Basketball superstar Brittney Griner’s resilience through her detainment in Russia is well-documented, but a new bombshell is dropping! Her upcoming memoir, “Coming Home,” exposes the emotional turmoil the ordeal caused, including a heartbreaking fear: Brittney worried her wife Cherelle would leave her.
In an excerpt obtained by People, Griner admits she grappled with the idea of losing her wife, nicknamed “Relle,” due to the nine-year sentence. Facing a future stolen by imprisonment, Griner envisioned her basketball career over and the life they planned together vanishing.
“Would Relle wait ten years for me?” Griner questioned, highlighting the emotional toll of her situation. The thought of starting over at 40, after such a long absence, filled Brittney with despair. She even felt compelled to offer Cherelle a way out.
“‘I gave her an out,'” Griner writes, “but Relle shut it down immediately.” Thankfully, Cherelle’s unwavering love provided a beacon of hope during Brittney’s darkest moments.
Griner acknowledges her fear stemmed from witnessing breakups within the prison walls. Seeing women devastated by goodbyes solidified her anxieties. Thankfully, Cherelle’s unwavering love proved to be the rock Brittney needed. Cherelle became a vocal advocate, lobbying President Biden for Brittney’s release, which ultimately led to a successful prisoner swap in December 2022.
Brittney Griner’s story is one of courage and resilience, but also a powerful testament to the enduring strength of love. “Coming Home” promises an emotional journey, and we can’t wait to read the full story!
