Brittney Griner’s estranged wife, Cherelle Griner, is seeking financial support as the couple moves forward with their divorce, citing a significant difference between their incomes.
Cherelle filed court documents responding to Brittney’s divorce petition and told the court there is a “substantial disparity” between what the two women earn. She also said she is “unable to meet her reasonable financial needs on a monthly basis without continued support.”
The request comes nearly two months after Brittney filed for divorce in Fulton County, Georgia. Court documents list June 18, 2018, as the couple’s wedding date, while their reported separation date is July 24, 2026.
Cherelle’s filing states that the marriage is “irretrievably broken with no hope for reconciliation.” Her request for financial support is now among the issues the court will have to address.
Brittney currently plays center for the Connecticut Sun after spending the 2025 WNBA season with the Atlanta Dream. Before joining Atlanta, she spent more than a decade with the Phoenix Mercury and helped the franchise win a WNBA championship in 2014.
According to Cherelle’s filing, Brittney’s earnings have increased significantly since joining Connecticut. Cherelle is asking the court to consider the income difference when determining whether financial support should be awarded.
That request, however, is not a ruling. The court has not approved the financial support sought by Cherelle, and the divorce case remains ongoing.
Money is also not the only unresolved issue. The couple shares a son, Bash, whom they welcomed in 2024, and custody arrangements are part of the proceedings.
Cherelle is seeking joint legal custody, with physical custody and parenting time determined according to Bash’s best interests. Brittney also requested joint legal and physical custody when she filed for divorce.
The split follows years in which the couple’s relationship was closely associated with one of the most consequential periods of Brittney’s life. In February 2022, Russian authorities detained the WNBA star after cannabis-oil vape cartridges were found in her luggage. She was subsequently sentenced to nine years in prison.
Cherelle became a prominent advocate for Brittney during the detention, publicly urging U.S. officials to help secure her release and discussing the emotional toll the situation took on her.
Brittney spent nearly 10 months in detention before returning to the United States in December 2022 through a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia. The couple later welcomed Bash and publicly shared glimpses of their family life.
Now, their divorce proceedings are putting financial support, custody and the division of marital assets and debts before the court.
Brittney’s attorney, Randall Kessler, previously said the parties hoped to resolve the matter privately and indicated there would be no further comment at that time.
For now, Cherelle’s financial-support request and the custody arrangements remain unresolved as the divorce case moves forward.
