Cherelle Griner is the wife of Brittney Griner, the WNBA star. Real Name Cherelle Watson, Cherelle (born July 1, 1992, Age: 31 years old) is an American Mathematics teacher, entrepreneur, public speaker, and attorney. 

When news broke about the arrest of Women’s National Basketball Association (WMBA) star Brittney Griner, several people under President Joe Biden’s administration worked hard to see to her release. In the end, the basketball player did not just get her freedom back, but her wife, Cherelle Griner, has become widely known for her selfless sacrifices and the fight she put into seeing that Brittney comes back home. Who is Brittney Griner’s wife, and what role did she play in her release from a Russian prison? Find the answers as you read on.

How Old is Cherelle Griner?

Cherelle Griner is currently 31 years old, as she was born on July 1, 1992. The celebrity spouse was born to African-American parents in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. Of African-American ancestry, Cherelle was named Cherelle Watson at birth but adopted her wife’s last name after their wedding in 2019.

She grew up in Arkansas and completed her high education at a local private school. After her high school graduation, Cherelle joined Baylor University, majoring in Political Science and Government with a minor in Family and Child Studies. She graduated from the university with a Bachelor of Applied Science, BASc.

Afterward, she went back to college, North Carolina Central University School of Law to study to pursue a passion she had for the law since childhood.

Cherelle Griner’s Parents

Cherelle Griner’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Watson, and they are of African-American origins. Sadly, beyond their surnames and ethnicity, not many details exist about the couple in the public domain. There is, however, no doubt that they provided a loving home for their daughter to grow up and encouraged her to pursue her dreams in life.

Cherelle Griner’s parents must have also been a tour of support to her all throughout 2022 when she battled to make sure that her wife was freed from Russian detention.

What Does Brittney Griner’s Wife Do For a Living?

Cherelle Griner is an attorney as well as an educator. Her celebrity status as the wife of a popular WNBA player has also availed her the opportunity to become a social media influencer. She has over 120k followers on Instagram, where she posts regularly. She is also an entrepreneur, but her exact field of endeavor as an entrepreneur is yet to be made public.

Cherelle’s spouse, Brittney Yevette Griner, is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. From high school, Brittney joined the Baylor Lady Bears at Baylor University where she played her collegiate basketball. She became the only NCAA basketball player to score 2,000 points and block 500 shots. A three-time All-American, Brittney was named the AP Player of the Year and the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. She also helped Baylor to win the National Championship.

Standing 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) tall, Brittney is one of the most decorated basketball players in the WNBA today. Brittney Griner has won two Olympic gold medals, leading the United States women’s national basketball team to victory at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan in 2021, respectively.

How Did Cherelle Griner and Brittney Griner Meet?

Cherelle Griner and Brittney Griner’s relationship began in college when they were both students at Baylor University. Britney was a year ahead of Cherelle in college, as she was there from 2009 to 2013, while Cherelle joined in 2010.

Though they met in college, Brittney and Cherelle were just friends for a few years before the romance erupted between them. During the time they were not lovers, nothing is known about Cherelle’s love life, but Brittney’s tumultuous relationship and marriage with fellow WNBA star Glory Johnson made headlines a lot for the wrong reasons. The former couple was once arrested for fighting each other and ended up divorced after just a year of getting married.

When Was Cherelle Griner’s Wedding?

Cherelle Griner’s wedding was in June 2019. After ending her tumultuous marriage and relationship with Glory Johnson in 2016, Brittney began a romantic relationship with Cherelle. They dated for a while before getting engaged in August 2018. The engagement lasted almost a year before they got married in June 2019. After the wedding ceremony, Cherelle officially changed her last name from Watson to Griner.

The couple has no children together, but Britney’s first marriage produced twin girls born on October 12, 2015. The babies were conceived through IVF using Glory’s eggs and a sperm donor. Johnson gave birth to the twins 16 weeks prematurely, and after the divorce, Brittney was ordered by the court to pay child support to Johnson.

Was Cherelle Griner Married Before?

There is nothing that shows that Cherelle Griner was married before her marriage to Brittney Griner. From all indications, she has never been married, and her present union is her first one.

This is in stark contrast to her spouse, Brittney Griner, who was previously married to Glory Johnson, a fellow basketball star. That marriage ended in divorce after a tumultuous run and this made it possible for Brittney and Cherelle to now begin a relationship and eventually get married.

Cherelle Griner Advocated for Brittney’s Release from Detention in Russia 

Their separation was not because of any strain on their relationship but because Brittney Griner was actually arrested, tried, and jailed in Russia for a wrongful cause. The athlete was on her way to Russia when she was arrested on February 17, 2022, and detained on smuggling charges at Sheremetyevo International Airport. This follows the discovery of vaporizer cartridges that contain a minute amount of hash oil in her luggage by the Federal Customs Service in Russia.

While Brittney was using medicinal cannabis as a prescribed medication in Arizona, it is illegal in Russia, and for this reason, she was arrested. Brittney was found guilty and sentenced to 9 years in prison. However, after 294 days in a Russian Prison and a prisoner swap agreement between Russia and the United States, she was released on December 8, 2022. Russia exchanged her with “The Merchant of Death” arms dealer Viktor Bout.

During the time her wife was in prison, Cherelle didn’t rest until she saw the desired results that led to the intervention of the United States government. Cherelle first spoke to the popular Good Morning America audience, where she called on authorities to work harder to see that Brittney comes back home.

Her wishes have now been granted, and she was in the Oval Office with the president of the United States and his vice to receive a call from Britney upon her release on December 8, 2022.

In her speech at the White House, Cherelle thanked President Biden and his team, who worked really hard to see that Britney was released.

“So over the last nine months, you all have been so privy to one of the darkest moments of my life, and so today I am just standing here overwhelmed with emotions, but the most important emotion I have right now is just sincere gratitude for President Biden and his entire administration,” she said.

She also prayed that the other families who are going through a similar scenario in their lives would find help soon and be reunited with their loved ones.

FAQs

Who is Brittney Griner’s Wife, Cherelle Watson?

Brittney Griner’s Wife, Cherelle Watson, is a lawyer, educator, public speaker, and youth advocate. The couple got married in June 2019 after dating for a few years.

What is Cherelle Griner’s Age?

Cherelle Griner’s age is 31 years in 2024. She was born on the 1st of July 2007 and grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas.

What is Cherelle Griner’s Height?

Cherelle Griner’s height is 5 feet 8 inches or 173 cm tall. She is a foot and one inch shorter than her wife, Brittney Griner, who is 6 feet 9 inches or 206 cm tall.

What is Cherelle Griner’s Net Worth?

Cherelle Griner’s net worth is $1 million, and her sources of income include salaries, public speaking fees, investments, etc.

What is Cherelle Griner’s Occupation?

Brittney Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, is a lawyer, public speaker, educator, and youth advocate.