Brittney Griner Net Worth 2023:Biography Early life and basketball career

In this blog post, we will explore Brittney Griner net worth, biography, and some interesting facts about her life and career.
 

If you are a fan of basketball, you probably know who Brittney Griner is. She is one of the most dominant players in the WNBA and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. But do you know how much she is worth?

 Early life and basketball career

Brittney Griner was born on October 18, 1990 in Houston, Texas as the youngest of four siblings. She grew up playing basketball with her older brothers and developed a passion for the sport. She also played volleyball in high school, but basketball was her main focus.

Griner attended Nimitz High School, where she led her team to the Texas 5A girls basketball state championship game in her senior year. She also set several records, such as the most dunks in a single season (52), the most dunks in a single game (7), and the most blocks in a single season (318). She was named a WBCA All-American and the nation's No. 1 high school women's basketball player by publications like Rivals.com.

Griner continued her basketball career at Baylor University, where she became one of the most decorated players in NCAA history. She was the only player to score 2,000 points and block 500 shots in her college career. She also led Baylor to a perfect 40-0 season and a national championship in 2012. She won numerous awards, such as the AP Player of the Year, the Naismith Trophy, the Wade Trophy, and the Wooden Award.

 Net worth and salary

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Brittney Griner has an estimated net worth of about $5 million. Her net worth comes from her accomplishments not only playing for the WNBA but also playing for teams overseas.

Griner's salary from her latest season with her WNBA side Phoenix Mercury was $227,000. That's the maximum salary allowed in women's professional basketball in the United States. However, Griner makes much more money playing abroad during the WNBA offseason.

The Daily Mail reported in October this year that Griner accumulated around $1.5 million playing in Russia, which was six times her WNBA salary with the Phoenix Mercury. Back in 2014, she also played in China for three months for a remuneration of $600,000.

Griner also has endorsement deals with brands like Nike, EA Sports, and Lifelock. She became Nike's first openly gay athlete in 2013 when she signed a $1 million deal.

 Endorsements and sponsorships

As mentioned above, Brittney Griner has endorsement deals with several companies that pay her for promoting their products and services. Some of these companies are:

- Nike: Griner signed a multi-year deal with Nike in 2013 that made her the first openly gay athlete to endorse the brand. She has appeared in several Nike campaigns and commercials, such as "Be True" and "Unlimited Future".
- EA Sports: Griner was one of the first female players to be featured in the NBA Live video game series by EA Sports. She was included in NBA Live 14 and NBA Live 15 as a playable character.
- Lifelock: Griner partnered with Lifelock, a company that provides identity theft protection services, in 2014. She starred in a TV ad for Lifelock that showed how she protects her identity on and off the court.
- Other brands: Griner has also worked with other brands like BodyArmor, State Farm, Finish Line, and ESPN.

 Philanthropy and activism

Brittney Griner is not only a basketball star but also a philanthropist and an activist. She has supported various causes and organizations that aim to improve the lives of people and animals. Some of these are:

- The Trevor Project: Griner donated $5,000 to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth. She also participated in their "Talk To Me" campaign that encouraged people to listen to LGBTQ+ youth who need support.
- PETA: Griner posed nude for PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign in 2015. She said she wanted to raise awareness about the cruelty of fur farming and encourage people to adopt animals from shelters instead of buying them from breeders or pet stores.
- UN Foundation: Griner joined the UN Foundation's Girl Up initiative in 2016 as a global ambassador. She traveled to Ethiopia to meet with girls who are affected by poverty, violence, and lack of education. She also helped raise funds and awareness for Girl Up's programs that empower girls around the world.
- Black Lives Matter: Griner has been vocal about her support for the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight against racial injustice and police brutality. She has participated in protests and rallies, worn shirts with messages like "Say Her Name" and "I Can't Breathe", and spoken out on social media about these issues.

 Personal life and relationships

Brittney Griner came out as gay when she was still in college. She said she was bullied and harassed for being different when she was younger, but she learned to embrace her identity and be proud of who she is.

