*Brittney Griner’s alma mater, Baylor University, retired her No. 42 jersey on Sunday at Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas.
The move comes 14 months after Griner was released from a Russian prison after being convicted of drug smuggling.
“Just full of emotion,” Griner told ESPN during the Bears’ game against Texas Tech. “As soon as (the jersey) started to go up, that’s when I started to break.”
Griner is the seventh women’s basketball player from Baylor to have her jersey number retired.
“I’m honored to return home to Baylor and celebrate where so much of my journey started,” Griner said last month when her jersey retirement ceremony was announced. “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.”
This moment. @brittneygriner #SicEm | #GreaterThan pic.twitter.com/cTfnyOiVLi
— Baylor Women’s Basketball (@BaylorWBB) February 18, 2024
The Phoenix Mercury Center and a six-time WNBA All-Star played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears in Waco, Texas.
According to brobible.com, “Kim Mulkey did not allow for Brittney Griner’s jersey number to be retired at Baylor. Nicki Collen, her successor, encouraged the retirement and finally made it happen!” the outlet writes.
“I have been saying this since I arrived at Baylor that she deserves to have her jersey retired and I wanted to make sure that happened when the timing was right,” said Coach Collen.
“With the opening of Foster Pavilion, and the WNBA offseason fitting into our season, this seemed like the right time to honor Brittney and welcome her back home,” Collen added.
“She is one of the best basketball players in Baylor’s history, and we’re thrilled that the time has come to celebrate Brittney and all of her accomplishments.”
Watch highlights from Brittney’s retirement ceremony via the X/Twitter clip above.
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