What Does Brittney Griner Get Paid? A Look At Her Earnings

Alexander Yost 25 Jul 2025

Many people are really curious about how much professional athletes earn, and that's totally fair. When it comes to someone as prominent as Brittney Griner, who has been a big name in basketball for quite a while, questions about her salary and overall wealth pop up a lot. Her journey, her earnings, and, you know, the very public events around her time in Russia have certainly caught everyone's attention, and so many folks want to understand the numbers behind her career.

It's almost like, figuring out what a top-tier WNBA player makes can offer a really interesting glimpse into the financial side of women's professional sports. This article will take a good, close look at Brittney Griner's earnings, giving you a detailed breakdown of her contracts and what she has brought home over the years. We'll explore her current deals, what she earned during some very difficult times, and even peek into her net worth.

We'll also discuss the broader picture of WNBA salaries and why players, like Brittney, might choose to play overseas to supplement their income. It's a pretty important conversation, as a matter of fact, that touches on pay differences in sports. So, let's get into all the specifics of Brittney Griner's pay.

About Brittney Griner
Brittney Griner: Personal Details and Career Highlights
Her Current Contract and Future Earnings
What She Earned During Detention
Why Play Overseas? The Pay Gap
Brittney Griner's Net Worth
Frequently Asked Questions

About Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner, a truly well-known figure in the WNBA, has been playing professional basketball for over ten years, and so she's really made her mark. Her skills on the court have earned her a lot of respect from fans and other athletes, too. Even with facing some tough challenges, like injuries and personal struggles, she has consistently shown her dedication to the sport.

She's been a part of some very important teams, including the Phoenix Mercury, and has recently been associated with the Atlanta Dream for her future contract. Her journey in basketball, you know, has been quite a story, and it's interesting to see how her career earnings have grown over time, even with all the ups and downs.

Brittney Griner: Personal Details and Career Highlights

Here's a quick look at some key facts about Brittney Griner, giving you a better picture of her professional life. This information, honestly, helps to set the stage for understanding her earnings.

Name	Brittney Griner
Profession	Professional Basketball Player (WNBA)
Primary Teams	Phoenix Mercury, Atlanta Dream (future)
WNBA Career Span	Over a decade
Detained in Russia	Yes, starting February, released later that year.
Estimated Net Worth (as of September 2024)	Around $5 million

Her Current Contract and Future Earnings

Let's talk about the money, which is why we're all here, right? Brittney Griner's contract details show a lot about how WNBA salaries are structured. Looking ahead to 2025, she has a deal that's pretty clear.

She signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Dream, which is worth $214,466. This particular deal is fully guaranteed, meaning she's set to receive every penny of that amount, regardless of what happens. Her average annual salary from this specific contract also comes out to $214,466, so it's a very straightforward arrangement.

In 2025, Griner will earn a base salary of $214,466. This amount also counts as her cap hit, which is the figure that impacts her team's salary cap space, and her dead cap value, too. It's a pretty clean financial snapshot for that year.

It's also worth noting that after this 2025 season, Brittney Griner will become a free agent in 2026. This means she'll have the opportunity to sign a new contract with any team she chooses, which could potentially lead to different earnings. We can get the complete breakdown of Brittney Griner's contract, including her base salary, guaranteed salary, signing bonus, roster bonus, and incentives, by looking at the specific terms, but for this deal, it seems quite simple.

Before this, she had a different arrangement. Brittney Griner signed a three-year contract worth $664,544 with the Phoenix Mercury. That deal, you know, included an annual average salary of $221,515. In 2022, for instance, Griner was set to earn a base salary of $227,900, which also carried a cap hit of $227,900. These figures really show how her earnings have varied over her long career.

What She Earned During Detention

A very important point that many people wonder about is what happened with her pay during her detainment in Russia. It's a rather sensitive topic, and it shows a certain level of commitment from her team.

During her time in detention, Brittney Griner was actually paid her full salary for the 2022 season. This amounted to almost $228,000. This detail is significant because it highlights how her team, the Phoenix Mercury, continued to support her financially during a very difficult and uncertain period. It's a pretty rare situation, as you might imagine, for an athlete to continue receiving their full pay while unable to play.

Why Play Overseas? The Pay Gap

One of the biggest questions that came up during the discussion about Brittney Griner's situation was why she was playing in Russia to begin with. The answer, as she herself explained, is pretty straightforward: it's about the money.

Brittney Griner openly stated, "The whole reason a lot of us go over is the pay gap." This really points to a larger issue in women's basketball. While the WNBA has certainly made strides, the reality is that the league makes far less money compared to its male counterpart, the NBA.

To give you some perspective, the average annual salary in the WNBA for the 2021 season was $120,648. That was actually up from $74,349 in 2019, so there's been some improvement. However, these figures are still considerably lower than what many male professional basketball players earn, which makes playing overseas a financially attractive option for WNBA stars.

Former ESPN host Jemele Hill, for example, cited Brittney Griner's detainment in Russia as a reason why the WNBA should increase player salaries. The head of the WNBA's players union also commented, saying, "The reality is, she's over there because of a gender issue ― pay inequity." This perspective, too, really underscores the economic pressures that lead WNBA players to seek higher pay abroad.

So, while Brittney Griner's net worth in 2024 is a testament to her successful career, the fact that she chose to play in Russia was primarily motivated by the income difference. Her earnings, in a way, highlight the ongoing debate about salary for female athletes. You can learn more about WNBA player salaries on their official site, for instance.

Brittney Griner's Net Worth

Beyond her annual salary, many people are curious about Brittney Griner's overall wealth, her net worth. As of September 2024, her estimated net worth is around $5 million. This wealth, you know, primarily comes from her very successful career as a professional basketball player.

Griner’s talent on the court has certainly earned her recognition and respect from fans and fellow athletes alike, contributing significantly to her financial standing. Her long career, spanning over a decade in the WNBA, has allowed her to accumulate this fortune from basketball. It's a pretty impressive sum for a WNBA player, reflecting her stature in the league.

Her net worth, frankly, also includes what she earned during her detention in Russia, as she was paid her full salary for that period. The article delves into the detailed analysis of Brittney Griner's earnings, showing how her salary and fortune have accumulated over the years.

It’s interesting to think about how her earnings might have changed or been impacted by her experiences, but looking at her net worth as of today, it's clear she has built a substantial financial foundation through her sport. Learn more about Brittney Griner's career journey on our site, and also check out this page for insights into WNBA player finances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Brittney Griner's net worth?

As of September 2024, Brittney Griner's estimated net worth is around $5 million. This wealth mostly comes from her successful career as a professional basketball player in the WNBA.

How much was Brittney Griner paid during her detention?

During her detention in Russia, Brittney Griner was paid her full salary for the 2022 WNBA season. This amount was almost $228,000, which is pretty significant given the circumstances.

Why did Brittney Griner play in Russia?

Brittney Griner explained that the main reason many WNBA players, including herself, choose to play overseas is because of the pay gap between the WNBA and other leagues, especially compared to men's basketball. The income opportunities abroad are simply much higher.

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What Does Brittney Griner Get Paid? A Look At Her Earnings

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