Brittney Griner Files for Divorce From Wife Cherelle Griner

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner filed for divorce from her wife, Cherelle Griner, in Fulton County, Georgia, on Thursday, July 31, 2026. According to court records obtained by Complex, the professional basketball player described the marriage as irretrievably broken and stated the couple officially separated on July 24, 2026.

The filing marks the end of an eight-year marriage that gained international visibility during Griner’s 10-month detention in Russia in 2022. Cherelle Griner, a lawyer, served as a primary advocate for the athlete’s release, coordinating with the U.S. government and making media appearances until a prisoner exchange secured Brittney’s freedom in December 2022.

Divorce Filing Details in Fulton County

The legal petition was submitted to the Fulton County Superior Court using standard no-fault divorce language. The documents specify that the union is irretrievably broken, a term used in Georgia to dissolve a marriage without requiring a specific showing of fault or misconduct.

Court records indicate the separation occurred on July 24, 2026, only a few days before the formal legal proceedings began. Neither Brittney nor Cherelle Griner has issued a public statement regarding the specific reasons for the split or the terms they are seeking for the dissolution of the marriage.

Legal representatives for the couple have not yet commented on the filing. The proceedings will now move forward in the Georgia court system to determine the division of assets and any matters regarding custody.

Personal and Professional Context

The separation follows a year of significant milestones for the athlete. Griner competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and participated in the WNBA All-Star Game. On a personal level, the couple recently welcomed a baby boy; Griner previously referred to herself as Pops in reference to the newborn.

This is the second divorce for the center. Griner was previously married to fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson. That marriage lasted one year and ended in 2016.

Brittney and Cherelle Griner first met while attending Baylor University. They wed in 2018, beginning the eight-year relationship that concluded with the July 2026 filing.