Brittney Grinner, the 31-year-old American basketball player has become an internet sensation due to her arrest in Russia, earlier in February 2022. Initially, many Americans objected to her going to Russia and it was later acknowledged that she had gone there to play basketball during an offseason.
The WNBA star, Brittney Griner has accumulated a prestigious wealth of 5 million USD as of 2022. Her average yearly salary is 2.2 million USD, according to Spotrac. Brittney Griner has a plethora of achievements and medals, besides a bundle of affection that she receives not only from peers but from her fans too.
| Net Worth | 5 million USD |
| Name | Brittney Yevette Griner |
| Date of Birth | October 18, 1990 |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Height | 6’9″ |
| Average Salary per year | 2.2 million USD |
Brittney Griner’s Biography
Brittney Grinner was born on 18th October 1990 in Houston, Texas in the U.S. Her father, Raymond Griner served the U.S army while her mother Sandra Griner is a homemaker. Grinner is the youngest of all four siblings; all of whom are sisters.
She attended Nimitz High School and played basketball for the Nimitz Cougars. Brittney led the team into the Texas 5A girls basketball state championship. Though the team could not win the match, Brittney was declared the WBCA All-American player in 2012.
In her college career, she played for the Baylor Lady Bears as she attended Baylor University in Texas. She made several firsts and broke the previous records as a freshman. In her junior season, she was named AP player of the year as she blocked the most shots. Her college career ended with a splendid win at the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship.
Griner fell into a relationship with Glory Johnson, a fellow WNBA player. They got engaged on 14th August 2014. However, their relationship ended and they got divorced in 2016, following a domestic violence case charged against her.
Later in August 2018, Griner and Cherelle Watson got engaged. Soon they got married in 2019 and are still together.
Brittney Griner’s Professional Life
Griner stepped into a professional basketball career when she became the first overall pick of the Phoenix Mercury in the 2013 NBA draft. Her defensive force was incompatible and she continued to set new records in the NBA by blocking and dunks.
The Phoenix were undeniably amazing as they defeated the Chicago Sky at the 2014 WNBA finals.
During the 2021- 2022 season, Brittney Griner earned 2.2 million USD as her salary under the Mercury Phoenix. She is one of the highest-paid WNBA athletes.
You might not know, but it is quite common for WNBA players to play overseas during offseasons, and so did Brittney Griner.
She first played in a foreign land during her 2013-2014 offseason. Griner played for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, in China. She was paid $600,000 under a four-month contract. Furthermore, since the 2014 offseason, Griner has been playing EuroLeague ball for UMMC Ekaterinburg, in Russia.
The 31-year-old Brittney Griner is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. She played for the U.S in 2016 at the Summer Olympics and brought her first ever Olympic gold medal. Later she contested in the covid-delayed, 2020 Olympics for Team USA, where she was crowned with her second gold medal.
WNBA’s Brittney Griner Got Detained in Russia: What Happened?
By now you would have known that Griner used to play in Russia, particularly during her offseasons. Similarly, this time she was at the Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, Russia when the Federal Security Service arrested her. She was accused of possessing a vape cartridge filled with cannabis oil while entering the Moscow Airport on 17th February 2022. This may result in a harsh penalty of being in the Russian prison for 10 possible years.
Protestors in the U.S came on roads and led demonstrations in favor of Brittney Griner. They objected that as Griner has given America two gold medals, now it’s time for the U.S to get her back.
To protect Griner from likely 10 years in prison, Biden has negotiated with the Russian government for a swap. Viktor Bout, a Russian arms trafficker is behind American bars and will be released in 2029, completing his 25 years. So, it’s likely that Griner will be swapped by him.
FAQ
Q- Why is Brittney Griner stuck in Russia?
Brittney Griner went to Russia to play during her American offseason. However, she was rescued at the airport due to illegal possession of cannabis oil and taking it into the country. She is stuck in Russia due to legal actions that are in process.
Q- What is Brittney Griner’s net worth?
Griner has accumulated a net worth of 5 million USD. Her current contract details under the Mercury Phoenix include a three-year contract worth 6.6 million USD besides an annual salary of $2.2 million.
