Brittney Griner Raises Eyebrows After Implying Her Newborn Son Will Call Her 'Pops' Not 'Mom'

Brittney Griner, who recently welcomed her first child with her wife, Cherelle Griner, has raised eyebrows over how she wants to be referred to by her kid.

While her wanting to be called "pops" has caused some confusion among fans, Griner has always maintained her identity as a biological woman.

Brittney Griner is currently preparing for her third Olympics after being released from a Russian prison in a high-profile prisoner swap.

In an appearance on CBS Sports' "We Need to Talk," Griner got very excited while speaking about her newborn son, noting that she wants the child to call her "pops" instead of "mom."

Show host Terrika Foster-Brasby brought up the baby news as she exclaimed, "You're about to be a mom!" However, Grinner quickly corrected her, saying, "Pops! Pops!"

During the interview, the WNBA star also confirmed that she had already welcomed her son, Bash, with her wife, Cherelle, on July 8, 2024.

"I'm super excited," she said. "Well, I mean, I guess I'll just drop it... he's here. 7/8/24. Seven pounds eight ounces. Yeah, that's my man!"

"He is amazing," Griner added about her newborn child, Bash.

She reflected on the profound impact of becoming a parent, adding, "They said as soon as you see them, everything that you thought mattered just goes out the window. That's literally what happened."

As the basketball star prepares to travel to Paris for her third Olympic appearance with Team USA, she reflects on the challenge of leaving her newborn.

"It kind of sucks because I have to leave, but at the same time, he will understand," Griner said, per People magazine, adding, "My whole phone has turned into him now."

Griner's choice to have her son call her "pops" has sparked some confusion among basketball fans.

One person questioned, "If she prefers 'pops,' why is she in a women's league?" while another asked online, "Are men allowed in the WNBA now?"

A third person noted, "My mom always said, 'If you don't have nothing nice to say, then don't say nothing at all...'"

Another individual wrote on X, "Pops??? Brittney is straight trippin'. Pops is for MEN! You're a WOMAN! Cut it out!"

Amid criticisms about her choice to be called "pops," it is worth noting that Griner has always affirmed her identity as a biological woman.

In a 2015 ESPN interview, she addressed past criticisms she has faced about her body image and gender identity.

"I'm sure people are going to have a lot of critical things to say," Griner said in reference to the images of her body featured in the magazine.

"'Yo, she's a man!' But hey, that's my body and I look the way I look," she continued. "People are either going to accept me for who I am or they're not. I don't know what people think I'm hiding."

Griner added: "I've heard, 'Oh, she's not a female, she's a male.' I've been told, 'Oh, she's tucking stuff.' They thought I was tucking. I mean, [in the Body Issue] it's out there. Let me show that I embrace flatness! I just want people to see somebody who embraces being naked, embraces everything about them being different."

Griner also shared her experiences of being mistaken for a boy growing up and even being challenged when using women's restrooms.

"I got called a boy all the time," she recounted. "Going into the bathroom, I still get the shocked look, like, 'Are you supposed to be in here?' But I'm so used to it now, I'm just like, 'I'm a girl, I'm in the right bathroom.'"

She recalled a particularly striking encounter in China in which a woman was so shocked by Griner's presence in the women's restroom that she tried to push her out.

"I just laughed," Griner said about the incident, per the Daily Mail.

The basketballer expressed discomfort with labels, noting that she feels a blend of both feminine and masculine traits but was made to choose one as a child.

Griner and Cherelle got engaged in 2018, but four years later, the WNBA star was arrested at a Moscow airport for allegedly carrying vape cartridges with cannabis oil.

Initially detained near Moscow, the 33-year-old was later transferred to a penal colony in Mordovia to serve a nine-year sentence for drug charges.

In December 2022, after ten months in detention, the WNBA star was released in a prisoner swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout. Recently, Griner re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury in preparation for the Paris Olympics.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Griner shared that donning her No. 15 USA jersey gives her chills.

"It means everything to me, honestly," she said. "For me to now have the honor to wear it again and potentially win gold is icing on the cake for everything."