Baylor will retire former star Brittney Greiner's jersey on February 18, when the Bears host Texas Tech.
Greiner helped Baylor go 40-0 and reach the national championship as a junior, finishing his collegiate career with 3,283 points and 1,305 rebounds. She was named AP Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013.
“I am honored to return home to Baylor and celebrate where so much of my journey began,” Greiner said. “I am grateful to Coach Nikki (Colen) and the entire Baylor community and am looking forward to the opportunity to return to campus and spend time with the team and have my family by my side to share in this great moment. Sic 'Em Bears .”
Greiner also recorded 748 blocks in his four years at the school, leading Baylor to 135 wins and 15 losses.
She was drafted No. 1 in the 2013 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury, where she played her entire career. She is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
“We are excited to have Britney back on campus and honor her jersey retirement,” Baylor coach Nikki Collen said. “Since arriving at Baylor, I have said it was natural for her to retire her jersey, and she wanted to make sure it happened at the right time.”
After leaving the school, Griner had a strained relationship with former Baylor coach Kim Mulkey. Mulkey said players must have graduated before their jerseys can be retired. Mr. Greiner received his degree in 2019.
One of Collen's wishes when he took over as coach in 2021 was to have Griner's No. 42 jersey retired. That was postponed after Greiner was detained in Russia for 11 months in 2022 before returning to the United States in a high-profile prisoner swap.
Collen took the Baylor women's team to Dallas in June when the Mercury played the Wings. She said at the time that the school was working to honor Griner.
This marks the seventh Baylor women's basketball jersey to be retired in Baylor's illustrious history, including Odyssey Sims, Melissa Jones, Nina Davis, Susie Snyder Eppers, Shelia Lambert and Sophia Young.
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AP women's college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball