WBB: Brittney Griner’s Jersey Will Be Retired
In a pregame ceremony on Sunday, February 18, the Baylor women’s basketball team will retire former Baylor Bear Brittney Griner’s No. 42 jersey. The Bears will play Texas Tech at Foster Pavilion starting at 3 p.m.
“I’m honored to return home to Baylor and celebrate where so much of my journey started,” Griner stated. “I’m appreciative to Coach Nicki Collen and the whole Baylor family, and I’m excited for the chance to return to campus, spend time with the team, and enjoy this amazing occasion with my family by my side. Smack ‘Em Bears.”
Director of Athletics and Vice President of Baylor University Mack Rhoades remarked, “We are thrilled to welcome Brittney back to Baylor and share this special day with her.” “She is without a doubt one of the most decorated student-athletes in the history of Baylor athletics, and we are so happy that the timing is right for us all to commemorate and celebrate her. She has always been a valuable part of the Baylor Family and will continue to be so.”
Griner, one of the most successful undergraduate athletes in the NCAA and the most decorated women’s basketball player in Baylor history, concluded her collegiate career with 3,283 points and 1,305 rebounds. Griner was selected to the All-Big 12 First Team and All-Defensive Team four times, and he was the unanimous choice for National Player of the Year twice. Prior to winning the Player and Defensive Player of the Year Awards in 2011, 2012, and 2013, she was named the league’s Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2010.
Griner owns the conference record with 21 Big 12 Player of the Week awards and concluded her career as a three-time All-American by five separate outlets. In addition to setting the Big 12 records for points scored (3,283), field goals made (1,247), free throws attempted (1,054), and made (787), she also produced the first triple-double in Baylor women’s basketball history (748). She also continues to own the NCAA records for blocks in a season (223) and career. With almost 2,000 career points and 500 career blocks, she is the only player in NCAA women’s basketball history to accomplish both feats. Griner’s career double-double total of 146 out of 148 games played is the second-highest in NCAA history.
Houston-born Griner was a key player in the Bears’ 40-0 record and 2012 National Championship run. During her four years with the Bears, she helped them to a 135-15 record. Her tenure culminated with the second national title in program history, two trips to the Final Four, six Big 12 Conference Championships, and 40 straight Big 12 Conference regular-season victories. Over her four years, Griner assisted in leading the Bears to a 50-8 record in league regular-season games.
Griner has played for the Phoenix Mercury for the last ten seasons after being chosen as the first overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft. She has won two gold medals at the Olympics with Team USA and is a six-time WNBA All-Star. Griner completed her schooling bachelor’s degree in 2019 at Baylor.
stated Collen. “I wanted to make sure it happened at the appropriate time because I have been saying this since I came to Baylor: she deserves to have her jersey retired. It was perfect to recognize Brittney and welcome her home at this time, as Foster Pavilion was opening and the WNBA offseason fell inside our season. We are excited that the time has come to honor Brittney and all of her accomplishments because she is among the greatest basketball players in Baylor’s history.”
In the remarkable history of Baylor women’s basketball, seven jerseys have been retired: those of Odyssey Sims, Melissa Jones, Nina Davis, Suzie Snider Eppers, Shelia Lambert, and Sophia Young. This one will be the seventh.
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