Cherelle seeks support from Brittney Griner now.
For the second time during her WNBA career, Brittney Griner is facing a real possibility of having to pay support to a former partner.
Griner has child support obligations stemming from her previous marriage. She first owed payments following her short 2015 marriage to fellow player Glory Johnson. Johnson became pregnant with twins through in vitro fertilization right before their split. Griner argued she had no biological connection to the twins.
Regardless, an Arizona judge ruled she was a legal parent because the children were conceived during the marriage. She was ordered to pay approximately $2,516 per month to support them.
Fast forward to 2026, and things have gotten worse for Brittney Griner.
Brittney Griner’s Estranged Wife Demands Financial Support Over Massive Bills
WNBA player Brittney Griner filed for divorce from her wife, Cherelle Griner, in July 2026. This month, according to TMZ, Cherelle filed a legal response requesting financial support from the basketball star. She noted their marriage is “irretrievably broken with no hope for reconciliation” after eight years. Cherelle pointed out that her famous partner earns a ton more money than she does.
Brittney recently signed a contract with the Connecticut Sun worth more than $1 million. Consequently, Cherelle highlighted the “substantial disparity” between their monthly incomes in the court paperwork. She stated she is “unable to meet her reasonable financial needs on a monthly basis without continued support.”
The legal filing also asks for joint legal custody of their young son, Bash Griner. Cherelle wants the court to determine physical custody based on the child’s best interests.
Cherelle Griner Was The Driving Force That Got Griner Out of a Russian Prison
Before their union was broken, Cherelle Griner waged a massive public and political campaign to free her wife from a Russian prison in 2022. Cherelle made numerous television appearances on major networks to keep the story alive. She openly called Brittney a “political pawn” during an interview on Good Morning America.
Furthermore, Cherelle aggressively pressured the White House to use its power. She organized more than 1,100 Black female leaders to demand a meeting with the administration. This immense pressure forced President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to call her directly. She eventually secured a critical face-to-face meeting with Biden in the Oval Office.
Her efforts successfully forced the government to make a high-stakes prisoner swap.
