNBA history, averaging a career high and WNBA record 4.0 blocks per game, surpassing Margo Dydek's record back in the 1998 season. The supposed CNN . According to her, she initially revealed her sexuality to her mother, Sandra Griner, during her freshman year of high school, but kept it a secret from her father, Raymond Briner, until her senior year, when he booted her out of the family. She completed her high school education from Nimitz School in Huston. http://glaad.org/mediaawards - 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on May 11, 2013 in San Francisco. She was voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game, making it her fifth all-star game appearance. [123], On the second day of her trial, July 7, Griner pleaded guilty[a] but said she had no intent to break the law. She made her remarks after Mercury players refused to take the floor during a pre-season game in Bradenton, Florida. Brittney Griner, in full Brittney Yevette Griner, (born October 18, 1990, Houston, Texas, U.S.), American basketball player who is one of the game's leading centres, especially known for her play with the Phoenix Mercury, which she helped win a WNBA championship (2014). Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, the EuroLeague suspended all Russian teams, and US and WNBA officials began calling players out of the country. The Merchant of Death: Who is Viktor Bout? But Brittney is gay and she openly says about her sexuality. She's also a fierce advocate for LGBT rights. The news comes just 28 days after the WNBA players' May . Johnson was married to her ex-husband, Brittney Griner. Brittneys elder siblings have decided to keep their life off social media. Women's . Terry Flenorys Kids: Who Is His Son and Does He Have a Daughter? Brittney Griner Parents Name is Sandra Griner (Mother) and Raymond Griner (Father). On Monday, U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner appealed to President Joe Biden to secure her release from jail in Russia, . [37] Baylor reached the Final Four, before losing to eventual-champion UConn, 7050. [51] During the series, Griner set WNBA finals records in game 1 for most blocks in a game (8) and most blocks in a quarter (5). "People say 'stay busy.' Raymond said he never doubted for one minute that Brittney would return home at some point. [100] She said later during a media teleconference, "I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season. Who is Brittney Griner and why has she been detained in Russia? On August 25, 2019, Griner scored a season-high 34 points in a 9486 loss to the Chicago Sky. She has an estimated net worth of about $10,000. Pic: AP, pleaded guilty to drug possession and smuggling, Whelan was jailed for 16 years on espionage charges. "Im very appreciative to the President and the Vice-President and their entire administration. Her father was also a former Harris County sheriff when he was deployed to Vietnam in the 1980s. [30] On December 16, 2009, Griner recorded Baylor's first triple-double[31] with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and Big 12 Conference record 11 blocked shots. WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, on June 27. [17] On December 8, she was released by Russia in a 1-for-1 prisoner swap for Bout,[18] though at the same time as the exchange, Russia deported another American, Sarah Krivanek, detained for a domestic violence dispute. Brittney Griner Wiki, Bio Brittney Griner was born on 17 October 1990 and belongs to Houston, Texas. [39] Her sophomore season ended with a 48-56 loss to the eventual national champion and conference rival, Texas A&M University. Children & Found Guilty In Russian Drug Trial, Cherelle Griner (Brittney Griner Husband)Wiki, Age, Biography, Wife, Parents, Height, Net Worth & More, Catholic Priest Hilarion Heagy Biography, Wikipedia, Age, Wife, Children, Parents, Height, Net Worth, Ethnicity & More, Demaris Agnetta Biography, Age, Height, Parents, Husband, Net Worth, Jeswin Aldrin Biography, Age, Long Jump Athlete, Career, Height, Parents, Net Worth. It has also been suggested Griner could be traded alongside other US citizens believed to be "wrongly detained" by Moscow - including former marine, Paul Whelan. He is well-known as the father of Brittney Griner, who is an American Professional Basketball Player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's NBA. "I've always been open about who I am and my sexuality," she said. The star - who is 6ft 9in (2.05 metres) tall - recalled being bullied for her height and tomboyish appearance as a child. Roughly half of WNBA players compete overseas in the off-season. Brittney Griner attended Nimitz High School in Houston and also Baylor University. Griner scored 23 points along with 11 rebounds and 3 blocks in the win. Baylor finished its undefeated season with 40 wins, the most in NCAA history. [117][14][118][119], Some U.S. officials expressed concern that Russia may have been using Griner as