A recently circulated video of WNBA star Brittney Griner speaking courtside has reignited familiar speculation about her identity, triggering a wave of reactions across social media. While many online appeared stunned by the baritone depth of her voice, this is far from the first time such reactions have erupted, and the debate around Griner’s voice, body, and gender identity is one she has faced, addressed, and debunked for more than a decade.
In fact, both Griner and reputable media outlets have repeatedly clarified the realities of her identity and physiology, even as new viral moments bring the same tired questions back to the surface.
The new video
The clip that set things off appears to show Griner either during a post-practice moment or an informal interaction on the court, speaking naturally in her characteristic deep voice. Though Griner has shared countless videos on her own Instagram and public appearances where her voice is heard, including team workouts, family moments, and press conferences, this candid footage was seemingly more raw, less filtered, and carried a spontaneous quality that caught some viewers off guard.
This wasn’t the first time. As far back as 2023, similar clips from All-Star press events had gone viral for the same reason. In each case, users unfamiliar with Griner’s presence or voice reacted as though it were breaking news.
The pool clip: Shirtless and shooting hoops in the water
Shortly after the court video, an older but widely re-circulated video resurfaced, this one showing Griner in a swimming pool, shirtless, casually playing water basketball. The footage shows her joking with others, dribbling and dunking a floating ball into a poolside hoop, seemingly unaware or unconcerned about being filmed.
This pool video added more fuel to the fire. Critics online and in private messaging groups (including Reddit forums) pointed to her bare upper body and flat chest, questioning why she was not wearing a bikini or swim top, suggesting that her appearance didn’t conform to conventional expectations of femininity.
But for longtime followers of Griner’s public life, this was not new either. She has never hidden her lean, flat-chested physique and has appeared topless before in professional photoshoots, including ESPN’s “Body Issue,” where she posed confidently, emphasizing athleticism over sexualization. Her appearance, consistent with her body type and identity, has been visible for years.
Familiar scrutiny, familiar myths
The wave of speculation that followed these clips, from memes to conspiracies questioning whether Griner is "actually a man" is not new. It echoes older conspiracy theories that circulated during her 2022 detention in Russia, and even before that, during her college years at Baylor University. In each case, the arguments are largely rooted in societal discomfort with women who deviate from traditional gender norms, whether in height, voice, or physique.
These myths have been widely debunked by multiple sources. In 2022, PolitiFact , Snopes, and USA Today Fact Check all investigated claims that Griner is biologically male. Each concluded unequivocally that Griner is a biological female with no evidence supporting the contrary. Her birth certificate, public medical records, and statements from family members and medical professionals all confirm this.
Furthermore, in a 2015 ESPN feature, Griner herself spoke directly about her voice and physical appearance:
“My voice has always been deep. I hated the way I sounded.”
— Brittney Griner to ESPN, 2015
In the same interview, she described being bullied in school for having a flat chest, being tall, and sounding "like a boy."
Medical and physical context
Medical professionals have offered basic physiological explanations for Griner’s features, without implying anything out of the ordinary. According to an analysis published in 2023 by UltraBB Medical Review, Griner's deep voice is consistent with her body structure: standing at 6'9", her vocal cords and thoracic cavity are significantly larger than average for women. These biological factors naturally influence pitch and resonance.
There’s no credible medical or scientific evidence suggesting Griner’s body is anything other than naturally female.
Her voice, her story: Griner’s own words
Griner’s willingness to speak about her body image and personal struggles has been a constant throughout her career. In her 2024 memoir, Coming Home, she describes being mocked as a teenager for not developing breasts like other girls, for dressing in loose clothes, and for “sounding like a grown man.”
She also addressed her voice again in an exclusive interview with Good Morning America in 2025, stating:
“The way people talk about my voice… it’s like a punch in the gut every time. It makes a part of me die every day.”
— Brittney Griner to ABC News, 2025
Griner explained that she had once considered vocal coaching to "soften" her voice but ultimately rejected the idea:
“That’s my body. I look the way I look. I sound the way I sound. And I’m done apologizing for that.”
— Coming Home, 2024
A life lived under a microscope
The public scrutiny intensified in 2022, when Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport for carrying cannabis vape cartridges. She was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony. She served nearly 10 months in Russian detention before being released in a high-profile prisoner swap." As documented in Coming Home and confirmed by NPR, The New York Times, and ABC News, she endured harsh conditions and, for a short period, was held in a male facility due to a paperwork error.
She was released in December 2022 as part of a prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, a move that drew both praise and political backlash.
Griner returned home to an outpouring of support from figures like Billie Jean King and Megan Rapinoe . In her own words, she emerged from the experience “changed, but stronger.”
Motherhood, basketball, and moving forward
In July 2024, Brittney and her wife, Cherelle Griner , welcomed their first child, a son named Bash, via IVF and surrogacy. Griner’s Instagram includes several clips showing her bonding with Bash, including one where she reads to him aloud — her deep voice now a source of comfort and love.
Her voice, once a source of pain, is now part of her power. She even dedicated her third Olympic gold medal, won with Team USA at the Paris 2024 Games, to her son.
