Controversial WNBA star Brittney Griner is no stranger to controversies. Prior to her arrest in Russia earlier this year, she has been the center of many controversies.

For instance, her stance on the National Anthem garnered a lot of hate towards the Phoenix Mercury star. Moreover, her sexuality has also been highly debated and scrutinized worldwide.

However, this has never stifled Griner’s pride toward her sexual orientation. When she made her much anticipated debut in the WNBA all the way back in 2013, Brittney made it known to the world that she wasn’t going to hide her sexuality.

She followed the footsteps of many other famous female athletes who had come out openly. Soccer star Megan Rapinoe and tennis legend Martina Navratilova most famously revealed their sexuality publicly. While Rapinoe came out in 2012, Martina came out all the way back in 1981.

Much like her predecessors, Griner faced a lot of backlash after her bold move. After finishing her time at Baylor University, Griner made her highly anticipated debut in the WNBA.

She came out publicly in 2013 and received both hate and support from around the world. When asked whether it was a tough decision to take, considering her stature, Griner had a straightforward answer.

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“It really wasn’t too difficult. I wouldn’t say I was hiding or anything like that. I’ve always been open about who I am and my sexuality“, said the former All-Star.

Brittney Griner followed the footsteps of Rapinoe and Navratilova

Megan Rapinoe is widely considered one of the greatest soccer stars to play for the United States of America. While she prepared to represent her country in the 2012 London Olympics, she made one of the most important decisions in her life. Rapinoe came out and revealed publicly that she was dating someone. During an interview, Megan said, “For the record: I am gay.“

On the other hand, tennis legend Martina Navratilova came out in front of millions while she was just 18. This happened all the way back in 1981, and she was one of the biggest names in sports during that time. This is widely regarded as one of the most iconic moments in tennis and beyond.

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