Brittney Griner facts for kids

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Brittney Griner

Griner with the Phoenix Mercury in 2019
No. 42 – Phoenix Mercury
Center
Personal information
Born	(1990-10-18) October 18, 1990 (age 34) Houston, Texas, U.S.
High school	Nimitz (Houston, Texas)
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (206 cm)
Listed weight	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
College	Baylor (2009–2013)
NBA Draft	2013 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Phoenix Mercury
Pro career	2013–present
League	WNBA
Career history
2013–present	Phoenix Mercury
2013–2014	Zhejiang Golden Bulls
2014–2015	Beijing Great Wall
2015–2022	UMMC Ekaterinburg
2025–present	Phantom BC
Career highlights and awards
WNBA champion (2014) 10× WNBA All-Star (2013–2015, 2017–2019, 2021–2024) 2× WNBA scoring champion (2017, 2019) 8× WNBA blocks leader (2013–2019, 2021) 2× WNBA Peak Performer (2017, 2019) 3× All-WNBA First Team (2014, 2019, 2021) 3× All-WNBA Second Team (2015, 2017, 2018) 2× WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2014, 2015) 3× WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2014, 2015, 2018) 4× WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2016, 2017, 2019, 2021) WNBA All-Rookie Team (2013) WNBA 25th Anniversary Team (2021) 3× Russian National League champion (2015–2017) 4× EuroLeague champion (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021) Russian Cup winner (2017) NCAA champion (2012) NCAA Tournament MOP (2012) 2x Naismith College Player of the Year (2012, 2013) 2× Wade Trophy Player of the Year (2012, 2013) 2x John R. Wooden Award (2012, 2013) 2x AP Player of the Year (2012, 2013) 2x USBWA National Player of the Year (2012, 2013) Honda Sports Award (2012) Honda-Broderick Cup (2012) 3x WBCA Defensive Player of the Year (2011–2013) 3x All-American – USBWA, State Farm/WBCA Coaches' (2011–2013) 3× First-team All-American – AP (2011–2013) Second-team All-American – AP (2010) 3× Big 12 Player of the Year (2011–2013) 4× Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2010–2013) 3x Big 12 Tournament MOP (2011, 2012, 2013) 4x First-team All-Big 12 (2010–2013) 4x Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2010–2013) USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2010) Big 12 Freshman of the Year (2010) Big 12 All-Freshman Team (2010) McDonald's All-American (2009) WBCA High School Player of the Year (2009) 2012-13 WBCA All-American
Medals Women's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team Gold 2020 Tokyo Team Gold 2024 Paris Team World Cup Gold 2014 Turkey Gold 2018 Spain

Brittney Griner accepting Wade Trophy at the WBCA Awards show in Denver Colorado 2012

Brittney Yvette Griner (born October 18, 1990) is an American professional basketball player. She plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Brittney is known for being a three-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women's national basketball team. She is also a six-time WNBA All-Star.

In 2009, experts called Griner the best high school women's basketball player in the country. She was chosen for the 2009 All-American basketball team. She played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears in Waco, Texas. In 2012, she had an amazing junior year. She was named the AP Player of the Year and won the Best Female Athlete ESPY Award. She led Baylor to win the National Championship. Griner is the only NCAA basketball player to score over 2,000 points and block over 500 shots.

As a professional, Griner was the first player chosen in the 2013 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury. She helped them win the WNBA championship in 2014. Brittney is very tall at 6 ft 9 in (206 cm). She wears a men's U.S. size 17 shoe. Her arm span is 87.5 in (222 cm).

Griner led the U.S. national women's basketball team to victory at the Rio Olympics in 2016. She won her second gold medal at the 2020 Olympics (held in 2021 in Tokyo). She won her third gold medal with Team USA at the 2024 Olympics in France. She has also won the FIBA Women's World Cup twice with Team USA (2014 and 2018).

