Judge Rules Brittney Griner Won’t Pay Glory Johnson $20K Per Month Alimony For 28-Day Marriage

WNBA superstar Brittney Griner scored an important victory in a different kind of court today when she she found out she won’t have to pay alimony after a judge rejected Glory Johnson’s request for $20,000 per month in spousal support from her soon-to-be-ex-wife of 28 days.

Johnson had tried to present the case that because of her pregnancy with twins, she was unable to play basketball this season. Therefore, Griner should provide the alimony and legal fees in order to maintain the lifestyle to which Glory had become accustomed, including having Griner pay the monthly payment on her Mercedes Benz. A Maricopa County Judge had other ideas, denying Johnson’s request for any financial support and siding with Griner.

Brittney Griner’s attorney released the following statement in response to the judge’s decision.

“We are very pleased that the judge has ruled, after evaluating the credibility of the testimony, that a 28 day marriage does not entitle Glory Johnson to Brittney Griner’s money for purposes of alimony, Mercedes car payments or attorney’s fees.”

While this comes as a boost to Griner, it is expected that Johnson will attempt to receive child support from her estranged wife since the pregnancy occurred during the short marriage. Glory contends that it was Brittney who suggested the doctor implant two embryos, and Johnson claims that it was the high risk of carrying twins that impeded her ability to play for the WNBA this season and earn her own living.

The relationship between Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson has been one heck of a roller coaster ride over the course of the year they’ve been together. In April, both Griner and Johnson were arrested on domestic violence charges. Just three weeks later, Brittney and Glory continued with their wedding plans and seemingly were happily on the mend, especially when Johnson announced her pregnancy on Instagram less than a month later.

But a day after Glory’s pregnancy announcement, Brittney filed court documents for an annulment stating that she only married Glory under pressure and duress. An Arizona judge had denied Griner’s request for annulment just last week, much to Glory’s elation, forcing Brittney to move forward with divorce proceedings. The odds seemed stacked against Griner in avoiding spousal support, given Arizona’s community property state status.

While Griner and Johnson’s domestic issues continue to play out in family court next month, Brittney served her seven-game suspension from the WNBA for the domestic violence incident at the beginning of the season for the Phoenix Mercury and is apparently not letting her personal issues affect her play as Griner continues to dominate on the basketball court. With an average of 15 points per game and leading the WNBA with 4.4 blocked shots, Griner’s athletic success continues.

Whether or not Glory Johnson will return to her team next year is anyone’s guess after the delivery of her twins, who are due in February. Even if she does return, Johnson will have to serve her own seven-game suspension without pay, suggesting her money problems aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

[Image courtesy of Barry Gossage/Getty Images]