Did you ever want to know about the life of Phoenix Mercury Brittney Griner as a kid? Before she started dominating the hard wood she was just like any other girl from Houston, Texas eager about life. Yet, her height, & physical look of her body indicated that she was potentially a great athlete. From cycling with her siblings to her first time holding a basketball, her childhood had signs that greatness was imminent. Wondering where it all began? So, without further ado, let’s take a look at her early years!
From Houston to the Hoops: Brittney Griner’s Early Life
According to Wikipedia: Brittney Griner was born on the 18th of October, 1990 in the city of Houston, Texas, USA. She was always what could be categorized as an ‘athletic kind of person’. Her height which ultimately formed the core of her basketball career made her taller than many of her age mates. She was already getting attention at the high school level & this is evident from her early days at Nimitz High School where the raw potential was coming out.
Who are Brittney Griner’s Parents?
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Her rise in becoming one of the most wanted basketball players was well & backed up by her parents Raymond and Sandra Griner. Brittney has three siblings: The family includes her father Raymond Briner, Pier Griner, her mother Sandra Griner, Shkera Griner, & Decarlo Griner who have supported her. The social life of Brittney is relatively concealed, her family is being surpassed in her works but is present always. This early training on & off the basketball court prepared her for this rise to the national limelight.
How Brittney Griner Discovered Her Passion in Basketball?
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From an early age, Brittney Griner as a kid had a passion for basketball that she could not ignore. Her height & aptitude towards the game made her unique, especially from her tender age. In high school, she played for the girl’s team at Nimitz High School in Houston. But, practiced with the boys & this gave her a special style of play.
This dedication coupled with talent enabled her to enhance the level of play. Her early love & dedication towards basketball laid the foundation stone of what was to come in the future. That is we saw her making history with new standards set up by her in the position of a center dominating the arena.
Brittney Griner’s Basketball Career
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Griner began playing basketball at the college level at Baylor University & became one of the most formidable players. Her breakthrough happened in 2012 in which she guided Baylor to earn them an NCAA crown. She set a record as the first player ever to score more than 2000 points & block more than 500 shots.
In 2013 her talent was rewarded when she was the first pick in the WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury. She has had a great professional career which include: WNBA champion in 2014, multi-time All-Star. As a 6 ‘8’’ athletic lady, her primary specialties have been shot-blocking, where she was a pro at that. Globally she has been to the Germany Olympics where she has won two gold medals in 2016 & 2020.
Brittney Griner’s Education Background & Early Achievements
Griner followed her profound interest, and talent in basketball, & got a scholarship to Baylor University where she showcased extreme potential. Her college performance was quite exemplary, especially when she was part of the winning team of the lady bear which was a national champion of 2012. On the way, she accumulated great numbers & earned numerous rewards, being the AP Player of the Year. Before she left college Baylor, Brittney Griner had made it very difficult for any other woman to eclipse her records.
Beyond the Court: Brittney Griner’s Affairs
Apart from basketball, Brittney Griner has been an activist who supports gay rights & the LGBTQ+ community. This has been well evident after she came out in the public as an out & proud gay athlete. She’s an inspiration in the community that life can continue despite the challenges one faces because of their sexuality.
Her personal life has also been Cloudy too, Her marriage with Glory Johnson another WNBA player was annulled. In 2019 she exchanged her vows with Cherelle Watson, who has been very supportive throughout the various struggles of Griner. Off the court, the most intense period in her career was in 2022 when Griner was falsely imprisoned in Russia due to drug possession allegations.
Brittney Griner’s Net Worth & Endorsements
From a financial perspective, Brittney Griner has laid down her financial base through her WNBA career, & through endorsing different products. According to celebritynetworth.com her net worth of $5 million for her skills in basketball to get endorsement deals from Nike & BodyArmor. These partnerships have improved her earnings along with her WNBA salary.
Although her earnings from playing in overseas leagues have for most of the times surpassed her WNBA earnings. Similar to most players in the WNBA, during off-seasons, Griner played in Russia. But her stay in the foreign countries, especially Russia playing internationally, had turned sour in 2022 when she was detained. Nevertheless, the evidence of Griner’s financial success supports her significance in basketball, both on the playing floor & behind the scenes.
Conclusion
Brittney Griner as a kid maybe had no idea of the greatness that would lie ahead of her in her childhood she was setting the foundation. From the time she entered basketball & the support she received from her family to become a great hero & activist. One can conclude that the way toward becoming the champion was down by Brittney Griner a long time ago. She was not a sportsman, who grew up over a night playing in the NBA or WNBA; she was a child with a dream of becoming a basketball player. And that kid’s story remains an example that can be fascinating for future generations.
Alen John is a Sports writer at USAWireMagazine. He is an Sports writer with 10+ years of overall experience. Basketball, MMA, Football has been John’ss lifelong passion since age 12, and hailing from Brantford, Ontario.