WNBA Star Brittney Griner Welcomes First Child with Wife Cherelle

WNBA Star Brittney Griner Welcomes First Child with Wife Cherelle https://ift.tt/RIcdK6a

The couple are now parents to a baby boy!

Paul Morigi/Getty Images Brittney Griner and Cherelle Griner

Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle Griner are parents!

On Friday, July 19, news broke that the WNBA star, 33, and her spouse welcomed their first child — a baby boy!

Speaking to CBS Sports ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the Phoenix Mercury player confirmed that the newest addition to their family arrived on July 8. 

Related: Brittney Griner Doesn't Want to Leave the U.S. 'Anytime Soon' — Unless It's for the Olympics (Exclusive)

"That's my man. He is amazing," Brittney said with a proud smile, the outlet reported. "They said as soon as you see them, everything that you thought mattered just goes out the window. That's literally what happened."

Cherelle Griner and Brittney Griner

The infant, whose name has not yet been publicly released, weighs 7 pounds, 8 ounces.

"It kind of sucks because I have to leave, but at the same time, he will understand," Brittney said. 

The basketball star is gearing up to head overseas to represent Team USA for the third time at the Olympics. 

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However, she’ll have plenty of photos available while she’s away in Paris.

"My whole phone has turned into him now," she continued.

Related: Brittney Griner and Cherelle Griner's Relationship Timeline

Brittney and Cherelle announced their pregnancy in April.

“Can’t believe we’re less than three months away from meeting our favorite human being,” the couple, who have been married since 2019, captioned a joint Instagram photo.

They added the hashtags “#BabyGrinerComingSoon” and “#July2024,” with a picture of their ultrasound photos.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will mark Brittney’s first time traveling out of the United States since she was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison for possession of cannabis oil. 

She was released on Dec. 8, 2022 after serving 10 months of her sentence.

Mike Coppola/Getty

Brittney Griner and Cherelle Griner attend The 2023 Met Gala

After being given a second chance at freedom, the six-time WNBA All-Star opened up about how she thought her Russian detention might end her marriage. 

“I might never see my parents again, and especially Pops [Griner’s father Ray] with his health issues,” Brittney wrote in her memoir, Coming Home. “My basketball career would be over. I’d be in my early forties and out of shape, would have to find a new way to provide for my wife. And Relle [Cherelle]. She assured me she’d wait, but ten years was ridiculous.” 

Related: Brittney Griner to Caitlin Clark: WNBA Is 'Different' with Players Trying to 'Feed Their Families' (Exclusive)

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE, the two-time Olympic gold medalist opened up about the many emotions she felt during her time in prison. 

“I went through so many emotions being locked up, and just thinking about nine years,” she told PEOPLE in May. “We planned on having kids, and doing all these amazing things together, and now I'm thinking, ‘Is that going to happen? How can I ask her to wait?’”

The pro athlete added that having her wife’s photo in her cell helped her get through the situation. 

“I’d lay there and look at her, talk to her as if she was sitting there. I’d reread her letters. [That love] got me through.”

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