Although the Mercury were playing without their all-star guard Diana Taurasi (who sat out the season to play overseas), the Mercury still made it to the playoffs. Rivals ranked Griner the nations top high school womens basketball player in 2009. Who is Kitty Toombs? Trained by the Soviet military as a linguist, Bout began acquiring Soviet military transport planes and loaded them up with weapons. Griner requested that she be allowed to give testimony to the court. [57] By the end of the season, Griner led the league in the scoring for the second time in her career and would continue to lead the league in blocks for the seventh straight season. [120][121] In May 2022, the U.S. State Department stated that they had determined Griner was being "wrongfully detained". Of course, Brittany Griner is a woman. [85] She passed Candace Parker as the all-time NCAA women's dunks leader. Sandra Griner is in her 50s, but her actual date of birth and place of birth are not publicly known. In fact, Brittney 's own father - Ray, was a Vietnam War veteran - initially did not show a lot of support for her after she came out as gay. "More important that when I spent 68 and 69 in Vietnam in the jungle for two years. The same year, Brittney Yevette Griner was selected to the 2009 American basketball team, Phoenix Mercury. Her father was a veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served two tours of duty as a US Marine, and he later became a police officer in Houston. In the first round elimination game, the Mercury defeated the Dallas Wings 10183. "If she were Steph Curry or LeBron James, she wouldn't be over there at all because she'd be making enough money," Ms Spruill said. Raymond Griners ethnicity is African-American. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter', Why half of India's urban women stay at home. [49] On August 24, 2014, Griner became the first WNBA player to dunk in a playoff game when she helped the Mercury defeat the Los Angeles Sparks, 9368, at Staples Center.[50]. The US Womens Basketball Association (WNBA) star was arrested in February before boarding a flight to the US at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow. During the season, Griner had recorded the sixth triple-double in WNBA history in a win against the Atlanta Dream where she had 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks. [93] She also revealed in the interview that she was bullied as a child, explaining, "It's hard. "[98], In 2020, Griner, along with teammate Brianna Turner, called for the WNBA to stop playing the United States national anthem before the games. Her mother's name is Sandra Griner. Chidiebube has been writing and editing articles on movies, entertainment and other juicy things for several years. Lady Bears coach Kim Mulkey then imposed another one-game suspension in addition to the one-game suspension mandated by NCAA rules. Heightline.com 2023. "It . President Joe Biden called Griner's wife on Wednesday to reassure her he is doing all he can to press for her release. WNBA star Brittney Griner may be most known for her current imprisonment in a Russian jail. ", Ms Rood told reporters: "I would like again to emphasize the commitment of the US government at the very highest level to bring home safely Ms Griner and all US citizens wrongfully detained as well as the commitment of the US Embassy in Moscow to care for and protect the interests of all US citizens detained or imprisoned in Russia. In the 2016 season, with the return of Diana Taurasi, the Mercury had a more successful playoff run. Semper Fi. His weight is around 74 kg. In 2013, Griner became the first openly gay player to be endorsed by Nike in a multi-million dollar deal. Who Was Patricia Sue Peterson, the First Wife of Michael Peterson? Raymond said he has not had a chance to talk to Brittney in-depth about what happened. Brittney Griner's Wife Cherelle Speaks Out on WNBA Star's 9-Year Sentence: 'It Terrifies Me' Brittney Griner's 32nd Birthday in Russian Prison Was a 'Difficult Day,' Her Lawyers Say Presently they reside in Houston, Texas, United States. [59][60][61] She scored the most points in the playoffs, 240 points, helping the Mercury beat the New York Liberty, Seattle Storm, the first seed Las Vegas Aces and helping the Mercury reach the WNBA finals, where they lost to the Chicago Sky in 4 games. As a freshman, Griner's 223 blocked shots set the all-time single-season record, establishing her as one of the greatest shot blockers in women's basketball history. Meet Grayson, Skylar, and Gavin Smiley, Meet Georgeta Orlovschi, Sebastian Stans Mom. She wrote: "As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I'm terrified I might be here forever. They would make it as far as the second round where they lost to the Minnesota Lynx in the elimination game. Brittney Griner practices Christianity; she is demisexual and is married to Cherelle T Griner. His exact date of birth and place are not known. After Vietnam, he returned to the United States. 