WNBA star Brittney Griner has filed for divorce from her wife, Cherelle Griner, following eight years of marriage.
The professional basketball player submitted the legal documents in Fulton County on Thursday, signaling the end of a high-profile relationship that captured international attention during Griner’s legal battles abroad.
According to court records obtained by Complex, the Phoenix Mercury center described the union as “irretrievably broken.” The filing indicates that the couple officially separated on July 24, 2026, just days before the legal proceedings commenced.
The news comes as a surprise to many fans who followed the couple’s journey through Griner’s 10-month detention in Russia in 2022. Cherelle Griner, a lawyer, was a vocal advocate for her wife’s release during her imprisonment on drug-related charges. She made numerous media appearances and worked closely with the U.S. government to secure Brittney’s freedom, which was eventually achieved through a high-stakes prisoner exchange in December 2022.
“The relationship is irretrievably broken,” the petition stated, using standard legal language for no-fault divorces in the state of Georgia. Neither party has issued a formal public statement regarding the cause of the split or the specific terms being sought in the dissolution of the marriage.
The timing of the separation follows a period of professional and personal milestones for the athlete. Griner recently competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and participated in the WNBA All-Star Game. The couple also recently celebrated the birth of a baby boy, an event Griner spoke about with pride, referring to herself as “Pops” to the newborn. This marks the second divorce for Griner, who was previously married to fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson.
That marriage ended in 2016 after one year. Griner and Cherelle first met while attending Baylor University and later wed in 2018. Legal representatives for the Griners have not yet commented on the filing.
As the proceedings move forward in Fulton County Superior Court, fans and the sports community continue to monitor the situation for further developments regarding custody or asset division.
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