Brittney Griner enters diversion program after assault arrest

Phoenix Mercury All-Star center Brittney Griner enters diversion program after assault arrest last week

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner entered a diversion agreement after being arrested on suspicion of assault following a fight last week with her fiancee, Tulsa Shock forward Glory Johnson, reports the Associated Press. 

According to an agreement with the Goodyear (Arizona) Municipal Court, Griner will plead guilty to disorderly conduct and be required to attend 26 weeks of domestic violence counseling. 

Griner’s charges will be dismissed upon completion of counseling. Griner’s attorney says that she voluntarily began counseling after her arrest. 

“It is never OK for an argument to turn physical. This will never happen again, and I take my relationship and my responsibility as a role model seriously,” Griner said in a statement. “I am committed to making positive changes and I plan to use what I have learned to set a good example and help make a difference in the world around me.”

Griner, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2013 WNBA draft, and Johnson were arrested last week after police were called to their residence in response to a fight between between her and Johnson. Griner told authorities the two had been dealing with the stress of recently buying a house together and planning their upcoming wedding. 

Griner averaged 15.6 points, eight rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game last season and was named the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-WNBA honors.

- Scooby Axson