For years, Cherelle Griner was one of Brittney Griner’s most visible supporters, standing beside the WNBA star through some of the most difficult periods of her life. Now, as the pair heads towards separation and divorce, Cherelle is petitioning to gain a different kind of support, citing one important reason.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
According to a report from TMZ, Cherelle has filed court documentation in response to Griner’s divorce petition, where she pointed out that the center earns significantly more than her, leading to a “substantial disparity” in their income.
According to the report, she also added that she would be “unable to meet her reasonable financial needs on a monthly basis without continued support.”
Her request is notable considering the difference in their work and likely income. Griner currently plays for the Connecticut Sun and signed a one-year, $1.19 million deal in the offseason, while Cherelle is a law clerk based in Atlanta, working at Slaton Roebuck PLLC since 2023.
According to data from ZipRecruiter, the average income for a Law Clerk in Atlanta is about $51,600 annually.
Cherelle’s request comes just months after Griner filed for divorce on July 30. The Sun star wrote in her filing that she had separated from her partner a few days earlier, on July 24, and that their marriage was “irretrievably broken.” Initially, Griner had asked for joint legal custody of their son, Bash.
Similar to Brittney, Cherelle also wrote in her documentation that their marriage was “irretrievably broken with no hope for reconciliation,” and that she was also seeking joint custody of their son. She called on the court to rule on the physical custody and parenting time based on the kid’s best interests.
The divorce proceedings are still ongoing.
What makes their separation significant is that just a few months before Griner filed for divorce, the pair were seen together at the Sundance Film Festival premiere for the Brittney Griner Story, a documentary based on her experiences, in January.
Cherelle Stood by Brittney Griner Through Her Toughest Days
Brittney and Cherelle Griner met in the early 2010s while attending Baylor University together and reconnected after Griner’s divorce from her first spouse, Glory Johnson.
Since the pair got married in August 2018, they have been one of the most public couples in the WNBA. One major test the two faced was back in 2022, when Griner was arrested by Russian authorities and imprisoned for 10 months. Cherelle maintained her support for her spouse, and even made an appearance in the Oval Office as she campaigned for her release.
She publicly called for then-President Joe Biden to contribute to bringing Griner home, even meeting with them in September 2022 to discuss the matter in person. The arrest and the ensuing distance between them weighed on Cherelle, as she revealed to People following Griner’s release.
“It was almost as if somebody just punched you in the stomach and you inhaled,” Cherelle said at the time.
“You never get to breathe out. I was hopeless a lot of days. You try and stay grounded, but I’m human. Still, I would never completely give up hope on my wife’s life.”
Griner eventually made her way back to the US in December 2022 as part of a prisoner swap, and the two made several public appearances in the aftermath, including at the 2023 White House Correspondents Dinner, and the Met Gala a month later.
“It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn,” Griner wrote on Instagram in her first statement since her release.
“I dug deep to keep my faith, and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help.”
For a couple whose relationship had been synonymous with the public battle to reunite from an unfortunate situation, the latest court filing is the end of a chapter. What began as years of mutual support has now turned into a legal battle about their lives and finances.