In February 2022, Griner was held in Russia. She was playing basketball there during the WNBA off-season. U.S. officials said she was "wrongfully detained." In December 2022, Griner was released and returned to the U.S. She made her return to the WNBA in May 2023. Fans gave her a standing ovation.

Brittney Griner's Early Life and High School Career

Brittney Griner was born on October 18, 1990, in Houston, Texas. Her parents are Raymond and Sandra Griner. She has three older siblings named D, Shkera, and Pier.

Griner went to Nimitz High School in Houston. She played basketball all through high school. She also played varsity volleyball in her first year. Starting in her second year, Griner practiced with the boys' basketball team. She also worked with a football coach to get stronger legs. This helped her learn to dunk.

During her junior year, a video of her dunks on YouTube was watched over 6.6 million times. This led to her meeting famous basketball player Shaquille O'Neal. In her senior year, Griner led her team, the Nimitz Cougars, to the Texas 5A girls basketball state championship game. They lost 52–43. Griner dunked 52 times in 32 games that year. She set a record of seven dunks in one game.

On May 7, 2009, Houston mayor Bill White declared it Brittney Griner Day. On November 11, 2008, she blocked 25 shots in one game. This was the most ever by a female in a U.S. high school game. In her 2008–09 season, she blocked 318 shots, which was a single-season record. Griner was named a WBCA All-American. She played in the 2009 WBCA High School All-America Game. She scored 20 points and got 9 rebounds in that game.

College Basketball Success at Baylor University

Griner played college basketball at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. As a freshman, she set a record for blocked shots. She blocked 223 shots in one season. This showed she was one of the best shot blockers in women's basketball history. On December 16, 2009, Griner achieved Baylor's first triple-double. She had 34 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 blocked shots.

In January 2010, she became only the seventh player to dunk in a women's college basketball game. She was also the second woman to dunk twice in one college game. This happened in a big 99–18 win against Texas State University. On March 3, 2010, Griner was ejected from a game after a foul. Her coach gave her an extra one-game suspension.

Baylor entered the NCAA Tournament as a 4th seed. They beat top-seeded Tennessee. On March 22, Griner set an NCAA tournament record. She blocked 14 shots in a 49–33 win. In the Elite Eight, Baylor beat Duke 51–48. Griner blocked 9 shots, making her total 35 for the tournament. This was a new NCAA Women's Tournament record. Baylor reached the Final Four but lost to UConn. Griner was named an AP Second Team All-American.

As a sophomore, Griner was named First Team All-American. She averaged 23 points per game. She scored a career-high 40 points against Green Bay. Her sophomore season ended with a loss to Texas A&M University.

In her junior season, Griner averaged 23.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 5 blocks per game. She blocked more shots than any other Division I women's team that season. Griner was named AP Player of the Year. She was also named The 2012 Premier Player of Women's College Basketball.

On April 3, 2012, Griner led Baylor to win the Division I Women's Basketball Championship. They beat Notre Dame 80–61. Griner scored 26 points, had 13 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots. She was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player. Baylor finished the season with 40 wins, which was a record for the NCAA.

After winning the championship, Griner decided not to try out for the 2012 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team. A month later, she broke her wrist. Her college career ended in the 2013 NCAA women's basketball tournament. Baylor lost to the University of Louisville Cardinals in her senior year.

College Statistics Overview

†	NCAA championship
	NCAA record

Year	Rebounds		Blocks		Points		Notable stats.
	Total	Season high	Total	Season high	Total	Season high
2009–10	297	21	223	14	644	34	NCAA record for blocks in a season
2010–11	290	15	170	10	852	40
2011–12†	379	15	206	9	929	45
2012–13	339	15	149	7	858	50
Career	1,305		748	3,283		NCAA record for career blocks (men and women)

Becoming a WNBA Star

Griner dunking at the 2015 WNBA All-Star game held at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut

Brittney Griner is one of the tallest players in the WNBA. Only a few players have been taller than her 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m). These include Margo Dydek, Bernadett Határ, and Han Xu.

