Brittney Griner’s estranged wife is seeking financial support as the couple moves forward with their divorce.
Cherelle Griner filed court documents responding to the WNBA star’s divorce petition after eight years of marriage. In the filing, Cherelle pointed to what she described as a major difference between their respective incomes.
She said there is a “substantial disparity” between what she earns and Brittney earns. Cherelle also said she is “unable to meet her reasonable financial needs on a monthly basis without continued support.”
The request comes nearly two months after Brittney filed for divorce in Fulton County, Georgia. Court documents list June 18, 2018, as the couple’s wedding date. They reportedly separated on July 24, 2026.
Cherelle’s response states that their marriage is “irretrievably broken with no hope for reconciliation.”
Financial support becomes part of divorce case
Brittney currently plays center for the Connecticut Sun. The three-time Olympic gold medalist joined the Sun after spending the 2025 season with the Atlanta Dream. Before Atlanta, Brittney spent more than a decade with the Phoenix Mercury. She helped the franchise win a WNBA championship in 2014.
Cherelle is asking the court to consider the difference between their incomes when determining financial support. Brittney’s earnings have increased significantly since joining Connecticut. Cherelle’s filing does not mean a judge has approved her request. Financial support remains among the issues to be decided.
The divorce proceedings could also address how the couple’s marital property and debts are divided. Brittney previously asked the court for an equitable division of marital assets and debts. Her attorney, Randall Kessler, addressed the divorce shortly after the original petition became public.
“This is a matter we hope the parties can resolve privately,” Kessler said.
He added that there would be no further comment at that time.
Custody of their son also remains unresolved
Money is not the only issue being addressed in the divorce. Brittney and Cherelle share a son, Bash, whom they welcomed in 2024.
Cherelle is seeking joint legal custody of the child. She also wants physical custody and parenting time determined according to Bash’s best interests.
Brittney similarly requested joint legal and physical custody when she filed for divorce in July. The split marks a major change for a couple whose relationship became highly publicized during Brittney’s detention in Russia.
Russian authorities detained Brittney in February 2022 after vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were discovered in her luggage. She was later sentenced to nine years in prison.
During that period, Cherelle became one of her wife’s most prominent advocates. She repeatedly called on U.S. officials to secure Brittney’s release and spoke publicly about the emotional toll of the detention.
Brittney spent nearly 10 months detained before returning to the United States in December 2022.
Her release came through a prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia. The couple later welcomed Bash and shared glimpses of their growing family publicly.
Their marriage has now entered a different chapter, with custody and finances among the matters before the court. Neither the financial-support request nor the custody requests represent a final ruling. The divorce case remains ongoing.
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