2023 FOX Television Stations, ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING: Man shot in apparent accidental shooting in Houston, police investigating, CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Houston homeowner speaks out after being victim of terrifying attempted carjacking, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' Actor, Dies at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm, G.O.A.T. My heart, our hearts, are all skipping beats everyday that goes by," she wrote. Who Is Raymond Griner? In. Down 20, the Mercury came back to tie up the series 22. Raymond Griner Height is 6 feet 3 inches. Fans Await Word From Russia", "Brittney Griner Stats, News, Bio & Games", "Brittney Griner Makes 12 Times as Much Money Playing Basketball in China", "Brittney Griner Makes 12 Times More Playing In China Than In The United States", "CHN/USA - Griner dunk-fest lights up WCBA All-Star game", "Brittney Griner was ready to 'fight' knife-wielding maniac", "Why are these WNBA stars in Russia? According to her, she initially revealed her sexuality to her mother, Sandra Griner, during her freshman year of high school, but kept it a secret from her father, Raymond Briner, until her senior year, when he booted her out of the family. Casper Van Dien siblings: Who are Casper Van Dien siblings? The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their f. Playing for her college team, she has a record of having over 2,000 points and 500 blocks. Brittney Griner, of the US's most successful women's basketball players, is stuck in Russia for possession of medical marijuana. "At no stage was Brittney pressured to undertake the fertility process," Johnson's statement said, in opposition to Griner's claim that she did not know how long Johnson had been pregnant. Raymond Griner even stopped his daughter from inviting friends over after she came out.The tension forced Brittney Griner to move out of her own house in the second year of her college. Brittney Griner was already a star before she made her entry into the league. Raymond Griner is a celebrity parent who happens to be the father of convicted American professional basketball player, Brittney Griner. In early May, however, the State Department said it considered Griner to be "wrongfully" detained, and a lengthy campaign to secure her release began. "On the 4 July, our family normally honours the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam war veteran. Brittney Griner's parents spotted her athletic talent when she was pretty young and. On Thursday, following Griner's release, her wife embraced US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office. Despite wishing to be "normal", her unique talent on the basketball court was quickly noticed by coaches at the Nimitz High School in Houston. Furthermore, she grew up alongside her three siblings. Brittney has over the years had a successful career in basketball but this article will focus much on her father Raymond Griner. During her junior season, a video compilation of her dunks racked up 6.6 million views on YouTube and lead to a meeting with LA Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal. At 205 centimetres tall and with two Olympic gold medals under her belt, Ms Griner or "BG" as she is known to basketball fans is one of the most recognisable figures in American basketball. Her father is Mercy Bassey Johnson and her mother is Bassey Johson Udofot. They have together four children named Three daughters Shkera Griner, Pier Griner, and Brittney Griner, and One son named Decarlo Griner. Raymond said he never doubted for one minute that Brittney would return home at some point. [78] Griner also won the 2013 ESPY Award for best female college athlete. [28], Griner was named a WBCA All-American and participated in the 2009 WBCA High School All-America Game, leading the team by scoring 20 points and collecting 9 rebounds.[29]. [26] Houston mayor Bill White declared May 7, 2009, Brittney Griner Day. This is after her historical college run, in which she scored a record-setting 2,000 points with 500 shots blocked, both of which had never before happened in NCAA history by a male or female player, per the New York Times. She was the 2012 winner of the Honda Sports Award for basketball[79][80] and the overall Honda-Broderick Cup winner for all sports. "[82] She was the winner of the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, in 2012, and again in 2013. "I had faith she was going to come home," Raymond Griner told us. Brittney Griner 's father Raymond Grier is a disciplined person and has served as a deputy sheriff in the Marine Corps for two tours in Vietnam. [107][108] On May 15, 2015, the WNBA suspended Griner and Johnson for seven games each after Griner pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct charges. The Texas-born athlete is married to Cherelle, who she met in university and describes as her "best friend" and "love of her life". Raymond Griner and Sandra Griner are the parents of the NBA star. Griner, who signed a one-year deal to continue playing for the Mercury after her 10 months in Russia custody left her out of the previous season, had also made appearances at an Arizona Martin . Brittney grew up along with her three older siblings. 