She’ll be the seventh woman to have her name hang in the rafters!
Baylor University is set to retire Brittney Griner’s No. 42 jersey when the Bears face Texas Tech on February 18 at the newly inaugurated Foster Pavilion in Waco, Texas. The announcement comes as a celebration of Griner’s outstanding contribution to women’s basketball, both at the collegiate level and in the professional arena with the Women’s National Basketball Association‘s (WNBA) Phoenix Mercury. ESPN reports that Griner, born in Houston, played a pivotal role in leading Baylor to two Final Four appearances during her college career and achieving a flawless 40-0 national championship season as a junior.
Griner, the No. 1 pick in the 2013 WNBA draft, boasts a stellar career, securing two Olympic gold medals and winning the 2014 WNBA title with the Mercury, where she has played for an impressive 10 seasons. Her impact extends beyond accolades, as she remains the NCAA career leader in blocked shots with an impressive 748 rejections during her time at Baylor from 2009 to 2013.
Griner’s jersey retirement will be the seventh in Baylor women’s basketball history, solidifying her status as one of the program’s all-time greats. She joins former teammates Odyssey Sims and Melissa Jones in this prestigious honor. “I’m honored to return home to Baylor and celebrate where so much of my journey started,” Griner said in an Instagram post. “I’m grateful to Coach Nicki [Collen] and the entire Baylor community and am 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.”
Cover Photo: Baylor will retire the jersey of former player, Brittney Griner / Credit: AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki