When you see a 6-foot-9 powerhouse dunking in the WNBA, it’s easy to assume she was born with a basketball in her hand. Honestly, that’s not the case with Brittney Griner. Most people don’t realize that Brittney Griner as a child was more interested in grease and gears than three-pointers and free throws.
She wasn't some child prodigy groomed for the pros from age five.
Actually, she was just a "daddy’s girl" in Houston, Texas, crawling under cars with her father, Raymond. While other kids were playing tag, young Brittney was getting covered in engine oil. Her dad was a Marine veteran and a Harris County Sheriff’s deputy, and he didn't raise her to be a "girly girl." He wanted her tough. He wanted her to know how to change a tire so she’d never be stranded.
It worked.
The "Glass Box" and the Houston Suburbs
Growing up in the rural suburbs of Houston—places like Humble and Dayton—wasn’t always easy. Brittney was the youngest of four. Her mom, Sandra, was a homemaker, and the house was a mix of strict discipline and Texan heat.
Raymond Griner was protective. Like, really protective. Brittney has described her childhood as living in a "glass box." Her dad knew how dangerous the world could be, so he kept her close. She spent a lot of time in the backyard, climbing trees and riding go-karts.
She once climbed a tree so high she fell flat on her back. Knocked the wind right out of her. Her mom came running, terrified, asking her what day it was. Brittney couldn't even speak. But after a few minutes of catching her breath and a glass of water, she went right back outside.
That grit was there early.
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The Growth Spurt Nobody Was Ready For
Height is the thing everyone talks about, but it wasn't always a superpower. In middle school, Brittney stood out for all the wrong reasons. She was always the tallest girl in class. By the time she hit ninth grade, she was already 6 feet tall.
Think about that.
A 14-year-old girl walking the halls at 6 feet. Kids can be mean, and they were. She dealt with relentless bullying. People would mock her height, her deep voice, and her androgynous style.
"I just remember feeling like a weirdo, feeling like an outcast," she once said about her junior high years.
It got so bad she used to write in journals and then burn the pages in the backyard because she was terrified her parents would find them. She kept it all bottled up. The world saw a tall, strong girl, but inside, she was struggling to find where she fit.
Volleyball Before Basketball?
Here’s a fun fact: Brittney didn't even play organized basketball until her freshman year of high school.
Wild, right?
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In middle school, she was all about volleyball and soccer. She loved spiking the ball. It wasn't until she got to Nimitz High School that the coaches basically begged her to try basketball. She was so raw at first. She didn't know what a "screen" was. She was lost on the court.
But then, something clicked.
During a volleyball practice, a school air conditioner worker (of all people) told her to try dunking the volleyball. She did it. The gym went nuts. That was the moment she realized her height wasn't just something to be mocked—it was a weapon. She quit volleyball and went all-in on hoops.
The Nimitz Transformation
By her sophomore year, Brittney wasn't just playing; she was dominating. She started practicing with the boys’ basketball team. She worked out with the football coaches to build leg strength.
Why? Because she wanted to dunk.
By the time she was a junior, a video of her dunking went viral on YouTube. This was 2007-2008—the early days of viral sports clips. It got over 2.7 million views. Shaquille O'Neal even saw it and wanted to meet her.
She went from being the "weird" tall girl to having the Mayor of Houston, Bill White, declare May 7, 2009, as Brittney Griner Day.
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Coming Out and the Family Rift
Basketball was her escape, but home life got complicated during her teen years. Brittney knew she was a lesbian, but her father’s strict, traditional background made coming out terrifying.
She finally told her family during her freshman year of high school.
It didn't go well at first. Her dad didn't accept it initially, even telling her he wasn't going to "raise a gay girl." For a while, she wasn't allowed to have friends over. It was a heartbreaking period for a kid who was already being bullied at school.
She ended up moving out to live with an assistant coach for a bit. It’s a part of her story that often gets glossed over by the sports highlights, but it shaped that "tough-as-nails" exterior she carries today. They eventually reconciled, but those years were a trial by fire.
Lessons from the Early Years
Looking back at Brittney Griner as a child, you see a clear pattern:
- Self-Reliance: Working on cars with her dad taught her she didn't need to depend on anyone.
- Resilience: The bullying she faced in middle school forced her to develop a thick skin, even if it took years to turn that pain into confidence.
- Adaptability: Switching sports late and learning to use her body in a new way shows how fast she could evolve when she found her passion.
If you’re looking to apply some of the "Griner Grit" to your own life or help a kid going through a tough time, here’s the takeaway.
Actionable Insights for Parents and Youth:
- Encourage unconventional hobbies. Brittney’s time under the car with her dad gave her a sense of capability that had nothing to do with her looks.
- Watch for "The Bottling Up." If a child is being bullied for being different, journaling is great—but they need a safe person to talk to so they don't feel the need to "burn the pages."
- Late starts are fine. You don't have to start a sport at age four to be world-class. Focus on the physical literacy (like Griner did with volleyball and soccer) and the skills will transfer when the right sport finds them.
Brittney Griner’s childhood proves that being an "outcast" is often just the prerequisite for being a legend. She wasn't born a star; she was built through Houston heat, engine oil, and the courage to finally be comfortable in her own skin.
Next Steps for Readers:
If you want to understand the full scope of her journey, read her memoir In My Skin. It details the specific middle school incidents that she kept hidden for years. You can also look up the original 2007 Nimitz High YouTube highlights to see just how much she changed the game before she even had a driver's license.