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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Sports Desk • Basketball

Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner is an American professional basketball player and center in the WNBA.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Brittney Griner is an American professional basketball player and center in the WNBA, known for her Olympic success and her 2022 detention in Russia.

What it is

Brittney Yvette Griner was born in Houston, Texas, in 1990. She played college basketball at Baylor University before being drafted first overall in the 2013 WNBA draft. Standing 6 ft 9 in, she has played as a center for the Phoenix Mercury and later the Atlanta Dream.

Why it matters

Griner is a three-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women's national team and a multiple-time WNBA All-Star. Her 2022 detention in Russia on drug charges, conviction, and subsequent release in a prisoner exchange drew global attention, including major coverage in Canada.

Key details

In 2022, Griner was detained at a Moscow-area airport after authorities said they found cannabis oil in her luggage. She was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison. On December 8, 2022, she was released in a prisoner swap involving Viktor Bout. She is married to Cherelle Griner.

In short

  • American WNBA center and three-time Olympic gold medalist.
  • Detained in Russia in 2022 on a drug offense, sentenced to nine years.
  • Released on December 8, 2022, in a prisoner exchange.
  • Currently plays for the Atlanta Dream.
Canadian angle

Griner has played in international basketball contexts watched closely by Canadian sports fans, and her Russia detention and release received major coverage in Canada. Her WNBA career is also relevant to Canadian readers following North American women’s basketball.

Quick questions

Who is Brittney Griner?
An American professional basketball player known for her WNBA career, Olympic success, and 2022 detention in Russia.
What happened to Brittney Griner in Russia?
She was detained in 2022 at a Moscow-area airport, convicted on a drug offense, and sentenced to nine years in prison before being released in a prisoner swap.
What team does Brittney Griner play for?
She plays for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittney_Griner
    Supports: Birth date, American professional basketball player status, WNBA career, Olympic gold medals
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Brittney-Griner
    Supports: Biography, basketball career, Russia detention, conviction, and release
  3. WNBA — https://www.wnba.com/player/203398/brittney-griner
    Supports: Current team, player profile, position, career status
  4. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2490553/brittney-griner
    Supports: Height, position, current team, birthdate
  5. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63899465
    Supports: Detention in Russia, prisoner exchange, marriage to Cherelle Griner