WNBA Career Highlights

In the 2013 WNBA draft, the Phoenix Mercury chose Griner as the very first pick. In her first game on May 27, 2013, Griner made two dunks. This tied the WNBA record for dunks in a game. She became the third WNBA player to dunk. She was also the first to dunk twice in one game. Griner was a strong defensive player. She averaged 3.0 blocks per game. She was named a WNBA All-Star.

In 2014, Griner's performance got even better. She averaged 15.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game. On June 29, 2014, Griner set a WNBA record with 11 blocks in a game. She also had 21 points and 8 rebounds. On August 24, 2014, Griner became the first WNBA player to dunk in a playoff game. This helped the Mercury win against the Los Angeles Sparks.

The 2014 season was historic for the Mercury. With Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, and Candice Dupree, the team was very strong. They finished with a 29–5 record, setting a WNBA record for wins. They reached the WNBA finals and swept the Chicago Sky 3–0. This gave the Mercury their third championship. Griner set WNBA finals records in Game 1 for most blocks in a game (8) and most blocks in a quarter (5).

In 2015, Griner had an amazing defensive season. She averaged a WNBA record 4.0 blocks per game. This broke Margo Dydek's record from 1998. The Mercury made it to the playoffs. Griner set a WNBA playoff record with 11 blocks in a Game 1 win. The Mercury moved to the second round but lost to the Minnesota Lynx.

In 2016, with Diana Taurasi back, the Mercury had a good playoff run. Griner averaged 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game. She recorded the sixth triple-double in WNBA history. This was in a win against the Atlanta Dream. The Mercury upset the Indiana Fever and New York Liberty in the playoffs. They reached the semifinals but were swept by the Minnesota Lynx.

Griner performing a layup in 2017

On March 12, 2017, Griner signed a new deal with the Mercury. In 2017, she had her best season yet. She scored a career-high 38 points on June 7, 2017. Griner led the league in scoring with 21.9 points per game. She also led the league in blocks for the fifth year in a row. The Mercury made it to the semifinals but were eliminated by the Los Angeles Sparks.

In 2018, Griner played all 34 games. She was voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game. On August 18, 2018, Griner scored a season-high 33 points. She also had 18 rebounds and 7 blocks. Griner led the league in blocks for the sixth year. The Mercury reached the semifinals but lost in Game 5.

Griner and the Mercury guarding Seimone Augustus of the Minnesota Lynx in 2018

In 2019, Griner was voted into her sixth All-Star game. On August 25, 2019, she scored a season-high 34 points. Griner led the league in scoring for the second time. She also led the league in blocks for the seventh year in a row. The Mercury were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

The 2020 season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Griner left the team for personal reasons after 12 games. The Mercury made it to the second round of the playoffs.

In 2021, Griner averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. She helped the Mercury reach the WNBA finals. They lost to the Chicago Sky in 4 games.

Griner missed the entire 2022 season because she was held in Russia. She was released in December. In 2023, Griner played well and was named a starter in the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game. She averaged 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Playing Overseas

Griner has played basketball in other countries during the WNBA off-season. In 2013–14, she played in China for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls. She was named the MVP of the 2014 WCBA All-Star Game. In 2014–15, she played in China for the Beijing Great Wall.

From 2014 to 2022, Griner played in Russia for UMMC Ekaterinburg. She played with her teammate Diana Taurasi. They won championships together. She continued to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg for several seasons.

In 2024, it was announced that Griner would play in Unrivaled. This is a new women's 3x3 basketball league. She plays for Phantom.

Playing for Team USA

In September 2011, Griner trained with the U.S. national team. She was the only college player in the group. She averaged 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

In 2016, she played for the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team. They won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics. They beat Spain 101–72. Griner became one of only 11 players to win an Olympic gold medal, FIBA World Cup gold medal, WNBA title, and NCAA title.

Griner was chosen for her second Olympics in 2021. Team USA went undefeated and won the gold medal.

