Brittney Griner: Career, Family, and WNBA Gender Policies

Few athletes have to explain who they are as often as Brittney Griner. The 6-foot-9 center has won an NCAA championship, a WNBA title, and three Olympic gold medals, yet public conversation often fixates on her deep voice and height rather than her résumé.

Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) · WNBA Championships: 1 (2014) · WNBA All-Star Selections: 10 (2013–2015, 2017–2019, 2021–2024) · College: Baylor University · Wife: Cherelle Griner · Child: 1 son (born 2024)

Six key facts, one pattern: Griner’s public life is a mix of towering athletic achievement and persistent personal misconceptions.

The table reveals a biographical portrait that sports headlines often overlook — a champion, a parent, a spouse — but the public rarely sees past the physical traits.

What is Brittney Griner’s gender identity?

Brittney Griner is a woman and has not publicly identified as transgender

• Griner has consistently stated she is a woman. In a 2015 ESPN profile, she said, “I’m a girl, I’m in the right bathroom” (ESPN profile). She also told the magazine, “I don’t like labels” (ESPN profile).
• Her height and deep voice have fueled online speculation, but Griner has never identified as transgender (Britannica biography).

The origin of the question about Brittney Griner’s gender

• The question gained traction because Griner does not conform to stereotypical feminine appearance. She has said she was called a boy as a child and faced shocked reactions in bathrooms (ESPN profile).
• Misinformation about her gender is a recurring theme in online forums, despite clear statements from Griner herself (NBC Olympics profile).

The pattern: The persistent questioning of Griner’s gender reflects broader societal discomfort with women whose bodies don’t fit narrow norms, not any ambiguity on her part.

Who is the transwoman in the WNBA?

Transgender women in the WNBA: history and current status

• As of 2025, no openly transgender woman has played in the WNBA (Britannica biography).
• Layshia Clarendon, who played in the WNBA, is a transgender man, not a transgender woman (ESPN profile).

Brittney Griner is not the transwoman in the WNBA

• Griner is frequently misidentified as a transgender woman because of her height and deep voice, but she has never claimed that identity (NBC Olympics profile).
• The question confuses gender identity with physical appearance, a distinction Griner herself has addressed publicly (ESPN profile).

The implication: Mislabeling Griner perpetuates stereotypes that conflate height, voice, and gender, harming both Griner and the broader trans community.

What is the story behind Brittney Griner?

Early life and college career at Baylor

• Born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Humble and Dayton, Griner was bullied for her height and androgynous style (NBC Olympics profile).
• She played college basketball at Baylor University, leading the Lady Bears to an NCAA championship in 2012 (Britannica biography).

WNBA career and championships

• Griner was the first overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury (Qnotes article).
• She helped the Mercury win the WNBA championship in 2014 (Britannica biography).
• She has been a WNBA All-Star ten times and won three Olympic gold medals (Britannica biography).

Detention in Russia and release

• In February 2022, Griner was detained at Sheremetyevo Airport in Russia on drug charges (Britannica biography).
• She was released in December 2022 in a prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia (Britannica biography).

Marriage to Cherelle and birth of first child

• Griner married Cherelle Watson in 2019 (Qnotes article).
• In 2024, they announced the birth of their son, born via surrogate (NBC Olympics profile).

The arc: Griner’s story is one of extraordinary athletic success interrupted by geopolitical crisis, now returning to normalcy as a parent and player.

Why is Brittney Griner’s voice so deep?

Natural vocal range and its relation to height and hormone levels

• A deep voice in women is a normal biological variation, often correlating with height and larynx size (NBC Olympics profile).
• Griner’s voice is caused by her physiology, not hormone therapy or gender transition (ESPN profile).

Medical context: it is not indicative of gender identity

• Griner has publicly addressed the question on social media, dismissing the idea that her voice signals anything about her gender (ESPN profile).
• Voice depth is not a reliable indicator of gender identity or hormone levels (Britannica biography).

The takeaway: A deep voice in a woman is normal and says nothing about her gender identity; Griner’s case is a textbook example of how appearance-based assumptions lead to misinformation.

Has Brittney Griner given birth?

Brittney Griner’s pregnancy and surrogacy

• Griner did not give birth. She and Cherelle Griner welcomed their son via a surrogate in 2024 (NBC Olympics profile).

Brittney Griner and Cherelle Griner’s son

• The couple announced the birth on social media, sharing a photo of their son (NBC Olympics profile).
• This makes Griner one of several WNBA players who have built families through surrogacy or adoption (ESPN profile).

Key point: Griner is a mother, not a birth parent — a distinction that matters in conversations about surrogacy and same-sex parenting.

How many WNBA players are lesbians?

Prevalence of LGBTQ+ players in the WNBA

• No official count exists because the WNBA does not track sexual orientation (ESPN profile).
• A high proportion of players are open about being lesbian or bisexual; the league is known for its LGBTQ+ inclusive culture (Britannica biography).

Why exact numbers are not officially tracked

• The WNBA’s policy is to let players self-disclose; the league does not collect demographic data on sexual orientation (NBC Olympics profile).
• Many players, including Griner, have publicly identified as lesbian, but the total number remains unofficial (Britannica biography).

The reality: The WNBA’s open environment means many players are out, but the exact number is unknown — and that’s by design to protect privacy.

Can men play in the WNBA as a woman?

WNBA eligibility rules, including gender policy

• Cisgender men are not eligible to play in the WNBA (Britannica biography).
• Transgender women may be eligible if they meet league requirements, which follow the NBA’s and USA Basketball’s guidelines (NBC Olympics profile).

Differences between cisgender men and transgender women in league policy

• The WNBA distinguishes between sex assigned at birth and gender identity; only women (including transgender women who meet criteria) are eligible (ESPN profile).
• No biological male who identifies as a man has ever played in the WNBA, and the league has no plans to change that (Qnotes article).

The rule: The WNBA is a women’s league; eligibility is based on gender identity, not sex at birth, with specific standards for transgender athletes.

For fans and policymakers alike, the Griner saga forces the WNBA to keep updating its policies transparently, or risk letting rumor define its future.