Griner is currently playing with the Atlanta Dream after leaving the Phoenix Mercury , embracing a new chapter both personally and professionally.
In fact, both Griner and reputable media outlets have repeatedly clarified the realities of her identity and physiology, even as new viral moments bring the same tired questions back to the surface.
The new video
The clip that set things off appears to show Griner either during a post-practice moment or an informal interaction on the court, speaking naturally in her characteristic deep voice. Though Griner has shared countless videos on her own Instagram and public appearances where her voice is heard, including team workouts, family moments, and press conferences, this candid footage was seemingly more raw, less filtered, and carried a spontaneous quality that caught some viewers off guard.
This wasn’t the first time. As far back as 2023, similar clips from All-Star press events had gone viral for the same reason. In each case, users unfamiliar with Griner’s presence or voice reacted as though it were breaking news.
The pool clip: Shirtless and shooting hoops in the water
Shortly after the court video, an older but widely re-circulated video resurfaced, this one showing Griner in a swimming pool, shirtless, casually playing water basketball. The footage shows her joking with others, dribbling and dunking a floating ball into a poolside hoop, seemingly unaware or unconcerned about being filmed.
This pool video added more fuel to the fire. Critics online and in private messaging groups (including Reddit forums) pointed to her bare upper body and flat chest, questioning why she was not wearing a bikini or swim top, suggesting that her appearance didn’t conform to conventional expectations of femininity.
But for longtime followers of Griner’s public life, this was not new either. She has never hidden her lean, flat-chested physique and has appeared topless before in professional photoshoots, including ESPN’s “Body Issue,” where she posed confidently, emphasizing athleticism over sexualization. Her appearance, consistent with her body type and identity, has been visible for years.
Familiar scrutiny, familiar myths
The wave of speculation that followed these clips, from memes to conspiracies questioning whether Griner is "actually a man" is not new. It echoes older conspiracy theories that circulated during her 2022 detention in Russia, and even before that, during her college years at Baylor University. In each case, the arguments are largely rooted in societal discomfort with women who deviate from traditional gender norms, whether in height, voice, or physique.
These myths have been widely debunked by multiple sources. In 2022, PolitiFact , Snopes, and USA Today Fact Check all investigated claims that Griner is biologically male. Each concluded unequivocally that Griner is a biological female with no evidence supporting the contrary. Her birth certificate, public medical records, and statements from family members and medical professionals all confirm this.
Furthermore, in a 2015 ESPN feature, Griner herself spoke directly about her voice and physical appearance:
“My voice has always been deep. I hated the way I sounded.”
— Brittney Griner to ESPN, 2015
In the same interview, she described being bullied in school for having a flat chest, being tall, and sounding "like a boy."
Medical and physical context
Medical professionals have offered basic physiological explanations for Griner’s features, without implying anything out of the ordinary. According to an analysis published in 2023 by UltraBB Medical Review, Griner's deep voice is consistent with her body structure: standing at 6'9", her vocal cords and thoracic cavity are significantly larger than average for women. These biological factors naturally influence pitch and resonance.
There’s no credible medical or scientific evidence suggesting Griner’s body is anything other than naturally female.
Her voice, her story: Griner’s own words
Griner’s willingness to speak about her body image and personal struggles has been a constant throughout her career. In her 2024 memoir, Coming Home, she describes being mocked as a teenager for not developing breasts like other girls, for dressing in loose clothes, and for “sounding like a grown man.”
She also addressed her voice again in an exclusive interview with Good Morning America in 2025, stating:
“The way people talk about my voice… it’s like a punch in the gut every time. It makes a part of me die every day.”
— Brittney Griner to ABC News, 2025
Griner explained that she had once considered vocal coaching to "soften" her voice but ultimately rejected the idea:
“That’s my body. I look the way I look. I sound the way I sound. And I’m done apologizing for that.”
— Coming Home, 2024
A life lived under a microscope
The public scrutiny intensified in 2022, when Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport for carrying cannabis vape cartridges. She was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony. She served nearly 10 months in Russian detention before being released in a high-profile prisoner swap." As documented in Coming Home and confirmed by NPR, The New York Times, and ABC News, she endured harsh conditions and, for a short period, was held in a male facility due to a paperwork error.
She was released in December 2022 as part of a prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, a move that drew both praise and political backlash.
Griner returned home to an outpouring of support from figures like Billie Jean King and Megan Rapinoe . In her own words, she emerged from the experience “changed, but stronger.”
Motherhood, basketball, and moving forward
In July 2024, Brittney and her wife, Cherelle Griner , welcomed their first child, a son named Bash, via IVF and surrogacy. Griner’s Instagram includes several clips showing her bonding with Bash, including one where she reads to him aloud — her deep voice now a source of comfort and love.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGw1TqgRDjO/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DGw1TqgRDjO/
Her voice, once a source of pain, is now part of her power. She even dedicated her third Olympic gold medal, won with Team USA at the Paris 2024 Games, to her son.
Griner is currently playing with the Atlanta Dream after leaving the Phoenix Mercury , embracing a new chapter both personally and professionally.
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