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. [36] In the Elite Eight, Baylor defeated Duke 5148, and Griner blocked 9 shots, totaling 35 for the tournament, a new NCAA Women's Tournament record. Griner was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport in February this year while returning to play basketball in Russia. But it was too late for Griner, who is believed to have entered Russia one week earlier, on 17 February, though the timing remains unclear. In Arizona, she had been prescribed medicinal cannabis, which is illegal in Russia. They made it all the way to the WNBA finals and swept the Chicago Sky 3 games to 0, to capture the Mercury's third championship in franchise history. She is a basketball player who currently plays with the Phoenix Mercury team. [15] In November 2022, Griner was transferred to the Russian penal colony IK-2. Raymond Griner got married to Sandra Griner, and they expanded their family by giving birth to four children, including three girls and a boy named Shkera Griner, Pier Griner, Brittney Griner, and Decarlo Griner. He is well-known as the father of Brittney Griner, who is an American Professional Basketball Player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Womens NBA. Griner is arguably the greatest female basketball player of all time and is the marquee player for the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in the US. Texas State Representatives Jolanda Jones and Briscoe Cain along with other guests share their views on the prisoner exchange. Her father is a former Harris County sheriff and Marine veteran who served in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. She appeared in "The Taboo Issue". Her father was also a former Harris County sheriff when he was deployed to Vietnam in the 1980s. Griner is also the only NCAA basketball player to both score 2,000 points and block 500 shots. Brittney Griner has dated - Anthony Davis - Rumor; Glory Johnson (2014-2016) - Brittney Griner got engaged to her fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson on August 14, 2014, and had officially tied the knot on May 8, 2015, in Phoenix, Arizona. Dealing with Vladimir Putin, you dont know what that man is gonna do and with that war going over there too, that was a big sidetrack too. READ ALSO: Who is Jordan Spieth sister Ellie Spieth? [86], In 2014, Griner was included as part of The Advocate's annual "40 under 40" list. En route to the playoffs, Griner averaged 14.5 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game and 3.1 blocks per game as the Mercury finished 1618. Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall, which is above the average 5 feet 9 inches height of female basketball players, Griner is one of the tallets in the WNBA. Griner has been detained in Moscow since February after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage. Roughly half of WNBA players compete overseas in the off-season. WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, on June 27. [100] She said later during a media teleconference, "I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season. Cherelle is 29 years old and is a blogger by profession. Brittney Griner, in full Brittney Yevette Griner, (born October 18, 1990, Houston, Texas, U.S.), American basketball player who is one of the game's leading centres, especially known for her play with the Phoenix Mercury, which she helped win a WNBA championship (2014). . Baylor finished its undefeated season with 40 wins, the most in NCAA history. WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year, Viktor BoutBrittney Griner prisoner exchange, List of NCAA Division I basketball career triple-doubles leaders, List of NCAA Division I women's basketball players with 2,500 points and 1,000 rebounds, "McDonald's Girls All-American Teams Announced", "Houston rocket: Nimitz 66 sophomore "Brittney Griner is taking off", "Brittney Griner's Final Season Draws Applause and Crowds", "Brittney Griner Signs Endorsement Deal with Nike", "Brittney Griner: National anthem has no place in WNBA, sports", "Brittney Griner, Brianna Turner call for WNBA to stop playing national anthem this season", "Why Pros Like Brittney Griner Choose Cannabis for Their Pain", "WNBA star Brittney Griner sentenced to nine years in prison by Russian court", "Exclusive: Brittney Griner taken