In a gut-wrenching blow to one of basketball’s most resilient families, WNBA Star Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle are facing their toughest challenge yet: their 16-month-old son, Bash Raymond Griner, has been rushed to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with severe bronchiolitis.
The alarming news broke late last night, November 16, 2025, just as Griner, the 6’9″ Phoenix Mercury center and Olympic gold medalist, wrapped a grueling practice session ahead of the team’s playoff push. Sources close to the family confirmed Bash, born July 8, 2024, and affectionately nicknamed “Baby Bash,” spiked a high fever and began wheezing violently early Saturday morning. What started as a routine cold escalated into respiratory distress, with the toddler struggling to breathe and requiring high-flow oxygen support.
Bronchiolitis, often triggered by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), is a leading cause of PICU admissions for infants under 2, especially during peak flu season. For Bash, a vibrant 1-year-old already stealing hearts with his nursery giggles and first steps, the condition turned dire within hours—chest retractions, rapid gasps, and oxygen levels plummeting. Paramedics airlifted him to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where doctors intubated him and initiated antiviral treatments to combat the viral onslaught.
Griner, 35, who has openly shared her journey as “Pops” to Bash—embracing fatherhood after her 2022 Russian detainment ordeal—raced from the arena, postponing media duties. “He’s our light, our why,” she posted on Instagram from the hospital waiting room, a rare glimpse of vulnerability from the dunking dynamo with the league’s second-most blocks. Cherelle, a recent law school grad and steadfast partner since their 2019 wedding, has been by his side, holding vigil amid beeping monitors.
The Griner family’s story, once defined by triumphs—Brittney’s Paris Olympics glory, Cherelle’s HBCU Juris Doctorate—now hangs in precarious balance. Friends and fans flood social media with #PrayForBash, echoing the unity that freed Brittney from Siberian captivity. As the Mercury rally behind their anchor, all eyes turn to this tiny fighter. Recovery could span days to weeks, but if anyone knows resilience, it’s the Griners. Hold on, little Bash—your team’s got you.
