Brittney Griner’s No. 42 Jersey Retirement: A Historic Moment for Baylor Bears
Brittney Griner's legacy is now etched into Baylor Bears' history for eternity. During a ceremony at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas, the women's basketball team retired her No.
42 jersey in a truly memorable moment honoring one of the sport's all-time greats.
When the banner displaying her number was unveiled, Griner reacted with a mixture of awe and gratitude, covering her mouth with her hands in disbelief.
As the crowd erupted in applause, she placed her hand over her heart and blew a kiss, showing her appreciation for the support from fans.
Emotional Moment for Brittney Griner at Baylor Bears Jersey Retirement
"Overflowing with emotion," Griner expressed to ESPN while attending the Bears' game against Texas Tech.
"Once (the jersey) began to ascend, that's when my emotions got the best of me."
Baylor's current coach, Nicki Collen, stood alongside her wearing a golden jacket bearing Griner's No. 42 and Nike sneakers adorned with the same digits on the toes.
The pair embraced during the pregame ceremony.
Brittney Griner. Legend. #SicEm #Baylor pic.twitter.com/aIgniyeyCd
— Shahji Adam (@ShahjiAdam) February 18, 2024
Source: Twitter/ShahjiAdam
Reporter Tyler DeLuca noted that Sandy Brondello, Griner's former coach from the Phoenix Mercury and current head coach of the New York Liberty, was also present at the event.
The university distributed illustrated posters of Griner and No. 42 T-shirts to commemorate the occasion. Additionally, there was a halftime "Dunk Like BG" contest, which Griner participated in.
Griner becomes the seventh women's basketball player at Baylor to have her jersey retired.
This moment. @brittneygriner #SicEm | #GreaterThan pic.twitter.com/cTfnyOiVLi
— Baylor Women's Basketball (@BaylorWBB) February 18, 2024
Source: Twitter/BaylorWBB
"I'm deeply honored to come back to Baylor and commemorate where so much of my journey began," Griner expressed in a statement last month upon the announcement of her jersey retirement ceremony.
"I'm thankful to Coach Nicki and the entire Baylor community and eagerly anticipate the chance to return to campus, spend time with the team, and have my family with me to cherish this remarkable moment. Sic 'Em Bears."
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Source: ESPN
During her junior year in 2012, the Bears clinched the NCAA championship with a flawless 40-0 season. Griner, averaging 23.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 5.2 blocks, played a pivotal role.
She earned National Player of the Year titles from various sources and was crowned the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
In the championship game, she recorded 26 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks.
Throughout her four-year career, Griner accumulated 3,283 points, ranking fifth in women's basketball history.
Her 748 blocks stand as the highest in NCAA history among both men and women.
After leaving college and becoming the top pick for the Mercury in the 2013 WNBA draft, Griner's relationship with Baylor soured. Reports surfaced that Kim Mulkey, her former coach, urged her to keep her sexual orientation private. Griner wed Cherelle in 2019.
In 2022, Griner faced legal issues in Russia for carrying vape cartridges, resulting in a nearly 10-month detention.
While the WNBA and U.S. officials sought her release, Mulkey remained largely silent. Conversely, Collen, who succeeded Mulkey in 2021, openly supported Griner.
Collen, in touch with Griner since her hiring, aimed to retire Griner's jersey as one of her objectives.
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