Cherelle Griner, the wife of professional women’s basketball star Brittney Griner,
has expressed in recent Instagram posts that she is “hurting” and “pained” by the
situation. The two married in summer 2019, following Griner’s immediate divorce
from her cheating ex-wife, Glory Johnson. Brittany Yevette Griner was recently
convicted of drug charges in Russia, for smuggling a CBD vape pen. Griner was
medically prescribed CBD by a U.S doctor to treat pain, similar to other athletes.
Today marks a lengthy one-hundred-fifty days since Griner has been
internationally detained.
Being a WNBA wife presumably comes with a lot of sacrifices. Conferences,
meetings, practices and games force a lot of separation and individualism on a
couple. The intimacy being stripped from these two feminine energies can
traumatize a marriage. While it is not rare for inmates to have spouses, Griner’s
detainment in a foreign country exempt her from visitation. Cherelle has
expressed in recent interviews that she is “terrified” of her wife’s “hostage”
situation. The mental and emotional damage that the endure from Griner’s
detainment will be irreversible. Will they remain hopeful during this road block in
their marriage?
Brittney Griner has expressed her love for basketball since her Sophomore year
of high school, now dedicating her career to the game. In a recent interview with
her lawyer, Griner explains that touching a basketball is “too painful to think
about.” It seems as though her passion for the game slowly seizes as she is
losing hope of being released. Brittney also revealed to her wife in recent phone
calls that she feels as though her life “no longer matters.” As expected, Griner is
displaying signs of poor mental health conditions. Isolation is associated with
anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts.
It is not uncommon for professional athletes, especially women, to play overseas
due to the pay increase. If the NBA paid WNBA player’s as they did the NBA,
Brittney may have remained in the U.S to begin. Surrounding news agreeably
believe that if a professional men’s basketball player such as Lebron James or
Kyrie Irvin were detained internationally, more efforts would be made globally to
release them. It is not confirmed if the NBA has protested Griner’s wrongful
detainment. Despite Putin’s lack of urgency, President Biden’s continuous efforts
keep us hopeful for Brittney Griner’s release.