Glory Johnson

---

title: "Glory Johnson" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1990-births", "living-people", "montenegrin-women's-basketball-players", "21st-century-montenegrin-sportswomen", "american-women's-basketball-players", "american-emigrants-to-montenegro", "all-american-college-women's-basketball-players", "american-expatriate-basketball-people-in-china", "atlanta-dream-players", "basketball-players-from-colorado-springs,-colorado", "dallas-wings-players", "guangdong-vermilion-birds-players", "lgbtq-basketball-players", "lgbtq-people-from-colorado", "american-lesbian-sportswomen", "mcdonald's-high-school-all-americans", "parade-high-school-all-americans-(girls'-basketball)", "basketball-players-from-maricopa-county,-arizona", "power-forwards", "tennessee-lady-volunteers-basketball-players", "tulsa-shock-draft-picks", "tulsa-shock-players", "fisu-world-university-games-gold-medalists-for-the-united-states", "summer-world-university-games-medalists-in-basketball", "wnba-all-stars", "xinjiang-magic-deer-players", "medalists-at-the-2011-summer-universiade", "21st-century-african-american-sportswomen", "united-states-women's-national-basketball-team-players", "naturalised-basketball-players", "21st-century-american-sportswomen"] description: "American basketball player (born 1990)" topic_path: "science/astronomy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glory_Johnson" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American basketball player (born 1990) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox basketball biography"]

Field	Value
name	Glory Johnson
image	Glory Johnson Dallas Wings.jpg
caption	Johnson in 2019
image_size	250px
position	Power forward
height_ft	6
weight_lbs	170
birth_date
birth_place	Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
high_school	Webb School (Knoxville, Tennessee)
college	Tennessee (2008–2012)
draft_league	WNBA
draft_year	2012
draft_round	1
draft_pick	4
draft_team	Tulsa Shock
career_start	2012
years1	–
team1	Tulsa Shock / Dallas Wings
years2	2012–2013
team2	Chevakata Vologda
years3	2013–2015
team3	Nadezhda Orenburg
years4	2016–2017
team4	Xinjiang Tiashan Deers
years5	2017
team5	Canik Belediyespor
years6	2017–2018
team6	Guangdong Dolphins
years7	2018
team7	Hatay BB
years8	2019
team8	Xinjiang Magic Deer
years9	2019–2020
team9	Dynamo Kursk
years10
team10	Atlanta Dream
years11	2020
team11	Sopron Basket
years12	2021
team12	Kayseri Basketbol
years13	2021
team13	Elitzur Ramla
years14	2021–2022
team14	Beşiktaş
wnba_profile	glory_johnson
::

| name = Glory Johnson | image = Glory Johnson Dallas Wings.jpg | caption = Johnson in 2019 | image_size = 250px | league = | team = | number = | position = Power forward | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lbs = 170 | birth_date = | birth_place = Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. | high_school = Webb School (Knoxville, Tennessee) | college = Tennessee (2008–2012) | draft_league = WNBA | draft_year = 2012 | draft_round = 1 | draft_pick = 4 | draft_team = Tulsa Shock | career_start = 2012 | career_end = | years1 = – | team1 = Tulsa Shock / Dallas Wings | years2 = 2012–2013 | team2 = Chevakata Vologda | years3 = 2013–2015 | team3 = Nadezhda Orenburg | years4 = 2016–2017 | team4 = Xinjiang Tiashan Deers | years5 = 2017 | team5 = Canik Belediyespor | years6 = 2017–2018 | team6 = Guangdong Dolphins | years7 = 2018 | team7 = Hatay BB | years8 = 2019 | team8 = Xinjiang Magic Deer | years9 = 2019–2020 | team9 = Dynamo Kursk | years10 = | team10 = Atlanta Dream | years11 = 2020 | team11 = Sopron Basket | years12 = 2021 | team12 = Kayseri Basketbol | years13 = 2021 | team13 = Elitzur Ramla | years14 = 2021–2022 | team14 = Beşiktaş | highlights =

• 2× WNBA All-Star (2013, 2014)
• All-Defensive Second-team (2013)
• All-Rookie Team (2012)
• SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2012)
• SEC Tournament MVP (2012)
• WBCA Coaches' All-American (2012)
• 2x SEC All-Defensive Team (2011, 2012)
• 2x First-team All-SEC (2011, 2012)
• SEC All-Freshman Team (2009)
• McDonald's All-American (2008) | medaltemplates = | wnba_profile = glory_johnson

Glory Bassey Johnson (born July 27, 1990) is an American basketball player who last played for Turkish club Beşiktaş. Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she went to Webb School Of Knoxville and played collegiately for the University of Tennessee Lady Vols. She holds a Montenegrin passport and has represented the Montenegro national team internationally.

College career

Johnson enrolled at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 2008. She recorded 36 double-doubles over the course of her college career.

Johnson completed her bachelor's degree in global studies in three years, and earned a master's degree in communications during her fourth year of basketball eligibility.

