Brittney Griner
A basketball colossus who reshaped the women's game with her dominant shot-blocking and became a global symbol of resilience after wrongful imprisonment.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American basketball player·Birthday: October 18·Millennials
Biography
Brittney Griner's impact on basketball was seismic from the moment she stepped onto the court at Baylor University, where she led the team to an undefeated national championship. In the WNBA, her 6'9" frame and unprecedented wingspan made her the league's most feared defensive force, shattering records for blocked shots. She leveraged her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and social justice. In 2022, her life took a harrowing turn when she was detained in Russia on cannabis charges, a 10-month ordeal that galvanized international diplomacy for her release. Returning to the court, Griner transcended sport, embodying a story of survival, the cost of global athlete mobility, and an unbreakable will to play the game she loves.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Brittney was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brittney Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Brittney's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two NCAA national championships with Baylor University, including a perfect 40–0 season in 2012.
- Holds the WNBA single-season and career records for blocked shots.
- Has won three Olympic gold medals with the USA women's basketball team (2016, 2020, 2024).
- Named to the Time 100 list of the world's most influential people in 2023 for her advocacy and story of resilience.
Did You Know?
She is one of only a handful of women to dunk in an NCAA basketball game, and she did it twice in one game.
She wears a men's size 17 shoe.
She played professional volleyball in college before focusing solely on basketball.
She has multiple tattoos, including one of a shark, which is her Baylor team nickname.
“It feels so good to be back. I'm here, I'm happy, I'm playing again.”
