WNBA star Brittney Griner has filed for divorce from her wife of seven years, Cherelle Griner, court records indicate. The filing cites the marriage as "irretrievably broken."
Cherelle Griner was a prominent public voice advocating for Brittney Griner's release during her nearly 10-month imprisonment in Russia. Following Brittney Griner's return to the United States in late 2022, she expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden and his administration for their efforts in securing her freedom.
Brittney Griner was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on Feb. 17, 2022, after Russian authorities found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. She pleaded guilty to drug charges, stating the cannabis was prescribed for pain and was packed inadvertently. In August 2022, she received a nine-year sentence, which was later upheld on appeal before her transfer to a penal colony.
Griner's release was part of a prisoner exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. for conspiracy to kill Americans.
In her memoir, Griner wrote about contemplating the strain her extended detention could place on her marriage, noting that she had expected Cherelle might seek a divorce if she remained imprisoned for the full duration of her sentence. Griner also reflected on the potential impact on their plans to have children.
This marks Brittney Griner's second divorce. Her previous marriage to fellow WNBA star Glory Johnson, which began in May 2015, was finalized in June 2016. The couple had faced domestic violence charges against each other shortly before their wedding.