History of Brittney Griner in Timeline

Brittney Yvette Griner is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA and for the Vinyl of Unrivaled. A dominant force in women's basketball, she's a three-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women's national team and a six-time WNBA All-Star. Griner was recognized as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2023, reflecting her impact both on and off the court.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

October 18, 1990: Brittney Griner Born

On October 18, 1990, Brittney Yvette Griner was born. She is now known as an American professional basketball player.

Others born on this day/year

1998: Previous Record by Margo Dydek

In the 1998 season, Margo Dydek held the previous record before Griner's of blocks per game.

2006: Previous Record of Alison Bales

In 2006, Alison Bales set the previous record of 30 blocks in the NCAA Women's Tournament.

November 11, 2008: High School Record for Blocks in a Game

On November 11, 2008, Brittney Griner recorded 25 blocks in a game against Houston Alief Hastings, setting the record for the most blocks ever recorded by a female in a high school game in the U.S.

May 7, 2009: Brittney Griner Day in Houston

On May 7, 2009, Houston mayor Bill White declared it Brittney Griner Day, celebrating her achievements.

December 16, 2009: First Triple-Double

On December 16, 2009, Griner recorded Baylor's first triple-double with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and Big 12 Conference record 11 blocked shots.

2009: WBCA All-American

In 2009, Brittney Griner was named a WBCA All-American and participated in the WBCA High School All-America Game, leading the team by scoring 20 points and collecting 9 rebounds.

2009: Ranked Nation's Top High School Player

In 2009, Brittney Griner was named the nation's No. 1 high school women's basketball player by Rivals.com and was selected to the 2009 All-American basketball team, marking an early career milestone.

2009: High School Player of the Year

In 2009, Griner was recognized as the number-one high school player in the country by Rivals.com. She was featured on the cover of ESPN's Rise magazine and was selected by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association as the 2009 State Farm/WBCA High School Player of the Year.

January 2010: Dunked in College Game

In January 2010, Brittney Griner became only the seventh player to dunk during a women's college basketball game, and only the second woman to dunk twice in a single college game against Texas State University.

March 3, 2010: Suspension for Punching Incident

On March 3, 2010, Brittney Griner punched Texas Tech player Jordan Barncastle during a game, resulting in ejection and suspension.

September 2011: Training with U.S. National Team

In September 2011, Griner, as the only college player, trained with the U.S. national team under coach Geno Auriemma during its European tour, averaging 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

April 3, 2012: Division I Women's Basketball Championship

On April 3, 2012, Brittney Griner led Baylor to win the Division I Women's Basketball Championship, with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocked shots over Notre Dame, earning her the title of Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.

April 2012: Decision to Not Participate in 2012 Olympics

In April 2012, Griner, who was the only college player on the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team finalists roster at 22 years old, decided not to participate in the 2012 Olympics due to family illness and her school schedule.

2012: Breakout Junior Year at Baylor

In 2012, Griner had a breakout junior year at Baylor, earning recognition as a three-time All-American, AP Player of the Year, Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, leading Baylor to win the National Championship, and receiving the Best Female Athlete ESPY Award.

2012: Wade Trophy and Ann Meyers Drysdale Award

In 2012, Griner was the recipient of the Wade Trophy, awarded to the best female NCAA Division I basketball player. She also won the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award.

2012: Honda Sports Award and Honda-Broderick Cup

In 2012, Griner won the Honda Sports Award for basketball and the overall Honda-Broderick Cup for all sports.

February 11, 2013: Coming Out as Lesbian

On February 11, 2013, Griner publicly came out as a lesbian in an interview with SI.com. She also revealed that she was bullied as a child.

April 2013: Interest from Dallas Mavericks

In April 2013, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban considered drafting Brittney Griner to the NBA, and Griner expressed interest in the opportunity, but no offer to try out was extended.

May 27, 2013: WNBA Debut

On May 27, 2013, in her WNBA debut against Chicago Sky, Brittney Griner tied the WNBA dunk record with two dunks and became the third WNBA player to dunk and the first to do so twice in one game.

2013: Drafted First Overall by Phoenix Mercury

In 2013, Brittney Griner was selected as the first overall pick in the WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury, marking the beginning of her professional career.

2013: End of College Career

In 2013, Brittney Griner's college career ended when Baylor lost to Louisville in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA women's basketball tournament.

2013: Cover of ESPN Magazine

In 2013, Griner was featured on the cover of ESPN Magazine in "The Taboo Issue". She is pictured holding a snake, which is her favorite animal.

2013: Second Ann Meyers Drysdale Award

In 2013, Griner won the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award for a second time. The award is given to the nation's top Division I women's basketball player.

2013: ESPY Award

In 2013, Griner won the ESPY Award for best female college athlete.

2013: Playing for Zhejiang Golden Bulls

In the 2013 off-season, Griner played in China for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the WCBA. She signed a four-month contract for $600,000, which was 12 times the amount she made in her rookie season with the Mercury.