to penal colony in Russia's Mordovia region", "Mural of Brittney Griner, other detained Americans unveiled in Georgetown", "Brittney Griner released by Russia in 1-for-1 prisoner swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout", "A look at Brittney Griner's career on, off basketball court", "Brittney Griner Is Becoming The Leader She Was Destined To Be", "Basketball prodigy's tall tale is no myth", "The Baylor Lariat | the official student news source", "Baylor star center Brittney Griner leads team to 400 season, championship", "WBCA High School All-America Game Box Scores", "Brittney Griner has triple-double, misses 3 dunks", "Video: Brittney Griner dunks twice, Baylor wins by 81", "Baylor Freshman Suspended for Punching Opponent in the Face", "Georgetown Hoyas vs. Baylor Lady Bears Recap", "Griner sets NCAA tournament mark for blocked shots", "Baylor Bears' Brittney Griner is AP Player of the Year", "Griner focused on senior season with champ Baylor", "WNBA Elena Delle Donne, Chicago Sky knock off Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury", "Brittney Griner out of WNBA All-Star Game with injury", "Brittney Griner NBA Tryout? She grew up in a strict household and later wrote in her autobiography that her father had "so many damn rules" designed to keep her safe and "on the right path". [125][124], On August 4, the court found Griner guilty and sentenced her to nine years in prison and fined her 1 million rubles (US$16,301), even though the standard sentence for possession of no more than 2 grams of hash oil is 15 days. Griner played college basketball at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Griner during a WNBA basketball playoff in Las Vegas last October Pic: AP, Brittney Griner could face 10 years behind bars, Griner, pictured at a hearing in Khimki, outside Moscow. On April 3, 2012, Griner led Baylor with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocked shots to win the Division I Women's Basketball Championship, 8061 over Notre Dame. [39] Her sophomore season ended with a 48-56 loss to the eventual national champion and conference rival, Texas A&M University. [93] Griner had previously come out to her parents in high school, which her father did not accept gracefully, forcing her to live with an assistant coach for six weeks during her senior year. Two of the staples of Brittney's vocabulary are "sir" and "ma'am." A strong selling. She hails from Houston, Texas, and her zodiac sign is Libra. Type above and press Enter to search. Read about our approach to external linking. [102], On August 14, 2014, Griner got engaged to fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson. She completed her high school education from Nimitz School in Huston. Still, the process of returning US citizens includes a court decision and a formal pardon from current Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the 2015 season, despite missing the first seven games due to a suspension stemming from her domestic violence case, Griner would have the most prolific defensive season in WNBA history, averaging a career high and WNBA record 4.0 blocks per game, surpassing Margo Dydek's record back in the 1998 season. [122] On May 15, it was reported that the United States and Russia would consider a prisoner swap, with Russia exchanging Griner for arms dealer Viktor Bout, who had served 10 years of a 25-year federal prison sentence in the United States. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 08: Phoenix Mercury fan Carley Givens takes a photo of a "Black Lives Matter" mural depicting Brittney Griner outside the Footprint Center on December 08, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. Brittney Griner Parents Name is Sandra Griner (Mother) and Raymond Griner (Father). Griner came out as gay at the age of 22, at the start of her promising career, becoming one of the most prominent LGBT athletes in the world. Griner scored 17 points in the win. Brittney's father, Raymond Griner, is a retired sheriff, while her mother, Sandra, is a homemaker. According to Glory Johnson, Brittney Griner legally agreed to be the f ather of her twin daughters after they were married. Brittney Griner pleads guilty to drug charges https://t.co/9vYe1tEFxp via @WBUR, Kaymarion Raymond (@fromwickedtowed) July 7, 2022. In 2012, the three-time All-American was voted AP Player of the Year, making him the most important player in the Final Four. Brittney Griner was born to Sandra Griner (Mother) and Raymond Griner (Father). Raymond and Brittney share the same height but have just slightly different, He has a height of 6ft & 2 inches. Brittney was born to father Raymond and mother Sandra Griner. Griner was recently part of the US Womens Olympic Team, where she helped lead them to victory at the 2016 Summer Olympics. [10][4], Griner led the U.S. national women's basketball team to victory