Brittney Griner has filed for divorce from her wife, Cherelle Griner, marking the end of one of sports’ most iconic partnerships. According to a report from TMZ, Griner submitted divorce papers in Fulton County, Georgia, citing irreconcilable breakdown and no hope of reconciliation. Cherelle is also seeking joint custody of their two-year-old son.
The news comes as a surprise, given the couple’s history. Cherelle played a crucial role during Griner’s imprisonment in Russia, where she was arrested in February 2022 on drug-related charges and sentenced to nine years in prison.
Griner spent 10 months in Russian custody before being released in a high-profile prisoner exchange in December 2022. And during that time, Cherelle was the public face of the campaign to get Griner back home.
She appeared on national TV, met with the Biden administration, and pleaded with the U.S. government to secure Griner’s release. Her efforts kept the story in the national spotlight for months.
Griner had admitted in the past that she thought her marriage wouldn’t survive the lengthy separation. In her memoir and interviews, she said she genuinely believed she could spend nearly a decade in prison.
“My basketball career would be over. I’d be in my early forties and out of shape, would have to find a new way to provide for my wife. And Relle. She assured me she’d wait, but ten years was ridiculous.”
Facing that possibility, Griner urged Cherelle to move on, but Cherelle reassured her she wouldn’t leave. But Cherelle rejected that idea and reassured Griner that she wasn’t going anywhere.
Neither Griner nor Cherelle has commented on the reasons behind their split.
After Griner’s release, the couple slowly rebuilt their lives, attending public events, including the Met Gala and the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, while Griner resumed her basketball career.
There was another major milestone in 2024 when they welcomed their first child, Bash, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. That marked the beginning of a new chapter, as Brittney Griner openly spoke about how becoming a parent changed her outlook on life.
Just a week before the divorce report, Cherelle shared family photographs on social media, suggesting everything was fine. However, court documents reveal the couple separated on July 24, 2026, six days before Griner filed for divorce.
Neither Griner nor Cherelle has commented on the reasons behind their split.
The two reportedly met at Baylor University, and they reconnected years later. They married in 2019 and spent over a decade together, navigating long-distance basketball careers, international headlines, imprisonment, and parenthood.
While this marriage is coming to an end, Cherelle’s role during Griner’s detention in Russia remains an unforgettable chapter in the WNBA star’s life. Her continued advocacy was instrumental in bringing international attention to the case, and alongside diplomatic efforts, her voice and persistence helped secure Griner’s return.
Despite overcoming one of the toughest challenges any athlete has faced, the couple has decided to go their separate ways, a decision entirely their own.
