Who is Brittney Griner?

Brittney Griner (born October 18, 1990) is an American basketball player recognized as one of the top centers in the game. She is particularly known for her contributions to the Phoenix Mercury, with whom she won a WNBA championship in 2014. She has also won three Olympic gold medals as a member of the U.S. women’s national basketball team. Griner played both volleyball and basketball in high school, but she received the most attention for basketball. After graduating high school, she attended Baylor University on a basketball scholarship. In 2012, she led Baylor to an NCAA championship. She finished her college career with 3,283 points and set a record for most blocked shots (748). Griner gained international attention in 2022 when she was detained in Russia on a drug offense. She was found guilty and sentenced to nine years but was later released in a prisoner exchange.

Which team does Brittney Griner play for in the WNBA?

Brittney Griner is an American basketball player who plays in the center position. In the 2013 WNBA draft , the Phoenix Mercury selected Griner as the number-one overall pick. In her debut with the Phoenix Mercury in May 2013, she made WNBA history as the first player to dunk twice in a single game. After being detained in Russia and missing the 2022 WNBA season, Griner rejoined the Mercury in 2023. In January 2025, Griner signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Dream .

What are some of Brittney Griner's major achievements in basketball?

Brittney Griner is a dominant force in women's basketball. She led the Phoenix Mercury to a WNBA championship in 2014. As part of the U.S. women's national basketball team, Griner won three Olympic gold medals. Griner was the number-one overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft. In her debut, she made history as the first WNBA player to dunk twice in a single game. In 2014, she blocked an unprecedented 129 shots and earned her first of two consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards. From 2013 to 2019, she consistently led the WNBA in blocked shots per game and was an eight-time All-Star. At Baylor University, she led the team to an NCAA championship in 2012 and received the Naismith Award and the Wooden Award twice.

How has Brittney Griner influenced women's basketball?

Brittney Griner, a dominant force in women's basketball, has significantly impacted the sport. As one of the game's leading centers, she helped the Phoenix Mercury win the WNBA championship in 2014 . Griner is especially known for her defensive skills, having won two consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards. Griner's influence extends beyond the court. In 2014, she became the first openly gay athlete to secure an endorsement deal with Nike, and she has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights . Her openness has made her an influential figure, especially for young LGBTQ athletes.

What challenges and important events has Brittney Griner faced during her career?

Brittney Griner, a dominant force in women's basketball, has faced significant challenges throughout her career. In 2010, during her first season at Baylor University, she was suspended for two games after punching an opposing player. In 2015, Griner and her then partner, Glory Johnson, were arrested on charges of assault and disorderly conduct, which led to a seven-game suspension by the WNBA. Griner garnered international attention when she was detained in Russia in February 2022 for possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is illegal in Russia. She was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony but was released in December 2022 in exchange for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer. Upon her return to the WNBA, she rejoined the Phoenix Mercury in 2023, but struggled with mental health issues and injuries.

Brittney Griner

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Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury jumps to shoot the basketball over Sandrine Gruda of the Los Angeles Sparks during a WNBA game, with spectators visible in the arena.

Brittney Griner

American basketball player

Also known as: Brittney Yevette Griner

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Amy Tikkanen

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Nov. 3, 2026 •History

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WNBA stars Brittney Griner, Chelsea Gray to headline basketball camp in Singapore • Oct. 28, 2026, 5:25 AM ET (Straits Times)

Brittney Griner (born October 18, 1990, Houston, Texas, U.S.) is an American basketball player who is one of the game’s leading centers, especially known for her play with the Phoenix Mercury, which she helped win a WNBA championship (2014). In addition, as a member of the U.S. women’s national basketball team, she won three Olympic gold medals. Griner garnered international attention in 2022 when she was detained in Russia on a drug offense. She was found guilty and sentenced to nine years but was later released in a prisoner exchange.

Early life and college

She is the youngest of four children born to Sandra Griner, a stay-at-home mother, and Raymond Griner, a sheriff and Vietnam War veteran. Brittney Griner played volleyball and basketball in high school, but it was for the latter sport that she received the most attention. She often practiced with the boys’ team, and during her junior year a video of her dunking was viewed several million times on YouTube.

After graduating in 2009, Griner attended Baylor University on a basketball scholarship, and she quickly became known for both her defense and her offense. During a 2010 game in her first season, she generated controversy when she punched an opposing player, breaking her nose. Griner was suspended for two games. In 2012 she led Baylor to an NCAA championship, which capped the team’s perfect season (40–0). Griner received both the Naismith Award and the Wooden Award as the outstanding collegiate women’s player. In addition, she was named AP Player of the Year. While there was speculation that Griner would leave Baylor to enter the WNBA draft, she opted to stay for the 2012–13 season. Although Baylor failed to defend its NCAA title, Griner again won the Naismith, Wooden, and AP awards. She finished her collegiate career with 3,283 points, which placed her among the top scorers in NCAA history. Griner, who is 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters) tall, also set a record for most blocked shots (748). In 2019 she completed a bachelor of science degree in education at Baylor.

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WNBA and international career

Making her mark in the WNBABrittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury shooting over Sandrine Gruda of the Los Angeles Sparks during a WNBA game, 2014.

In the 2013 WNBA draft, Griner was selected as the number-one overall pick by the Phoenix Mercury, where she joined star point guard Diana Taurasi. She made her presence felt immediately. In her professional debut in May 2013, she became the first WNBA player to dunk twice in one game. In 2014 she blocked an unprecedented 129 shots and helped the Mercury defeat the Chicago Sky to capture the WNBA title. That season Griner also won the first of two consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Over the next several seasons, Griner continued to be a dominating force in the league, and in 2017 and 2019 she led the WNBA in points per game. She also was the league leader in blocked shots per game from 2013 to 2019. The 2020 season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and WNBA players were required to quarantine in a “bubble.” Citing personal reasons, Griner left after 12 games. She returned for the 2021 season, and Phoenix reached the championship finals but lost to the Chicago Sky.

Silhouette of hand holding sport torch behind the rings of an Olympic flag, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; February 3, 2015.

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During this time, Griner also played on the U.S. women’s national team, and she helped the squad win a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and at the 2020 Games in Tokyo (which were held in 2021 due to the pandemic). In addition, during the WNBA offseason, she played in foreign leagues. The practice was common among WNBA players, many of whom were motivated by financial reasons. In 2015 Griner joined UMMC Ekaterinburg of the Russian Premier League, and the team won the EuroLeague championship the following year. Ekaterinburg also claimed the title in 2018, 2019, and 2021.

After being arrested and charged for drug possession in Russia (see below), Griner missed the 2022 WNBA season. Following her release, she rejoined the Mercury for the 2023 season. Although she struggled with mental health issues and injuries—at one point she took a three-game leave—she averaged 17.5 points per game and was named an All-Star for the eighth time. However, the Mercury finished in last place.

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In June 2024 Griner was selected for the U.S. national team competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. There she helped the United States win its eighth consecutive gold medal in women’s basketball.

Griner was again named an All-Star in the 2024 WNBA season, and the Mercury qualified for the postseason. She averaged 17 points and two blocks per game in Phoenix’s first-round series, a loss to the Minnesota Lynx. In January 2025 Griner signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Dream.

Brittney Griner

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Early life and college

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WNBA and international career