Executive Insights
- Sundance Premiere:’The Brittney Griner Story’ debuted at Sundance 2026, focusing on her resilience and return to normalcy.
- Identity as ‘Pops’: Griner embraces the parenting title ‘Pops’ for her son, Bash, challenging traditional motherhood norms.
- Family First: Bash Griner (born July 2024) is the central figure in Brittney’s life, motivating her WNBA career and personal healing.
- Cherelle’s Role: The documentary highlights Cherelle Griner not just as an advocate, but as the architect of their stable family life.
- Director Vision: Alexandria Stapleton’s film avoids purely trauma-based storytelling, opting to highlight Griner’s domestic victory.
Sundance 2026: The Premiere of ‘The Brittney Griner Story’
The atmosphere at the Eccles Theatre was electric as Griner, accompanied by her wife Cherelle, walked the red carpet. The documentary, which has been in production since shortly after her release in December 2022, offers an unflinching look at her 10-month detention in Russia. However, its third act delivers a powerful pivot: the reconstruction of a life interrupted.
Director Alexandria Stapleton utilized exclusive footage and personal journals to craft the narrative. “We didn’t want to just recount the trauma,” Stapleton told reporters. “We wanted to show the victory of her normalcy.” The film captures intimate moments of the Griners’ home life, juxtaposing the stark grey of a Russian cell with the vibrant hunter-green walls of their son Bash’s nursery.
Critical Reception
| Outlet | Review Snippet |
|---|---|
| TheWrap | “A necessary corrective to the headlines… showing Griner not as a pawn, but as a person reclaiming her agency.” |
| Variety | “The most striking footage isn’t the archival news clips, but the quiet moments of Griner holding her son.” |
| Sundance Jury | Official Selection: Premieres Category |
Exclusive: Life as ‘Pops’ to Bash Griner
Following the premiere, Brittney sat down for an exclusive interview with People magazine, offering the most detailed glimpse yet into her life as a parent. Her son, Bash Griner, born July 8, 2024, is now an energetic 19-month-old toddler who has completely reshaped the WNBA star’s priorities.
- The Name: Griner revealed she prefers the title “Pops“ over “Mom,” a moniker she playfully announced to teammates before Bash’s birth.
- The Routine: “Everything you thought mattered goes out the window,” Griner confessed. She described nights spent falling asleep in the plush chair of Bash’s nursery, a room meticulously designed with a “book wall” and skeleton-themed decor.
- Milestones: Now nearly two, Bash is already a fixture at Phoenix Mercury games, often seen playing with Hot Wheels cars courtside. “He’s my why,” Griner stated. “When I come home and see that smile, the noise of the world just shuts off.”
“I see why everybody says goodbye to sleep… but it’s so rewarding. My day is just good then.” — Brittney Griner on raising Bash
Cherelle Griner: The Architect of Resilience
The documentary and the subsequent interview highlight the pivotal role of Cherelle Griner. Having navigated the nightmare of Brittney’s detention, Cherelle has now orchestrated their transition into a quiet, private family life. The couple, who married in June 2019, have been deliberate about protecting Bash’s privacy while sharing glimpses of their joy to combat the lingering shadows of the past.
During the Sundance panel, Cherelle noted, “Love and family were at the center of the fight to get BG home. Now, they are the center of keeping her whole.”
LGBTQ+ Parenting and Visibility
The Griners’ presence at Sundance serves as a powerful statement on Black LGBTQ+ parenting. By sharing their journey from a geopolitical crisis to the mundane struggles of toddler tantrums and teething, they are normalizing queer joy in spaces where it is often politicized. Griner’s embracing of the “Pops” identity challenges traditional gender roles in parenting, offering a new model of motherhood for her fans.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 WNBA Season
With the documentary launch behind her, Griner returns to the court for the 2026 WNBA season with a renewed perspective. No longer playing just for legacy or country, she is playing for Bash. The Phoenix Mercury center remains a dominant force, but her post-game interviews now feature fewer questions about foreign policy and more about whether Bash let her sleep through the night.
In-Depth Q&A
Q: What is the name of Brittney Griner’s documentary?
The documentary is titled ‘The Brittney Griner Story’ and it premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. It was directed by Alexandria Stapleton and produced by ESPN Films.
Q: When was Brittney Griner’s son born?
Brittney and Cherelle Griner’s son, Bash, was born on July 8, 2024.
Q: What does Brittney Griner’s son call her?
Brittney Griner prefers the parenting title ‘Pops’ rather than ‘Mom’ for her son, Bash.
Q: Who directed the Brittney Griner documentary?
The documentary was directed by Alexandria Stapleton, who utilized exclusive footage and personal journals to tell Griner’s story.
Q: Where did the Brittney Griner documentary premiere?
The film had its world premiere in the ‘Premieres’ section of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