June 29, 2014: WNBA Record 11 Blocks in a Game

On June 29, 2014, Brittney Griner set a WNBA record with 11 blocks in a regular season game win against the Tulsa Shock, along with 21 points and 8 rebounds.

August 14, 2014: Engagement to Glory Johnson

On August 14, 2014, Griner got engaged to fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson.

August 24, 2014: First WNBA Player to Dunk in a Playoff Game

On August 24, 2014, Brittney Griner became the first WNBA player to dunk in a playoff game, helping the Mercury defeat the Los Angeles Sparks, 93–68.

2014: FIBA Women's World Cup Winner with Team USA

In 2014, Brittney Griner won the FIBA Women's World Cup with Team USA.

2014: WNBA Championship with Phoenix Mercury

In 2014, Brittney Griner won the WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury, securing her first professional title.

2014: Inclusion in The Advocate's "40 under 40" list

In 2014, Griner was included as part of The Advocate's annual "40 under 40" list.

2014: ESPNW's Impact 25

In 2014, Griner was named one of ESPNW's Impact 25.

2014: WCBA All-Star MVP and Beijing Great Wall

In 2014, Griner was named the MVP of the WCBA All-Star Game. During the 2014-15 off-season, she played in China for the Beijing Great Wall of the WCBA, where the team finished as the runner-up in the playoffs.

2014: Publication of Memoir

In 2014, Griner's memoir with Sue Hovey, titled "In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court", was published, addressing bullying and self-acceptance.

In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court

Check it on Amazon

2014: Mercury's Historic Season

In the 2014 season, with Griner, Diana Taurasi, and Candice Dupree, the Mercury finished 29–5, setting the WNBA record for most wins in a regular season and winning the WNBA finals against the Chicago Sky.

2014: Playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg

In the 2014–15 off-season, Griner began playing in Russia for UMMC Ekaterinburg with teammate Diana Taurasi.

April 22, 2015: Arrest for Assault and Disorderly Conduct

On April 22, 2015, Griner and Johnson were arrested on charges of assault and disorderly conduct after police responded to a fight between the two in their suburban home in Phoenix, Arizona.

May 8, 2015: Marriage to Glory Johnson

On May 8, 2015, Griner and Johnson married in Phoenix despite their previous arrest.

May 15, 2015: WNBA Suspension

On May 15, 2015, Griner and Johnson were each suspended by the WNBA for seven games after Griner pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct charges. Griner was also required to complete 26 weeks of domestic violence counseling.

June 4, 2015: Johnson's Pregnancy Announcement

On June 4, 2015, Griner and Johnson revealed that Johnson was pregnant with twins, conceived through in vitro fertilization.

October 12, 2015: Birth of Twins

On October 12, 2015, Johnson gave birth to twin girls, 16 weeks premature. Griner was later ordered to pay child support.

2015: Back-to-back Championships with UMMC Ekaterinburg

In 2015-16, Griner continued playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg with teammate Diana Taurasi, and won back-to-back championships.

2015: WNBA Record 4.0 Blocks Per Game

In the 2015 season, Brittney Griner averaged a career high and WNBA record of 4.0 blocks per game.

June 2016: Divorce Finalized

In June 2016, Griner and Johnson's divorce was finalized.

August 2016: Re-signing with UMMC Ekaterinburg

In August 2016, Griner re-signed with UMMC Ekaterinburg for the 2016–17 off-season.

2016: Rio Olympics Victory with U.S. National Team

In 2016, Brittney Griner led the U.S. national women's basketball team to victory at the Rio Olympics, securing a gold medal.

2016: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2016, Griner earned her first Olympic gold medal with the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team at the Summer Olympics, after they beat Spain 101–72 in the final. This achievement made her one of 11 players to have won an Olympic gold medal, FIBA World Cup gold medal, WNBA title, and NCAA title.

2016: Recorded a Triple-Double

In the 2016 season, Griner recorded the sixth triple-double in WNBA history in a win against the Atlanta Dream, accumulating 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 blocks.

March 12, 2017: Re-signed with the Mercury

On March 12, 2017, Brittney Griner re-signed with the Mercury to a multi-year deal once her rookie contract expired.

June 7, 2017: Career-High 38 Points

On June 7, 2017, Brittney Griner scored a career-high 38 points along with 9 rebounds in a 98–90 overtime win against the Indiana Fever.

2017: Continued Play with UMMC Ekaterinburg

In 2017, Griner re-signed with UMMC Ekaterinburg for the 2017–18 off-season.

August 2018: Engagement to Cherelle Watson

In August 2018, Griner became engaged to Cherelle Watson.

August 18, 2018: Season-High 33 Points

On August 18, 2018, Brittney Griner scored a season-high 33 points along with 18 rebounds and 7 blocks in a 104–95 victory over the Atlanta Dream.

2018: Second FIBA Women's World Cup Winner with Team USA

In 2018, Brittney Griner won her second FIBA Women's World Cup with Team USA.

