Last Updated on September 13, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Brittney Griner has been one of the most dominant interior forces in WNBA history, combining extraordinary size, shot-blocking ability, and efficient scoring to reshape games on both ends of the floor. A multiple-time champion, Olympic gold medalist, and defensive anchor, Griner’s impact reaches far beyond her statistics, leaving a lasting legacy on the sport.

Here’s the detailed profile of Brittney Griner:

  • Full Name: Brittney Yevette Griner
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born October 18, 1990
  • Hometown: Houston, Texas, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
  • Weight: 205 lbs (93 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)
  • Shoe Size: 17 (US)
  • Number: #42
  • Position: Center
  • High School: Nimitz High School, Houston, Texas
  • College: Baylor University
  • WNBA Draft: Selected 1st overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury
  • Teams Played For:
    • Phoenix Mercury (2013–Present)
  • Championship Rings: 1× WNBA Champion (2014)
  • Kids: No known biological children (formerly married and had an agreement for IVF children, but no updates on parenting)
  • Siblings: Three older siblings: two sisters, Shkera and Pier, and one brother, Decarlo

Brittney Griner’s player archetype is a dominant interior center whose size and rim protection have shaped games on both ends of the floor throughout her career. Standing 6-foot-9 with exceptional length, she controls the paint by altering shots well beyond the blocks she records, forcing opponents to rethink drives into the lane. Around the basket, Griner scores with deep post position, quick hooks, powerful finishes, and an improving face-up game that punishes single coverage. She has long been one of the WNBA’s premier shot blockers, yet her offensive efficiency is just as central to her value, making her a foundational presence capable of anchoring a team’s identity whenever she is on the court.

Scouting Report

The first thing you notice about Brittney Griner isn’t just her size—it’s how calmly she uses it. Plenty of dominant interior players rush once they catch the ball on the block, but Griner is comfortable waiting for the defense to reveal its intentions before making her move. She establishes deep post seals early, catches high, and finishes with either hand without needing extra dribbles, making it difficult for help defenders to arrive in time. When double teams come, she’s more willing than people sometimes acknowledge to move the ball quickly to the perimeter rather than forcing a contested hook, and those reads are usually made before the second defender is fully committed. Defensively, that’s where games can change in a hurry. Griner doesn’t simply block shots because of her reach; she understands verticality, holds her ground in drop coverage, and forces ball handlers to reconsider shots they normally take without hesitation. It’s easy to overlook how many possessions end before a shot ever goes up because drivers see her waiting near the restricted area and kick the ball back out instead. The trade-off is that offenses built around constant five-out spacing and repeated screening actions can pull her farther from the basket than is ideal, asking her to defend laterally over longer distances instead of protecting the rim where she has the greatest influence. Even then, she generally relies on positioning rather than chasing plays she can’t win. To me, Griner fits best in defensive systems that funnel penetration toward the paint while surrounding her with perimeter defenders capable of navigating screens, allowing her to anchor the back line without unnecessary rotations. Offensively, she thrives alongside guards who can consistently deliver entry passes or force help through pick-and-roll actions, creating deep catches instead of difficult post-ups. There are similarities to Sylvia Fowles in the way she controls the paint through efficiency and interior defense, while parts of her offensive game evoke Tina Charles, although Griner’s impact is built more around rim deterrence and high-percentage finishing than face-up creation.