at the Rio Olympics in 2016. "I was real glad, real proud that they had worked out something," said Raymond Griner, Brittneys father, in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. [94][95], In a 2019 interview with People, Griner stated, "People tell me I'm going to break the barrier and trailblaze. In 2019, she married her partner Cherelle Watson after a heavily publicised divorce from her ex-wife and fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson. Raymond Griner is a Marine veteran who served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, while Brittney Griner's mother, Sandra Griner, is a full-time housewife. [30] On December 16, 2009, Griner recorded Baylor's first triple-double[31] with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and Big 12 Conference record 11 blocked shots. Brittney Griner returns to basketball court a year after Russia arrest. NFL Player Damar Hamlin in Critical Condition after Collapsing on Field, Legendary Designer Vivienne Westwood Dies Aged 81, 10 Female IAS Officers who can inspire us. star and two-time Olympic gold medalist who had been detained in Russia since February on drug charges, was released from custody on Dec. 8 in a prisoner swap with. Bollywood; . The Mercury advanced to the semifinals (the last round before the WNBA finals) against the championship defending Minnesota Lynx in a best-of-5 series but would get swept 30. (as well as the father of Jenner's two . On Monday, U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner appealed to President Joe Biden to secure her release from jail in Russia, . [55] Griner would miss 8 games of the season and the 2017 WNBA All-Star Game due to an ankle and knee injury (replaced by Rebekkah Brunson), but finished off the season leading the league in scoring with 21.9 points per game and also led the league in blocks for the fifth consecutive season. She is one of a handful of players to have won a college championship, W.N.B.A. In her debut on May 27, 2013, against Chicago Sky, Griner equaled the WNBA dunk record, recording two dunks to equal Candace Parker's career total. Her father was a veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served two tours of duty as a US Marine, and he later became a police officer in Houston. A female basketball star has emerged after an acrimonious divorce from her ex-wife and found love with a new boyfriend. FOX 26 Houston HOUSTON - With Houstonian Brittney Griner safely out of Russia after being detained there for nearly 10 months, her father is breathing a huge sigh of relief. The Kremlin has long called for the release of Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in the US for conspiring to kill American citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organisation. "I would just tell him Id like to thank him for all of his time and effort and his administration for what theyve done to get her back home because without him they couldnt have done it," Raymond Griner said. Griner wears a pair of American size 17 mens shoes and has an arm length of 88.. Griner, who is considered one of the best players in the world, was detained in February at an airport near Moscow when vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage. The award is given by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to the nation's top Division I women's player. The 32-year-old disappeared on 17 February - just days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine - as she was passing through Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport. [54] In 2017, Griner would have the best season of her career thus far. Brittney Griner's road from her hometown of Houston to becoming the No. The Merchant of Death: Who is Viktor Bout? Press Esc to cancel. [74], Griner was selected for her second Olympics in 2021,[77] going undefeated and winning the gold medal as part of Team USA. Johnson's parents, Mercy Bassey Johnson and . I feel like I got a 500-pound brick off of my back. Who Is Divinity Maxwell, Fetty Waps Sister? Her bio reveals that she is currently a law student and a former Baylor University alumni. One day after Glory Johnson announced her pregnancy, wife Brittney Griner has moved to annul their 28-day marriage, PEOPLE has confirmed. The twists of the WNBA's most talked about marriage took an irreconcilable turn for Brittney Griner. In February 2022, Griner arrived in Russia to play in the Russian Premier League during the WNBA offseason. [105][106] Despite this incident, they married the following month on May 8, 2015, in Phoenix. In this blog, you can all details like Who Is Raymond Griner? Initially, US authorities and representatives for Griner were largely silent, other than to say they were working to bring her home. . "I've always been open about who I am and my sexuality," she said. Brittney Griners parents are watching their