Brittney Griner Divorce Turns Ugly — Ex-Wife Makes Massive Spousal Support Demand Amid Shocking Custody Battle
Brittney Griner’s divorce from estranged wife Cherelle Griner has taken another significant turn, with new court filings reportedly seeking spousal support and addressing custody of the couple’s young son.
The WNBA star filed for divorce from Cherelle in July 2026 after eight years of marriage. According to TMZ, Cherelle has now responded in court documents by requesting financial support from Griner and stating that their marriage is “irretrievably broken with no hope for reconciliation.”
The filing reportedly points to a substantial difference between the former couple’s incomes, with Cherelle arguing that she cannot cover her reasonable monthly expenses without continued financial assistance.
The development adds another complicated chapter to Griner’s personal life while she continues her WNBA career.
Cherelle Points to Major Income Gap
According to the court filing described in the report, Cherelle cited the disparity between what she earns and Griner’s income as part of her request for support.
Griner recently signed a Connecticut Sun contract worth more than $1 million, according to the source.
Cherelle reportedly described the difference between their finances as a “substantial disparity” and stated that she is “unable to meet her reasonable financial needs on a monthly basis without continued support.”
The filing does not mean the requested support has been granted. It represents Cherelle’s position in the ongoing divorce proceedings, with any financial award ultimately subject to the court process.
Griner has dealt with support obligations following a previous marriage as well.
Griner Previously Faced Child Support Order
Griner briefly married fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson in 2015.
Johnson became pregnant with twins through IVF shortly before their split, and Griner argued that she had no biological connection to the children.
An Arizona judge nevertheless ruled that Griner was a legal parent because the children were conceived during the marriage.
She was subsequently ordered to pay approximately $2,516 per month in child support, according to the report.
The current case involving Cherelle is separate and includes both financial support and custody issues concerning their son.
Custody of Young Son Also Addressed
Cherelle’s filing reportedly asks for joint legal custody of the couple’s young son, Bash Griner.
She is also asking the court to determine physical custody according to what it considers to be the child’s best interests.
After 8 years of marriage, Brittney Griner’s estranged wife is seeking joint legal custody and financial support, as Brittney’s estimated net worth is ~$5 million. 👀 pic.twitter.com/R45lt2Bmk3
— My Mixtapez (@mymixtapez) September 22, 2026
No final custody arrangement is described in the source, meaning those questions remain unresolved as the divorce moves forward.
The proceedings mark a dramatic change for a couple whose relationship previously attracted widespread attention during one of the most difficult periods of Griner’s life.
Cherelle Publicly Campaigned During Griner’s Russia Detention
In 2022, Cherelle became one of the most visible advocates for Griner while the basketball star was detained in Russia.
She appeared repeatedly on television and publicly pressed US officials to secure her wife’s release.
During one Good Morning America interview, Cherelle described Griner as a “political pawn.”
She also helped organise a campaign involving more than 1,100 Black female leaders calling for action from the Biden administration, according to the report.
Cherelle later met President Joe Biden at the White House as pressure mounted for Griner’s release.
Griner ultimately returned to the United States in December 2022 as part of a prisoner exchange.
Divorce Now Moves Into Financial and Custody Phase
Four years later, the couple’s relationship has reached a very different point.
With Griner having filed for divorce and Cherelle now responding through the courts, the case appears set to focus heavily on finances and parenting arrangements.
Cherelle is seeking support based on what she describes as a major income imbalance, while also requesting joint legal custody of their son.
For now, neither the requested financial support nor the final custody structure has been decided in the material provided.
What is clear is that the split has moved beyond the initial divorce filing and into a more detailed legal battle over how the former couple’s finances and family responsibilities will be handled going forward.
