WNBA star Brittney Griner is quite used to finding means to save herself in tough situations. The Phoenix Mercury center had a tough upbringing while growing up around her strict father, who always wanted his daughter within sight. It was hard for Griner to have a normal life as a kid due to his father’s tendency to be tough on his children. However, BG was still daddy’s girl and a lot of credit for that went to her mother Sandra Griner, who always protected her.

Brittney Griner shared the struggles and challenges she faced while growing up in a strict environment at home in her 2014 memoir, ‘In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court.’ The eight-time WNBA star talked about her journey to discovering herself and her sexuality, surviving through criticism and finding herself on the basketball court to becoming a WNBA legend.

Brittney Griner grew up in a tough environment

Griner mentioned that she could not leave the house as a kid when her dad was out at work. BG had to stay in the yard where her mother could see her while watching the other kids ride on their bikes. Part of the reason Griner faced so many restrictions was due to her brother often getting in trouble.

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Further, Griner shared that her father was quite protective of her, leading to a lot of restrictions. The 32-year-old said, “My dad had a very strict upbringing, and that’s how he raised us, as if danger lurked around every corner.”

Therefore, Griner was not allowed to have sleepovers or slumber parties as her father did not allow it. BG reckoned that it was hard for her dad to make peace with the idea of her playing with other kids.

Mother? Sandra saved Griner from her father’s rules

Griner suggested in the book that her mother Sandra covered for her when she got older. The 2014 WNBA champ’s father often called to check up on her in the afternoon. However, Griner sometimes went down the block to hang out at the corner store.

So, to avoid her father’s ‘whooping, BG’s mother made excuses for her. She added, “I guess it was just easy to disappoint my mother than my father, because I was such a daddy’s girl, from the moment I could walk.”

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Griner continued to have a tough relationship with her father later on in her life. They had a tough time communicating when her father found out that she was gay. Fortunately, Brittney Griner’s father understood and reconciled with his daughter.