daughter face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of drug trafficking. [20] She has three older siblings, D, Shkera and Pier. She was previously married to Glory Johnson, who is also a basketball player. Type above and press Enter to search. In the same year, the American was named AP Player of the Year three times and was named Four Final MVPs. She grew up in a strict household and later wrote. [98] She says, "You just have to look at it in a different way. He got married to Sandra Griner, who is a Housewife. [58] Without Griner, the Mercury finished 139 as the number 5 seed. Find the latest Bollywood News and Celebrity Gossips from Latest In Bollywood. He holds American nationality. SUGGESTED: Brittney Griner lands back in US after Russian prisoner swap. [2] She is also a two-time FIBA Women's World Cup winner with Team USA (2014 and 2018), On February 17, 2022, Griner was detained and arrested on smuggling charges by Russian customs officials after cartridges containing less than a gram of medically prescribed hash oil[14] were found in her luggage. Brittney Griner Wife, Partner Brittney Griner Firstly married with Glory Johnson ( 2015 - 2016 ) but they seperated. Brittney Griner, a W.N.B.A. If it wasnt for them this never would have got done." He also served as a Harris County deputy sheriff in the 1980s when he was deported to Vietnam. [115], On February 17, 2022, Griner was arrested on drug smuggling charges in Russia. I didn't want to break the law.". Brittney Griner parents Brittney Yevette Griner is an American professional basketball player with the Women's National Basketball Association's Phoenix Mercury. [74] She averaged 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds a game with the U.S. team in Europe. On August 4, she was sentenced to nine years in prison. Likewise, her full birth name is Brittney Yevette Griner. [5] She played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears in Waco, Texas. He belongs to Christian Religion. Griner was arrested in February for possession of cannabis oil By Barbara Plett Usher BBC State Department correspondent Russia's detention of the basketball star and Olympic champion Brittney. Also find all Bollywood Movie Information related to release date, Reviews, Web Series Information and celebrities, gossips, and entertainment news. She was later charged with intentionally importing narcotics into the country and pleaded guilty to drug possession and smuggling on 7 July, the second day of her trial. She has won a WNBA championship, eight WNBA All-Star awards, four EuroLeague titles and two Olympic gold medals. Based on our research, we rate ALTERED an image purportedly showing a CNN report that Russia ordered a DNA test to determine whether Griner should go to a male or female prison. Her narrative, which she penned alongside Sue Hovey is titled In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court. There are multiple parking options available for those looking to attend the Houston Rodeo. SHe revealed that she is a homosexual in 2013. [9] Standing 6ft 9in (206cm) tall, Griner wears a men's U.S. size 17 shoe and has an arm span of 87.5in (222cm). [92], In an interview with SI.com on February 11, 2013, Griner publicly came out as a lesbian. (Alexander Zemlianichenko / Associated. In the 2013 WNBA draft, the Phoenix Mercury selected Griner as the first overall pick. Griner left in the second half of the game with a knee injury. In August 2016, Griner re-signed with UMMC Ekaterinburg for the 201617 off-season. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Who is Brittney Griner's father Raymond Griner? [115], Griner became engaged to Cherelle Watson in August 2018,[116] and they married in June 2019. [23] During her junior season, a YouTube video featuring her dunks was watched more than 6.6million times,[24] leading to a meeting with Shaquille O'Neal. [56] This season was also her first season shooting from beyond the arc. Follow me on Twitter @kwadwo_dost, Ghanaian songstress and actress Hajia4Real. 22/02/23 03:01. Raymond Griner is an American marine and Deputy sheriff. In the second round elimination game, the Mercury defeated the number 3 seeded New York Liberty, Griner had 22 points 10 rebounds and 4 blocks in the win. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Griner later won gold medals with the U.S. women's national basketball team in 2016 and 2021. For most, it's a way to boost their income: WNBA players receive roughly five times more in Russia than they do in the US. The future WNBA star was born on 18 October 1990 to Raymond and Sandra Griner in Texas. RELATED: Houston native Brittney Griner released from Russia in prisoner swap, former coach reacts. After a successful college career with Baylor University, Griner was drafted as the number one pick in the 2013 WNBA draft by the Arizona-based Phoenix Mercury.