Brittney Griner, a standout WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has often faced public scrutiny not just for her basketball talent but also for her appearance and deep voice. This has led to recurring online rumors and conspiracy theories questioning her gender. Claims such as “Was Brittney Griner born a boy?” have circulated for years, especially on social media, often resurfacing during major sports events involving Team USA. However, there is no factual basis for these claims.
Griner was born on October 18, 1990, in Houston, Texas, and has always been legally and biologically identified as female. She attended Nimitz High School and later Baylor University, where she became one of the most dominant players in women’s college basketball history. She was the number one overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft and has played for the Phoenix Mercury ever since. Throughout her career, she has broken barriers, not only in athletics but also in representation, coming out publicly as gay in 2013 and becoming an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
Criticism and false claims about her gender stem from stereotypical and discriminatory attitudes about how women are “supposed” to look or sound. Griner is 6 feet 9 inches tall, has a muscular build, and speaks with a naturally deep voice—traits that deviate from conventional feminine norms and have made her the subject of baseless accusations. These rumors are not just wrong; they are rooted in transphobia and sexism, aiming to delegitimize her identity and accomplishments.
Fact-checking organizations including PolitiFact and Snopes have investigated viral posts and memes suggesting Griner was “born male” or is “biologically a man.” All of these claims have been conclusively debunked. There is no public record, medical evidence, or credible source that supports the notion that Griner is transgender or was assigned male at birth. These stories often emerge from dubious websites or social media accounts with a history of spreading misinformation.
The controversy intensified again after Griner’s return to the United States in late 2022, following her high-profile detainment in Russia. Upon her return, some critics used the attention to reignite old rumors, casting doubt on her gender as a means to undermine her or politicize her case. But this distraction misses the point: Griner is an American athlete who has represented her country at the highest level and continues to inspire countless people through her perseverance and advocacy.
In truth, the only turmoil in USA Basketball comes not from Brittney Griner’s gender, but from a broader cultural struggle over identity, inclusivity, and respect. Griner’s presence on Team USA is not controversial among her teammates or coaches, who judge her by her dedication, work ethic, and talent—not internet rumors. As such, the continued obsession with her gender says far more about the people spreading these stories than it does about Griner herself.
In short: Brittney Griner was not born a boy. She is a woman, an athlete, a leader—and a champion, in every sense of the word.
