Celebs

Calling It Quits! Brittney Griner Files For Divorce From Wife Of 8 Years Cherelle Griner

Brittney Griner is calling it quits on her marriage just weeks after a reportedly loving social media dump. The WNBA player filed her divorce petition on Thursday (July 30) in Fulton County, Georgia. Cherelle Griner has not reacted to the filing on her social media as of early Friday afternoon.

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Brittney Griner Says Marriage To Cherelle Is “Broken”

Documents reportedly obtained by PEOPLE say that Brittney Griner and Cherelle have been separated since July 24. Page Six reports that they first met while attending Baylor University in Texas and got married in June 2018.

The report doesn’t detail what exactly went down in the marriage, but Brittney listed it as “irretrievably broken.” Also, Brittney Griner’s petition mentions their two-year-old son, Bash Raymond Griner, whom was conceived through IVF and carried to term by Cherelle. The WNBA star wants joint legal custody of him. Griner has not opened up on social media or made any public statements about the divorce.

Remember When Cherelle Griner Fought For Brittney’s Release?

Back in 2022, Cherelle Griner had a fanbase riding behind her as she advocated for Brittney’s release. She was detained after attempting to enter Russia with cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage in February 2022. Officials locked her up on a drug smuggling charge, and six months later sentenced her to a nine-year prison sentence. It took another four months before Brittney was released from the Russian prison and back in Texas with her wife in December 2022.

During her time imprisoned, Brittney’s wife kept the public informed of her mental health and what the time in jail was costing them. She advocated to President Biden. Also, she made media appearances on programs like CBS Mornings and Good Morning America, calling for her wife’s release. In July 2024, they welcomed their first child together, Bash.

Brittney’s Been Divorced Before

Cherelle Griner was not Brittney’s first wife. Her first marriage to WNBA player Glory Johnson ended with Griner filing for an annulment 28 days after getting married in May 2015. It was finalized a year later in June 2016. Brittney and Glory also had children during their marriage, welcoming twins Ava and Solei through IVF.

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Cassandra Santiago

Cassandra Santiago is a multimedia journalist, editor, and editorial strategist with over a decade of experience shaping conversations across arts, entertainment, culture, and global news. A graduate of the University of Iowa, she has built a cross-platform career spanning newspapers, magazines, radio, and digital media. She joined The Shade Room five years ago and currently serves as a Senior Editor, where she leads editorial direction, oversees exclusive coverage, and trains and edits a team of writers. Cassandra has played a key role in developing high-impact content and editorial strategies for an audience of more than 30 million, contributing to platform growth, engagement, and monetization across multiple channels. In addition to her leadership role, she remains a daily contributor, with her articles generating more than 41 million views since 2023. Beyond The Shade Room, Cassandra offers freelance social media strategy services, speaks on the influence and impact of Black media at public panels, and owns Did It For You, an event design company in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. She is Poynter Institute–certified and was named to the DMV’s 35 Under 35 list in 2024.

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