WNBA Star Brittney Griner and Spouse Cherelle Griner’s Relationship Timeline

Love and basketball. Brittney Griner is likely one of the finest athletes within the WNBA — and he or she all the time has her sweetheart, Cherelle Griner, cheering her on from the sidelines.

The Olympic gold medalist and the trainer met as undergraduates at Baylor College in Texas whereas Brittney was making a reputation for herself as top-of-the-line faculty basketball gamers of all time. They did not begin relationship till years later, nonetheless, after they reconnected after the athlete cut up from her first spouse, Glory Johnson.

“I’ll always remember the day I met you at Baylor within the sub space!” Brittney wrote by way of Instagram in June 2020. “You tapped me on my shoulder and informed me I took your milkshake (nonetheless up for debate lol) and I used to be instantly blown away at your magnificence! You had no concept however I knew you have been the one for me child. You caught by my facet on the lowest and on the highest!”

The Phoenix Mercury heart proposed to Cherelle in August 2018, and the duo tied the knot almost one yr later. Since then, the pair have repeatedly gushed over each other on social media, sharing snaps from holidays and commemorating their relationship milestones.

“On a regular basis with you is spectacular however once I get to rejoice your life and all that you’re is simply breathtaking ❤️!” Brittney wrote by way of Instagram in July 2020 to rejoice her partner’s birthday. “To many extra my love.”

In 2022, the couple turned the topic of worldwide information when the basketball star was detained in Russia on drug fees. Brittney was within the nation enjoying with the EuroLeague staff UMMC Ekaterinburg through the WNBA offseason.

By the point the information broke in the USA in March 2022, Brittney had already been detained for two weeks. Officers have been initially apprehensive that an aggressive response might harm her probabilities of a secure return amid Russia’s battle with Ukraine, however in Might 2022, the U.S. State Division stated that Russia had “wrongfully detained” the Texas native.

“It’s a fully unimaginable state of affairs for for BG,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert informed Time after the State Division’s reclassification. “There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not engaged on this indirectly. It was a extremely optimistic improvement for her case to be transferred into the a part of the State Division that’s known as the Particular Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Once you get this designation of being detained, not beneath the most effective circumstances, they’ve proven success at getting individuals out.”

Cherelle, for her half, supported her spouse from afar, sharing movies on social media of Brittney’s time on the court docket. “Thanks to everybody who has reached out to me concerning my spouse’s secure return from Russia,” she wrote by way of Instagram in March 2022. “Your prayers and help are significantly appreciated. I like my spouse wholeheartedly, so this message comes throughout one of many weakest moments of my life.”

In December 2022, Cherelle was a beaming sight on the White Home as President Joe Biden introduced that her spouse had been released from Russian custody.

“After months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held beneath insupportable circumstances, Brittney will quickly be again within the arms of her family members and he or she ought to have been there all alongside,” Biden stated throughout a press launch as Cherelle and Vice President Kamala Harris stood beside him.

“It is a day we have labored in direction of for a very long time. We by no means stopped pushing for her launch,” he added.

Hold scrolling for a glance again at Brittney and Cherelle’s full relationship timeline.

“I’ll always remember the primary time I stated I like you and I’ll always remember if you stated YES!” Brittney wrote by way of Instagram after proposing to Cherelle. “My finest pal, my lover, my companion in life. I like you. I am so fortunate to have you ever in my life without end. You by no means gave up on me even once I gave up on myself. You may have pull me from the ashes and held me up once I could not stand. You actually are my spine and my spirit that retains me going. I like you child.”

The duo tied the knot on June 18 almost one yr after their engagement.

Brittney marked the pair’s one-year marriage ceremony anniversary with a gushing Instagram tribute to her spouse. “Your love by no means wavered with me at any level if something it grew and you’ve got confirmed me tips on how to love and tips on how to be cherished!” she wrote. “You through the years have additionally confirmed me what it takes to Actually have a Relationship that takes sacrifices, compassion, understanding, and communication! I’ve to provide the credit score the place it’s due! You may have opened my eyes to see me for who I actually am!”

Cherelle celebrated the couple’s second marriage ceremony anniversary with a loving Instagram put up about her spouse. “Without end a celebration of two ❤️— nicely— till children 😂,” she joked. “However for now can we get two of every part please: two tickets, two giant popcorns (we don’t share meals), one soda & one water (BG ain’t ingesting water🤧)! Y’all get the gist! Lol I like you babe.”

After Brittney’s arrest, Cherelle provided a handful of social media updates to followers. “We love you babe!” the Arkansas native wrote by way of Instagram in March. “Individuals say ‘keep busy.’ But, there’s not a process on this world that might preserve any of us from worrying about you. My coronary heart, our hearts, are all skipping beats on a regular basis that goes by. I miss your voice. I miss your presence. You’re our individual! There are not any phrases to specific this ache. I’m hurting, we’re hurting. We await the day to like on you as a household.”