College statistics

::data[format=table]

Year	Team	GP	Points	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2008–09	Tennessee	33	335	40.4	–	61.6	7.2	0.6	1.1	0.4	10.2
2009–10	Tennessee	35	354	45.8	100.0	64.8	7.7	1.0	1.3	0.3	10.1
2010–11	Tennessee	37	443	53.4	–	58.6	9.7	1.2	1.4	0.8	12.0
2011–12	Tennessee	36	511	53.8	50.0	63.6	9.9	1.1	1.4	1.1	14.2
Career	Tennessee	141	1643	48.8	40.0	61.9	8.6	1.0	1.3	0.7	11.7
::

Source

USA Basketball

Johnson played on the team representing the US at the 2011 Summer Universiade held in Shenzhen, China. The team won all six games to earn the gold medal. Johnson scored 6.2 points per game and had nine steals, tied for second place on the team.

Professional career

WNBA

Johnson was selected in the first round of the 2012 WNBA draft (4th overall) by the Tulsa Shock. In her rookie season, she was ranked fourth in steals per game (a career-high 2.1 spg).

In 2013 and 2014, her second and third seasons with the Shock, Johnson was named in the Western Conference All-Star team. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Johnson_20190822.jpg" caption="Johnson in 2019"] ::

Johnson sat out the 2015 WNBA season on a maternity leave after announcing her pregnancy.

She returned one month into the 2016 WNBA season after her suspension stemming from her domestic violence incident with Brittney Griner. By this time the Tulsa Shock had relocated to Dallas and were renamed the Dallas Wings, Johnson had re-signed with the team during free agency. Johnson averaged 11.3 ppg in 18 games with 6 starts. Also during her comeback season, she recorded the league's 16th 20-point, 20-rebound performance of the season in a win against the Phoenix Mercury when she scored 23 points along with a career-high 22 rebounds.

During the 2017 season, Johnson continued to put double-doubles in rebounds and points which is what she has become statistically known for earlier on in her career. On June 18, 2017, Johnson scored a season-high 27 points in an 87–83 win over the Washington Mystics. From July 31 to August 6, Johnson was named the Western Conference player of the week. On August 19, 2017, Johnson recorded her 13th double-double of the season, scoring 23 points along with 13 rebounds in a 90–86 win over the Atlanta Dream. During the game, Johnson threw a punch at Dream's point guard Matee Ajavon and served a one-game suspension two days later. The Wings would finish with a 16–18 record and the number 7 seed in the league. In her first career playoff game, Johnson scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a losing effort to the Washington Mystics in the first round elimination game.

The 2018 season proved challenging for Johnson, with several injuries sidelining her for a brief time. The injuries and subsequent recovery period led to her coming off the bench for a number of games. In total, Johnson played 29 games with 17 starts and averaged career-lows in scoring and rebounding. The Wings went on to make the playoffs with a 15–19 record, and finished with the 8th seed in the league. They would once again be a first-round exit, after losing to the Phoenix Mercury.

Overseas

From 2012 to 2015, Johnson played three off-seasons in Russia for two different teams; Chevakata Vologda and Nadezhda Orenburg. As of November 2016, Johnson signed with the Xinjiang Tiashan Deers of the WCBA for the 2016–17 off-season. In August 2018, Johnson signed with Hatay BB of the Turkish League for the 2018–19 off-season.

Personal life

On August 14, 2014, it was announced that Johnson and fellow WNBA player Brittney Griner were engaged. On April 22, 2015, both women were arrested for physically attacking each other after police broke up a fight between the two in their Goodyear, Arizona, home. Both sustained minor injuries during the incident. Nevertheless, they stayed together and married on May 8, 2015. It was announced on June 4, 2015 that Johnson was pregnant and that she would miss the 2015 WNBA season. One day later, Griner filed for annulment which was rejected. Johnson gave birth to twin girls in October 2015, 16 weeks premature. The twins were conceived by IVF treatment using her eggs and a sperm donation. The divorce was finalized in June 2016.

WNBA career statistics

Regular season

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2012 | style="text-align:left;"| Tulsa | 34 || 28 || 28.2 || .482 || .000 || .677 || 6.8 || 1.1 || 2.1 || 0.5 || 2.0 || 11.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2013 | style="text-align:left;"| Tulsa | 29 || 28 || 30.2 || .446 || .333 || .747 || 8.9 || 1.1 || 1.0 || 0.4 || 2.0 || 15.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2014 | style="text-align:left;"| Tulsa | 33 || 33 || 32.4 || .449 || .000 || .760 || 9.2 || 1.4 || 1.3 || 0.3 || 2.6 || 14.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2016 | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | 18 || 6 || 27.9 || .442 || .286 || .753 || 8.9 || 1.3 || 0.9 || 0.6 || 1.4 || 11.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2017 | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | 33 || 33 || 31.0 || .464 || .313 || .766 || 9.1 || 1.6 || 1.2 || 0.3 || 2.2|| 14.9 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2018 | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | 29 || 17 || 22.5 || .417 || .315 || .780 || 6.0 || 1.3 || 1.0 || 0.4 || 1.3 || 8.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2019 | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | 28 || 19 || 24.1 || .364 || .340 || .583 || 5.1 || 1.4 || 1.4 || 0.6 || 1.0 || 7.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2020 | style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta | 18 || 1 || 15.4 || .373 || .262 || .500 || 3.7 || 0.6 || 0.8 || 0.4 || 0.7 || 4.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"| Career | style="text-align:left;"| 8 years, 2 teams | 222 || 165 || 27.2 || .440 || .311 || .728 || 7.4 || 1.3 || 1.3 || 0.5 || 1.8 || 11.4

