Brittney Griner files for divorce from wife Cherelle Griner after eight …

WNBA star Brittney Griner has filed for divorce from her wife, Cherelle Griner, after eight years of marriage, according to court documents and multiple reports. The Connecticut Sun player submitted the petition on July 30, 2026, in the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia, citing that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” with “no hope of reconciliation.” The couple, who tied the knot in June 2018, has been in a “bona fide state of separation” since July 24, 2026, according to court records.

The divorce petition requests joint physical custody of their son, Bash, whom the couple welcomed in 2024, as well as an “equitable division” of all marital debts and assets, including “real and personal, tangible and intangible” property. An attorney for Brittney Griner stated in a statement to ABC News that the matter “is a matter we hope the parties can resolve privately. There is no further comment at this time.”

The decision comes amid a period of significant public and personal challenges for the Griners. Brittney Griner’s 10-month imprisonment in Russia, which ended in December 2022, remains a defining chapter in their lives. She was detained at a Moscow airport in February 2022 after being accused of possessing vaping cartridges containing hashish oil, an illegal substance in Russia. During her detention, Cherelle Griner became a vocal advocate for her wife’s release, a campaign that culminated in a prisoner exchange involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The Biden administration facilitated the swap, securing Brittney Griner’s return to the United States.

Cherelle Griner, an attorney, has spoken publicly about the emotional toll of the ordeal. In a May 2022 interview with “Good Morning America,” she said, “I won’t go down until she’s back … every single day matters for me to be sound, for me to be alert, for me to be attentive, to make sure that she comes back.” After her release, Brittney Griner expressed gratitude to her wife and others who supported the effort, writing on Instagram, “The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going.”

Brittney Griner, a 10-time WNBA All-Star and one of the league’s most decorated defenders, has continued her basketball career since returning to the U.S. She played for the Atlanta Dream in the 2025 season before signing with the Connecticut Sun, where she averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game in the 2026 season. The couple’s son, Bash, is now 2 years old, though the divorce filing suggests their relationship has reached a breaking point after years of public unity.

The couple’s separation adds a new layer to the narrative of their lives, which have been intertwined with both professional success and personal adversity. While the specifics of their divorce remain private, the filing underscores the complexities of balancing high-profile careers, family responsibilities, and the lingering effects of global incidents. For now, the Griners’ story remains a subject of public interest, with their legal proceedings and personal journey continuing to unfold.