The WNBA kicked off its season with a tribute to Brittney, along with her teammates sporting shirts bearing the message, “We’re BG.” Cherelle, for her half, shared previous movies of her spouse on the court docket. “It’s GAME DAY!” she wrote by way of Instagram.  

Cherelle appeared on Good Morning America to debate her spouse’s ongoing detention and confirmed that she spoke to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in regards to the state of affairs. “You say she’s high precedence, however I wanna see it, and I really feel prefer to see it could be me seeing BG on U.S. soil,” she stated of the decision. “She’s a political pawn.”

Cherelle, who graduated from regulation college that very same month, famous that her spouse solely performs in Russia as a result of WNBA salaries should not excessive sufficient to cowl bills. “BG would wholeheartedly like to not go abroad,” she defined. “She has solely had one Thanksgiving within the States in 9 years since she’s been professional, and he or she misses all that stuff. Simply because, you recognize, she will be able to’t make sufficient cash within the WNBA, like, to maintain her life.”

After LeBron James known as for Brittney’s launch in a social media message, Cherelle reposted his remarks by way of her Instagram Tales. “We have to come collectively and assist do no matter we presumably can to convey BG dwelling shortly and safely!!” the Area Jam: A New Legacy star tweeted. “Our voice as athletes is stronger collectively.”

After Brittney wrote a pleading letter to President Joe Biden asking for assist, Cherelle revealed that her spouse is “struggling” amid her ongoing detention. “Initially, you recognize, I used to be informed … we’re going to try to deal with this behind [the] scenes and, you recognize, let’s not elevate her worth and, you recognize, keep quiet and, you recognize, I did that. And respectfully, we’re over 140 days at this level, that doesn’t work, and so I cannot be quiet anymore,” she stated throughout an interview with CBS Mornings. “I’ll discover that steadiness of, you recognize, hurt versus assist in pushing our authorities to do every part that’s potential as a result of being quiet, they don’t seem to be transferring, they don’t seem to be doing something. And so my spouse is struggling, and we’ve got to assist her.”

Someday later, the White Home stated that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had spoken with Cherelle by cellphone to debate Brittney’s case. “The President known as Cherelle to reassure her that he’s working to safe Brittney’s launch as quickly as potential, in addition to the discharge of Paul Whelan and different U.S. nationals who’re wrongfully detained or held hostage in Russia and all over the world,” the White Home defined in a press release. “He additionally learn her a draft of the letter the President is sending to Brittney Griner at present.” 

Biden confirmed that the WNBA star could be launched in alternate for convicted arms supplier Viktor Bout following “intense” negotiations within the United Arab Emirates.

“These previous few months have been hell for Brittney and Cherelle,” Biden stated. “Individuals all throughout the nation have discovered about Brittney’s story and advocated for her launch and stood along with her all through this horrible ordeal, and I do know that help meant loads to her household. I am glad to have the ability to say that Brittney is in good spirits and relieved to lastly be heading dwelling.”

He then handed the rostrum over to Cherelle, who thanked the whole Biden administration. “For the final 9 months, you all have been so aware of one of many darkest moments of my life and so at present, I’m simply standing right here overwhelmed with feelings. Crucial emotion that I’ve proper now’s simply honest gratitude for President Biden and his total administration,” she stated earlier than thanking Vice President Harris and so many others.

Cherelle added: “Right this moment my household is entire — however as you all are conscious, there are such a lot of different households who should not entire. [Brittney] and I’ll stay dedicated to the work of getting each American dwelling.”

Two months after Brittney’s launch from Russia, she and Cherelle hit the NAACP Picture Awards for a date evening.

The pair packed on the PDA on the White Home Correspondents’ Affiliation dinner. 

They introduced their first baby was on the way in which by way of Instagram. “Can’t imagine we’re lower than three months away from assembly our favourite human being 🤍 #BabyGrinerComingSoon #July2024,” the duo captioned a photograph of themselves holding palms subsequent to ultrasound pictures.

Brittney detailed her reunion with Cherelle in her memoir Coming Home, which additionally recounted her 10-month detention in Russia. 5 months after Brittney’s return to the U.S., the couple attended the Met Gala, the place they met tons of celebrities. Cherelle, nonetheless, was most excited to see Idris Elba. 

“Relle nearly fainted when she noticed Idris Elba,” Brittney recalled. “‘Child, say one thing to him,’ she whispered as she squeezed my arm. … She was blushing so arduous she might barely say hey. ‘Are you severe?’ I teased her as soon as we walked off. We now have a operating joke. ‘After I stroll in a room,’ I remind her, ‘You’d higher move out like I’m Idris.’” 

Brittney introduced that she and Cherelle welcomed child No. 1, a boy, on July 8. 

“That’s my man. He’s wonderful,” the athlete, who will probably be known as “pops,” informed CBS Sports activities on July 19. “They stated as quickly as you see them, every part that you simply thought mattered simply goes out the window. That’s actually what occurred.”