Griner married fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson in 2015 after a brief engagement. However, their marriage ended after just 28 days when Griner filed for an annulment. The couple had been involved in a domestic violence incident before their wedding that resulted in both of them being arrested. Johnson also announced that she was pregnant with twins via IVF shortly after their split.

Griner later dated another WNBA player, DeWanna Bonner, who played for the Connecticut Sun. They got engaged in 2020 and welcomed twin sons via surrogate in 2021.

 Achievements and awards

Brittney Griner has won numerous awards and accolades throughout her basketball career. Some of them are:

•  WNBA Champion (2014)
•   WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2014, 2015)
•   WNBA All-Star (2013, 2014, 2017–2021)
•   All-WNBA First Team (2014–2021)
•   All-WNBA Defensive First Team (2014–2021)
•   WNBA blocks leader (2013–2021)
•   Olympic gold medalist (2016, 2021)
•   FIBA Women's World Cup gold medalist (2014, 2018)
•   NCAA champion (2012)
•   NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2012)
•   AP Player of the Year (2012)
•   Naismith Trophy (2012)
•  Wade Trophy (2012)
•   Wooden Award (2012)

Controversies and challenges

Brittney Griner has faced some controversies and challenges during her career. Some of them are:

- Domestic violence: As mentioned earlier, Griner was arrested for domestic violence along with her then-fiancée Glory Johnson in 2015. They both pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct charges and were suspended by the WNBA for seven games each.

- Paternity dispute: After their divorce, Griner claimed that she had no biological connection to Johnson's twins and sought to avoid paying child support. However, a judge ruled that Griner had voluntarily agreed to be their parent when they were conceived via IVF and ordered her to pay $2,516 per month.

- Gender testing: In 2009, an opposing coach suggested that Griner should undergo gender testing because of her height (6'9"), voice (deep), and appearance (masculine). The comment sparked outrage among fans and media outlets who defended Griner's right to play as a woman without being questioned or discriminated against.

- Russia swap: In December 2021, Griner was involved in a diplomatic exchange between Russia and the US that saw her being swapped for Viktor Bout, a notorious arms dealer known as "the Merchant of Death". Griner had been playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg when she was detained by Russian authorities on unspecified charges. President Joe Biden intervened to secure her release after negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 Future plans and projects

Brittney Griner has expressed interest in pursuing other ventures outside of basketball. Some of them are:

- Modeling: Griner has modeled for magazines like ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue and Vogue. She has also walked the runway for designer Marco Marco at LA Fashion Week.
- Writing: Griner published her memoir titled "In My Skin: My Life On And Off The Basketball Court" in 2014. The book chronicles her journey from childhood to adulthood as a gay athlete who faced bullying, abuse, depression, and self-harm.
- Acting: Griner made her acting debut in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2016. She played herself as a guest star who helped solve a case involving sexual assault on college campuses.
- Coaching: Griner has said that she would like to coach basketball someday after she retires from playing professionally. She said she wants to share her knowledge and experience with young players who aspire to follow her footsteps.

FAQ:-

How tall is Brittney Griner?

Brittney Griner is 6 feet (1.83 m) 9 inches (ca. 23 cm) tall. She is the tallest active player in the WNBA and the third-tallest player in WNBA history.

When and where was Brittney Griner born?

Brittney Griner was born on October 18, 1990, in Houston, Texas. She grew up in a family of five and has three older siblings.

Where did Brittney Griner go to college?

Brittney Griner attended Baylor University from 2009 to 2013. She led the Baylor Lady Bears to a 40-0 record and a national championship in 2012. She also became the first NCAA player to score 2,000 points and block 500 shots in a career.

Is Brittney Griner married or dating anyone?

Brittney Griner is currently single. She was previously married to fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson from 2015 to 2016. They had a tumultuous relationship that ended in divorce and domestic violence charges.

How much does Brittney Griner make per year?

Brittney Griner signed a multi-year contract extension with the Phoenix Mercury in February 2020. The exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is estimated that she makes around $215,000 per year, which is the maximum salary allowed by the WNBA collective bargaining agreement.