2018: Fifth Stint with UMMC Ekaterinburg

In 2018, Griner returned to UMMC Ekaterinburg for a fifth stint in the 2018–19 off-season.

June 2019: Marriage to Cherelle Watson

In June 2019, Griner and Cherelle Watson married.

August 25, 2019: Season-High 34 Points

On August 25, 2019, Brittney Griner scored a season-high 34 points in a 94–86 loss to the Chicago Sky.

2019: Received Bachelor's Degree

In 2019, Brittney Griner received her bachelor's degree in education.

2019: Breaking Barriers and Trailblazing

In a 2019 interview with People, Griner stated, "People tell me I'm going to break the barrier and trailblaze. I just kind of look at it like, I'm just trying to help out, I'm just trying to make it not as tough for the next generation."

2020: Left WNBA Bubble

During the 2020 season, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brittney Griner left the WNBA bubble after 12 games for undisclosed personal reasons.

2020: Protest of "The Star-Spangled Banner"

In 2020, Brittney Griner protested "The Star-Spangled Banner", stating she would not be on the court while the national anthem was played, before changing her decision after her incarceration.

2020: Protest of National Anthem

In 2020, Griner, along with teammate Brianna Turner, called for the WNBA to stop playing the United States national anthem before games, protesting the killing of Breonna Taylor as part of the wider George Floyd protests.

2021: Second Olympic Gold Medal

In 2021 (held in Tokyo), Brittney Griner won her second gold medal with the U.S. national team at the Olympics.

2021: Mercury's Playoff Run

In 2021, the Mercury, with Griner averaging 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, secured the 4th seed in the Western Conference with a 19-13 record. Griner's 240 playoff points aided the Mercury in defeating the New York Liberty, Seattle Storm, and the Las Vegas Aces, but the team lost to the Chicago Sky in the WNBA finals.

February 17, 2022: Detained and Arrested in Russia

On February 17, 2022, Brittney Griner was detained and arrested by Russian customs officials on smuggling charges after hash oil was found in her luggage.

May 15, 2022: Potential Prisoner Swap Consideration

On May 15, 2022, it was reported that the United States and Russia would consider a prisoner swap, with Russia exchanging Griner for arms dealer Viktor Bout.

May 2022: U.S. State Department Determination

In May 2022, the U.S. State Department stated that they had determined Griner was being "wrongfully detained".

July 1, 2022: Trial Begins in Russia

On July 1, 2022, Brittney Griner's trial began in Russia, where she pled guilty to smuggling charges.

July 7, 2022: Guilty Plea in Drug Trial

On July 7, 2022, the second day of her trial, Griner pleaded guilty but said she had no intent to break the law and asked to give testimony to the court.

August 4, 2022: Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison

On August 4, 2022, Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison in Russia.

November 2022: Transferred to Russian Penal Colony IK-2

In November 2022, Brittney Griner was transferred to the Russian penal colony IK-2.

December 8, 2022: Released in Prisoner Exchange

On December 8, 2022, Brittney Griner was released in a prisoner exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

December 2022: Release from Detention in Russia

Since her release from detention in Russia in December 2022, Griner has championed the return of others detained in foreign countries.

2022: Incarceration and Release

In 2022, Brittney Griner was incarcerated in Russia on drug charges and missed the entire WNBA season. She was later released in December 2022 as part of a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia.

2022: Arrest in Russia

In 2022, Griner experienced arrest in Russia, which made her emotional during the 2024 Olympics medal ceremony, thinking she wouldn't be here again.

May 2023: Return to WNBA

In May 2023, Brittney Griner made her return to the WNBA, receiving a standing ovation.

2023: Resuming Standing for National Anthem

Following her detention in Russia, Griner stated her experiences led her to appreciate American freedoms. As a result, she resumed standing for the national anthem beginning with the 2023 season.

2023: Named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2023, Brittney Griner was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.

2023: WNBA All-Star and Mercury Season

In 2023, Griner was named a starter in the WNBA All-Star Game. During the 2023 season, she played 31 of 40 games, averaging 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds, however, the Mercury finished in last place with a 9-31 record.

February 2024: Jersey Retirement at Baylor University

In February 2024, Baylor University retired Griner's No. 42 jersey in a ceremony before a game versus Texas Tech.

June 2024: Named to US Olympic Team

In June 2024, Griner was named to the US women's Olympic team to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in France.

July 2024: Birth of Son

In July 2024, Watson gave birth to their son.

October 2, 2024: Joining Unrivaled League

On October 2, 2024, Griner's participation in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a women's 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, was announced.

2024: Third Consecutive Olympic Gold Medal

In 2024, Brittney Griner won her third consecutive gold medal with Team USA at the Olympics in France.

February 17, 2025: Cancelled Speaking Engagement Due to Threat

On February 17, 2025, Griner cancelled a speaking engagement at a cannabis leadership summit in Maryland, after a piece of duct tape with the words "Gay Baby Jail" written on it was found near her hotel room, which she perceived as a threat. Police later determined the message was a video game reference.