The WNBA's Brittney Griner has been one of the most dominant players on the court for the Phoenix Mercury over the last two seasons, and she made a lot of waves announcing she was gay when joining the league.
Now Griner and her girlfirend and fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson have announced their engagement, in a reminder that the world of sports has always been a catalyst for social change.
Griner, a star player for the Phoenix Mercury, wrote on the post: “Last Night was a Night to Remember I became the happiest person on this earth! (almost pass out but when that one word came out I came back to life) Me and my baby @missvol25 are in it for Life!”
Johnson, who plays for the Tulsa Shock, later posted a photo on her Instagram account showing Griner lying down with a ring resting on her shoulder.
Griner and Johnson haven't said publicly when or where they plan to get married. Arizona and Oklahoma have gay marriage bans that are being contested in court. Oklahoma's ban has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after anappeals court ruled in July it was unconstitutional.
The 6-foot-8 Griner announced she was gay in April 2013, shortly after finishing a stellar career at Baylor. At the time of her announcement, Griner told Sports Illustrated that going public with her sexuality was something she had to do.
Something tells me Griner and Johnson aren't going to have to wait long to have their marriage in either Arizona or Oklahoma as the Supreme Court will almost certainly take up the issue this fall, with a prospective ruling next June at the latest.
Congratulations are of course in order.