Playoffs

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2017 | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | 1 || 1 || 36.8 || .375 || .000 || .750 || 14.0 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 15.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2018 | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | 1 || 1 || 22.1 || .500 || .333 || .000 || 5.0 || 2.0 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 7.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| Career | style="text-align:left;"|2 years, 1 team | 2 || 2 || 29.4 || .409 || .250 || .750 || 9.5 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 0.5 || 1.0 || 11.0

References

References

1. "Glory Johnson Bio – University of Tennessee Official Athletic Site".
2. "Glory Johnson, Beşiktaş HDI Sigorta'da".
3. "USA Basketball: Glory Johnson".
4. Glory Johnson. "Glory Johnson, Tennessee F – Scout".
5. "Glory Johnson Bio – University of Tennessee Official Athletic Site".
6. "Archived copy".
7. (June 4, 2015). "Brittney Griner's wife, Glory Johnson-Griner, announces pregnancy {{pipe}} For The Win".
8. (June 9, 2016). "Glory Johnson of Dallas Wings returns from suspension over Brittney Griner incident".
9. (June 9, 2016). "Other Sports: Glory Johnson shows flashes in her return as Dallas Wings fall to Washington {{pipe}} SportsDay".
10. [http://www.wnba.com/news/dall-wings-re-sign-all-star-forward-glory-johnson/ Dallas Wings Re-Sign All-Star Forward Glory Johnson]
11. "Triple-Doubles, Dunks and 20–20 Games – WNBA.com – Official Site of the WNBA".
12. (July 6, 2016). "Glory Johnson has 23 points, 22 rebounds in Mercury win".
13. [https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/other-sports/otherhighschoolsport/2017/06/18/glory-johnsons-27-points-skylar-diggins-smiths-19-power-87-83-dallas-wings-win-mystics Glory Johnson's 27 points, Skylar Diggins-Smith's 19 power 87–83 Dallas Wings win over Mystics]
14. [http://www.wnba.com/news/chicagos-vandersloot-dallas-johnson-named-wnba-players-week/ Chicago's Vandersloot, Dallas' Johnson Named WNBA Players Of The Week]
15. [http://www.wnba.com/game/20170819atldal/ College Park Center Saturday, August 19, 2017]
16. [https://www.swishappeal.com/2017/8/21/16181548/glory-johnson-throws-punch-suspended-wnba Dallas' Johnson throws punch, suspended 1-game by WNBA]
17. "2014 Offseason: Who is Where?".
18. "Glory Johnson profile {{pipe}} Game center".
19. (June 20, 2014). "WNBA Players Playing Overseas – WNBA.com – Official Site of the WNBA".
20. (July 27, 1990). "Glory Johnson Basketball Player Profile, Canik Belediyesi Samsun, Tennessee, News, KBSL stats, Career, Games Logs, Best, Awards - eurobasket.com".
21. [https://www.eurobasket.com/Turkey/news/545816/Hatay-tabs-Glory-Johnson?Women=1 Hatay tabs Glory Johnson]
22. Nichols, James. (August 15, 2014). "Brittney Griner Proposes To Girlfriend Glory Johnson".
23. Silver, Jake. (August 15, 2014). "WNBA's Brittney Griner Gets Engaged to Former Tennessee Vols Star Glory Johnson". [[Bleacher Report]].
24. (April 23, 2015). "WNBA star Brittney Griner arrested on assault and disorderly conduct".
25. (April 23, 2015). "Mercury's Brittney Griner arrested on assault allegations". Azcentral.com.
26. (May 9, 2015). "Brittney Griner Marries Fellow WNBA Star Glory Johnson". US Weekly.
27. (June 4, 2015). "Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson Expecting First Child". People.
28. (June 5, 2015). "A Day After Announcing Pregnancy, WNBA's Brittney Griner Seeks Annulment from Expectant Wife Glory Johnson".
29. (October 19, 2015). "Glory Johnson Welcomes Twin Daughters Ava Simone and Solei Diem Several Months Premature".
30. Toomey, Alyssa. (June 15, 2015). "Glory Johnson "Really Saddened" by Brittney Griner Split Amid Pregnancy, Clears Up Fertility Rumors".
31. (March 10, 2022). "Brittney Griner detained in Russia: What to know about WNBA star's life spent in spotlight".
32. "Women's Basketball Player stats".
33. "Twenty-Sixth World University Games – 2011". USA Basketball.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::