Photo credit: Brittney Griner, Cherelle Griner (Instagram)
Brittney Griner has filed for divorce from her wife, Cherelle Griner. The split ends a marriage that endured one of the most high-profile international detentions in recent memory. Griner filed the petition Thursday, July 30, in Fulton County Superior Court in Georgia.
The filing states that the couple’s marriage is irretrievably broken. It also alleges there is no hope of reconciliation. Court records show the two have lived separately with no intimate relationship since July 24. The couple married in June 2019 after meeting as students at Baylor University. They share a 2-year-old son, Bash.
What the filing says about custody and finances
Griner’s petition asks for joint physical custody of their son. It also requests parenting time determined according to the child’s best interests. She wants child support calculated using Georgia’s official guidelines. The filing further asks that marital assets and debts be divided equally. Griner would retain ownership of her separate, non-marital property, including inherited and pre-marital assets.
Neither Griner nor Cherelle has commented publicly on the filing. The divorce does not specify a reason for the separation. The case remains pending in court.
A relationship that survived Griner’s detention in Russia
The news marks the end of a relationship that drew national attention during Griner’s detention in Russia. In February 2022, authorities arrested Griner at a Moscow-area airport. They said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. A court later convicted her on drug charges and sentenced her to nine years in prison.
Throughout that period, Cherelle became one of Griner’s most visible advocates. She made frequent media appearances, met with lawmakers and pushed the Biden administration to secure her wife’s release. Griner returned to the United States in December 2022. The government had designated her as wrongfully detained, and she came home through a high-profile prisoner exchange.
Cherelle later described their reunion as overwhelming in the best possible way. She said she finally felt able to exhale after months of uncertainty. The couple welcomed their son in 2024. Since then, they have largely kept their family life private as Griner returned to professional basketball.
View this post on Instagram
A public tribute just weeks before the filing
Just weeks before filing for divorce, Griner posted a loving tribute to Cherelle on Instagram for her birthday on July 1. She called her wife the best mother and spouse. The post included a carousel of family photos, featuring moments with their son and images of the couple together. She wrote that she felt grateful for every day and year spent with her.
In a June interview, the couple had also discussed how Griner’s detention affected their plans to grow their family. Cherelle described trying to reduce stress during an already difficult period. Griner, meanwhile, reflected on the uncertainty she felt while incarcerated. She said she was unsure whether their plans for children and a life together would still be possible.
About the Author