leverage in response to the Western sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Griner dunked 52 times in 32 games as a senior, setting a single-game record of seven dunks against Aldine High School. The legendary 6-foot-9-inch Baylor womens college basketball player joined the WNBAs Phoenix Mercury in 2013 after being first drafted overall; she won the WNBA All-Star title in her first year with the team. [85] She passed Candace Parker as the all-time NCAA women's dunks leader. In 2013, Griner became the first openly gay player to be endorsed by Nike in a multi-million dollar deal. As a freshman, Griner's 223 blocked shots set the all-time single-season record, establishing her as one of the greatest shot blockers in women's basketball history. In September 2011, Griner spent two weeks playing under coach Geno Auriemma for the U.S. national team as part of its European training tour. She has over 30,000 followers on Instagram. Griner scored 17 points in the win. Chidiebube has been writing and editing articles on movies, entertainment and other juicy things for several years. Down 20, the Mercury came back to tie up the series 22. SHe revealed that she is a homosexual in 2013. [17] On December 8, Griner was released in a prisoner exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. She is the lone NCAA athlete to have scored 2,000 points and blocked 500 shots. Brittany's parents were shocked when she revealed her secret, believing that she had come out as a lesbian. At her pre-trial hearing, Griner was given a six-month extension to her detention until December 2022. As a foul was being called on Barncastle, Griner took two steps forward and threw a right-handed roundhouse punch which broke Barncastle's nose. Brittney has over the years had a successful career in basketball but this article will focus much on her father Raymond Griner. His daughter Brittney won two gold medals in the world cup in 2014 and 2018 and was found guilty in a Russian Drug Trial. He got married to Sandra Griner, who is a Housewife. Her mother's name is Sandra Griner. Sandra Griner is in her 50s, but her actual date of birth and place of birth are not publicly known. star and two-time Olympic gold medalist who had been detained in Russia since February on drug charges, was released from custody on Dec. 8 in a prisoner swap with. Her ethnicity is White, while she is American by nationality. Griner's wife, Cherelle, posted on Instagram in April about the painful wait. Brittney Griner's parents spotted her athletic talent when she was pretty young and. Who Is Raymond Griner? ", Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, earlier warned the White House "attempts by the American side to make noise in public don't help the practical settlement of issues.". Oliver Glasner children: Does Oliver Glasner have kids? In the first round elimination game, the Mercury defeated the Dallas Wings 10183. Brittney Griner, an American basketball player, is currently single. Griner was then ejected from the game. (as well as the father of Jenner's two . Rivals ranked Griner the nations top high school womens basketball player in 2009. Brittney Griner has dated - Anthony Davis - Rumor; Glory Johnson (2014-2016) - Brittney Griner got engaged to her fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson on August 14, 2014, and had officially tied the knot on May 8, 2015, in Phoenix, Arizona. Brittney Griner with her wife Cherelle Griner, Russia frees US basketball star in prisoner swap, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Canadian grandma helps police snag phone scammer, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus. The only international female players surpassing Griner's height have been the late Margo Dydek, at 7feet 2inches (2.18m), Bernadett Hatr, at 6feet 10.5inches (2.096m), and Han Xu, at 6feet 10inches (2.08m). Griner was named to the McDonalds All-American team in 2009. She was later charged with carrying cannabis oil in her luggage and sentenced to nine years in prison. Despite the fact that her father did not embrace Brittney, she disproved the main myth that surrounded her life. Raymond Griner Age, Brittney Griner Husband, Wife, How Many Times She Got Married? "I knew they were working on it, but every time it seemed like they got something worked out the Russians would change their minds. [122] On May 15, it was reported that the United States and Russia would consider a prisoner swap, with Russia exchanging Griner for arms dealer Viktor Bout, who had served 10 years of a 25-year federal prison sentence in the United States. Her trial began on July 1, and she pleaded guilty to the charges. Her father is a former Harris County sheriff and Marine veteran who served in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. Raymond Griner is a celebrity parent who happens to be the father of convicted American professional basketball player, Brittney Griner. The US Womens Basketball Association (WNBA) star was arrested in February before boarding a flight to the US at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow. Two-time Olympic gold winner Griner is one of the highest-paid players in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and has been hailed for her dunking ability. [90], The WNBA included Griner in The W25, a list of the best players of the league's first 25 years. [78] Griner also won the 2013 ESPY Award for best female college athlete. My heart, our hearts, are all skipping beats everyday that goes by," she wrote. In 2019, she married her partner Cherelle Watson after a heavily publicised divorce from her ex-wife and fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson. Center, Is Detained in Russia", "American double Olympic basketball gold medallist arrested on drugs charges in Moscow", "Former Pentagon official: Russia could use WNBA star Brittney Griner as 'high-profile hostage', "Fears grow Russia could use US basketball star Brittney Griner as 'hostage', "U.S. Government Says Brittney Griner Was 'Wrongfully Detained', "Basketball star Brittney Griner could be brought home in a prisoner swap with a notorious arms dealer dubbed the 'Merchant of Death,' Russian media says", "Brittney Griner's guilty plea doesn't mean what you think it does. Yet, there's not a task in this world that could keep any of us from worrying about you. Facing a 10-year prison sentence in Russia, Brittney Griner began her trial on charges of illegal drug possession at a court near Moscow on July 1, 2021. One day after Glory Johnson announced her pregnancy, wife Brittney Griner has moved to annul their 28-day marriage, PEOPLE has confirmed. [74] She averaged 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds a game with the U.S. team in Europe. The Kremlin has long called for the release of Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in the US for conspiring to kill American citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organisation. As a sophomore, Griner received First Team All-American honors after averaging 23 points a game, including a career-high 40 points against Green Bay in the Sweet 16. Police said she was carrying snuff boxes containing cannabis oil. Griner's father, Raymond Griner, a Vietnam war veteran wasn't the most welcoming about his daughter's sexual choices, Notably, he told Griner at the time that he wasn't "raising no gay girl". Initially, US authorities and representatives for Griner were largely silent, other than to say they were working to bring her home. U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport and later charged with illegal possession of cannabis, is escorted before a court hearing in . [48], In the 2014 season, Griner's stats would improve, as she averaged 15.6 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game and 3.7 blocks per game. Brittney Griner returns to basketball court a year after Russia arrest. [109], On June 4, 2015, Griner and Johnson revealed that Johnson was pregnant with twins,[110] conceived with Johnson's eggs through in vitro fertilization. He definitely prepared me for life because people aren't always nice," she added. In January 2010, she became only the seventh player to dunk during a women's college basketball game,[32] and only the second woman to dunk twice in a single college game, making the second and third dunks of her college career[33] in a lopsided 9918 victory against Texas State University. In her junior season, Griner averaged 23.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 5 blocks per game. In 2012, Brittney Griners parents watched their daughter as she received the ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete. But it was too late for Griner, who is believed to have entered Russia one week earlier, on 17 February, though the timing remains unclear. [128][129], Trial, sentencing, imprisonment and release. [4] She was selected to the 2009 All-American basketball team. "I was real glad, real proud that they had worked out something," said Raymond Griner, Brittneys father, in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "If I can show that I'm out and I'm fine, then hopefully the younger generation will feel the same way.". "More important that when I spent 68 and 69 in Vietnam in the jungle for two years. [115], On February 17, 2022, Griner was arrested on drug smuggling charges in Russia. The future WNBA star was born on 18 October 1990 to Raymond and Sandra Griner in Texas. According to Glory Johnson, Brittney Griner legally agreed to be the f ather of her twin daughters after they were married. She grew up in a strict household and later wrote in her autobiography that her father had "so many damn rules" designed to keep her safe and "on the right path". They clashed over trivial things, with the root of Ray's . READ ALSO: Who is Jordan Spieth sister Ellie Spieth? She had been playing basketball with the Russian Premier League during the WNBA off-season.