Brittney Griner.Photo:Ron Jenkins/Getty
Ron Jenkins/Getty
Brittney Griner, the most decorated women’s basketball player in the history of Baylor University, now has her jersey in the rafters!
On Sunday, the Phoenix Mercury star returned to Waco, Texas, for an emotional pregame ceremony in which her No. 42 jersey was raised to the roof of the university’s new arena, Foster Pavilion, before the Bears took on Texas Tech Red Raiders.
When asked how she was feeling in the monumental moment, Griner, 33,told ESPN, “Just full of emotion.”
“As soon as [the jersey] started to go up, that’s when I started to break,” she added.
Nicki Collen, Baylor’s current coach, stood beside Griner wearing a gold jacket with the athlete’s No. 42 on the back,USA Todayreported.
Brittney Griner.Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images
Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images
Griner’s career at Baylor spanned a national championship in 2012, two Final Four appearances and six Big 12 conference championships.
Over the course of four seasons, the Houston native scored 3,283 points and pulled down 1,305 rebounds. She also recorded the school’s first triple-double and holds Big 12 records in points scored (3,283), field goals made (1,247), free throws made (787) and attempted (1,054) and blocks (748).
Griner still holds the NCAA blocks record for a season (223) and career. She is also the only player in NCAA women’s basketball history to have over 2,000 career points and 500 career blocks. Out of 148 games she played, Griner scored in double figures for all but two of them.
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Before the big day on Sunday, Griner acknowledged the support of her fans and the Baylor community.
“I’m honored to return home to Baylor and celebrate where so much of my journey started,” she said. “I’m grateful to Coach Nicki and the entire Baylor community and looking forward to the opportunity to be back on campus, spend time with the team and have my family beside me to share in this incredible moment. Sic ‘Em Bears.”
Griner’s celebratory day comes roughly 14 months after another notable moment in her journey — when she was released in a prisoner swap, 10 months after she was incarcerated in a Russian prison.
In August 2022, Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug smuggling charges for allegedly having hash oil in her luggage.
Two months after her release on Dec. 8, 2022, Griner was back playing with the Mercury.
Brittney Griner.ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty
ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty
On thefirst anniversary of her releasefrom Russia, Griner and her wife posteda heartfelt messageto her fans and followers on Instagram.
They continued, “This past year has been a whirlwind and we are grateful for all of your support… As you gather with loved ones and take part in your family’s traditions, please tell them how much you love them and also please take a moment to think about and share a story, send a letter or call a representative about one of the many Americans being held away from their families this holiday season.”
source: people.com
