Welcome to the Dream: Get to Know Brittney Griner
With women’s sports on the rise (as they should be), the WNBA is the hot spot for all things women empowerment. Whether it is Caitlin Clark and all her insane records or A’ja Wilson’s ESPY award, the WNBA has no shortage of incredible talent. A prime example of that talent is our girl Brittney Griner. An athlete, an advocate, and a mom—Brittney does it all. In honor of Women’s History Month, here are a few facts you must know about the WNBA star.
From Phoenix Mercury to the Atlanta Dream
Brittney during her time on Phoenix Mercury (Getty Images)
Starting off 2025, it was announced that Brittney Griner would be leaving the Phoenix Mercury after 11 seasons to sign with the Atlanta Dream. Brittney was a critical player for Phoenix, and standing at 6’ 8” with a 7' 4” wingspan, this center surely has a presence on the court. Griner signed a one-year deal with Atlanta due to some potential changes happening within the league regarding salaries in 2026.
Brittney was drafted as the No. 1 pick in 2013 and had a long, successful career with the Mercury. At the age of 34, Brittney wanted to test out free agency, and we cannot wait to see how she plays with Atlanta!
Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist
Brittney celebrating her Olympic Gold during the 2024 Paris Olympics (Getty Images)
Don’t we all wish we could add “three-time Olympic gold medalist” to our resume? Well, Brittney can, and it is nothing short of iconic. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Griner scored 30 points and earned her third Olympic gold medal, marking the United States’ 10th gold medal in the sport; 8 of them were consecutive. Brittney also played for Team USA when they won gold in the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Brittney’s gold medal in Paris was an emotional win, coming just two years after she was detained in Russia for 10 months.
“Gold is just the icing on the cake. Being in the Olympics is the icing on the cake.”
Brittney and Cherelle
Brittney and Cherelle dressed to the nines (Instagram/ @charelletgriner)
An advocate for all things LGBTQIA+, Brittney is married to her beautiful wife, Cherelle. The pair met during their time at Baylor University and then went on to seal the deal with a stunning wedding in 2019. Cherelle is a lawyer who studied law at North Carolina Central University and graduated in May of 2022.
Since then, the pair welcomed their first child, a son named Bash, in July of 2024. Two incredible women sharing an incredible love story makes us a little emotional, and we could not be happier for them!
Brittney is the Youngest of Four
Brittney during the WNBA All-Star game in 2024 (Getty Images)
Born to parents Raymond and Sandra, the Griner house was filled to the brim with kids! The youngest of four, Brittney’s brother DeCarlo is 17 years older than her, followed by her older sisters SheKera and Pier. Her siblings live much quieter lives outside the spotlight, but Brittney stated they grew up very close. A strong sibling bond is tough to beat!
In her first memoir, Brittney wrote about how Pier and she were completely different growing up. Stating Pier was a “girly-girl” whereas Brittney was more “rough and tumble,” it seems opposites attract, and they had a close bond anyway.
With the WNBA season coming soon, we can't wait to see the big things Brittany does for the Dream.