In June 2024, Griner was again named to the US women's Olympic team. They competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in France. She helped the United States defeat France 67–66 in the final. This earned Griner her third straight Olympic gold medal. During the medal ceremony, Griner became emotional. She thought about her past experiences and how grateful she was to be there.

Awards and Honors

Griner was chosen as the number-one high school player in the country. She was also featured on the cover of ESPN's Rise magazine. The Women's Basketball Coaches Association named her the 2009 WBCA High School Player of the Year. Griner also won the 2013 ESPY Award for best female college athlete. She won the Honda Sports Award for basketball in 2012. She also won the overall Honda-Broderick Cup for all sports.

In 2012, she received the Wade Trophy. This award goes to the best female NCAA Division I basketball player. She also won the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award in 2012 and 2013. This award is given by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

Griner is known for bringing more attention to women's basketball because of her ability to dunk. She holds the NCAA record for dunks in a career with 18 total dunks. She passed Candace Parker as the all-time NCAA women's dunks leader.

• 2009—WBCA High School Coaches' All-America Team
• 2011—WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year
• 2012—WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year
• 2013—WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year
• 2014—FIBA World Championship All-Star Five

The WNBA included Griner in The W25. This is a list of the best players from the league's first 25 years. In February 2024, Baylor University honored Griner. They retired her No. 42 jersey in a special ceremony.

Personal Life and Advocacy

In an interview in 2013, Griner shared that she is a lesbian. She is very passionate about helping children. She wants to bring attention to the issue of bullying. Griner wrote a book called In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court. It was published in 2014. The book talks about bullying and accepting yourself.

In a 2019 interview, Griner said, "I'm just trying to help out, I'm just trying to make it not as tough for the next generation." Her deal with Nike was special. It was the first time the company signed a deal with an openly gay athlete. Griner often models clothes that are usually for men. Nike said they were excited to work with her because "she breaks the mold."

Since her return from being held in Russia in December 2022, Griner has spoken out. She champions the return of other Americans held in foreign countries. She has also said that her experiences made her appreciate the freedoms in her own country.

WNBA Career Statistics

†	Denotes season(s) in which Griner won a WNBA championship
	WNBA record

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2013	Phoenix	27	27	25.9	.556	—	.724	6.3	1.0	0.4	3.0°	1.7	14.5
2014†	Phoenix	34	34	30.7	.578	—	.802	8.0	1.6	0.6	3.7°	1.9	15.6
2015	Phoenix	26	26	30.7	.565	—	.773	8.1	1.3	0.3	4.0	2.1	15.1
2016	Phoenix	34	34	29.2	.548	—	.831	6.5	1.0	0.3	3.1°	2.0	14.5
2017	Phoenix	26	26	31.5	.577	—	.812	7.6	1.9	0.6	2.5°	2.4	21.9
2018	Phoenix	34	34	32.6	.544	.250	.800	7.7	2.1	0.5	2.6°	2.3	20.5
2019	Phoenix	31	31	32.8	.564	.333	.808	7.2	2.4	0.7	2.0°	2.4	20.7°
2020	Phoenix	12	12	31.8	.497	.000	.809	7.5	3.0	0.3	1.8	2.5	17.7
2021	Phoenix	30	30	32.8	.575	.444	.846	9.5	2.7	0.4	1.9°	2.2	20.5
2022	Did not appear in league (detained abroad)
2023	Phoenix	31	31	27.6	.579°	.111	.772	6.3	2.2	0.5	1.6	2.1	17.5
2024	Phoenix	30	30	28.7	.579°	.500	.777	6.6	2.3	0.5	1.5	1.8	17.8
Career	11 years, 1 team	315	315	30.4	.562	.364	.799	7.4	1.9	0.5	2.6	2.1	17.7
	All-Star	7	5	15.5	.593	.176	.500	7.1	0.9	0.3	1.4	0.9	15.1

Playoffs

See also

In Spanish: Brittney Griner para niños

• 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
• List of American people imprisoned in Russia