Brittney Griner is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Griner has been the face of the WNBA and has been the focus of many sports media outlets for her dominance on the court. She has been a league MVP, WNBA All-Star, and is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to her on-court accolades, Griner has also been a leader off the court and has used her platform to advocate for social justice issues.
In 2021, Griner made headlines when she was arrested and imprisoned in Russia for 10 weeks. This was an unexpected and unfortunate turn of events for Griner, but her net worth still increased while she was in Russian prison. Let’s take a look at how much Brittney Griner makes per year, and how she was able to increase her net worth while locked up in Russian prison.
What is Brittney Griner’s Net Worth?
Brittney Griner’s net worth is estimated to be around $5 million. This is due to her WNBA salary, endorsement deals, sponsorships, and investments. Griner’s career earnings are estimated to be around $4.4 million. A small portion of her career earnings come from her WNBA salary, which is estimated to be around $227,000 per year.
Griner was the first overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft and signed a four-year contract with the Phoenix Mercury. At the time, this was the largest contract in WNBA history. After the initial contract expired, Griner re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury in 2017. Today Griner is considered one of the highest-paid players in the WNBA, and cemented her legacy as one of the greatest players in the league’s history.
Did WNBA Pay Brittney Griner While She Was in Russian Prison?
Brittney Griner’s net worth increased while she was locked up in Russian prison, because the WNBA apparently did pay her. Griner was arrested in Russia in 2021, and spent over 200 days in prison. During that time the WNBA credited Griner with a year of service for the 2021 season. This means Griner’s contract with the Phoenix Mercury will be extended for one more year. In addition to the year of service, the WNBA also paid Griner her full salary of $227,000 while she was in prison. Essentially her net worth has increased by 6 figures despite being locked up for almost 1 year. This was done to ensure Griner would not suffer financially because of her imprisonment. This shows the WNBA’s commitment to its players and their well-being.
Is Brittney Griner Retiring from the WNBA?
Griner has not announced any plans to retire from the WNBA. She is expected to finish out her contract with Phoenix Mercury. After the contract expires, Griner could choose to re-sign with the Mercury, or explore other opportunities.
Griner has been a dominant player in the WNBA for over a decade and has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest players in the league’s history. She is also a leader off the court and is using her platform to advocate for social justice issues. With Griner’s impact both on and off the court, it is unlikely she will be retiring from the WNBA anytime soon.
