WACO, Texas — Baylor Women's Basketball will honor one of its former players this February, retiring Brittney Griner's No. 42 jersey in a pregame ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 18.
Griner is the most decorated women's basketball player in Baylor history, according to the university, and one of the most accomplished collegiate players in the NCAA.
The University will retire Griner's jersey during a ceremony at Foster Pavilion ahead of the team's 3 p.m. game against Texas Tech.
Griner herself will reportedly be there for the ceremony.
“I’m honored to return home to Baylor and celebrate where so much of my journey started," Griner said in a press release by the university. "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.”
“We are excited to welcome Brittney back to Baylor and share this special day with her,” Baylor Vice President and Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades said. “There’s no doubt she is one of the most decorated student-athletes in Baylor athletics history and we’re thrilled the timing has worked out for all of us to celebrate and honor her. She always has been, and always will be, a significant member of the Baylor Family.”
Baylor said Griner finished her collegiate career with 3,283 points and 1,305 rebounds. According to the university, Griner also holds multiple Big 12 records, including points scored at 3,283, free throws made at 787 and blocks at 748, among others.
Griner also helped lead the Bears to a 40-0 record and a National Championship in 2012, helping the team post a 135-15 record over her four-year career, which included the second national title in program history, two Final Four appearances, six Big 12 Conference Championships and 40 consecutive Big 12 Conference regular-season wins to conclude her career, according to the university.
Griner was also a two-time consensus National Player of the Year and a four-time All-Big 12 First Team and All-Defensive Team selection, being named a three-time All-American by five different outlets during her career.
Griner also holds the conference record of 21 Big 12 Player of the Week honors and recorded the first triple-double in Baylor women's basketball history.
Griner's other accolades include the league's Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2010 and Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Baylor said Griner completed her Bachelor of Science degree in education in 2019.
“We’re excited to have Brittney back on campus and honor her with the retirement of her jersey,” Baylor Women's Basketball Head Coach Nicki Collen said. “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. 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. 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.”
Griner has played in the WNBA for the Phoenix Mercury since being selected as the first overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft. Griner is a six-time WNBA All-Star and a two-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA.
Griner's jersey will be the seventh women's basketball jersey retired in Baylor history, joining those of Odyssey Sims, Melissa Jones, Nina Davis, Suzie Snider Eppers, Shelia Lambert and Sophia Young.
Tickets to the game can be purchased at BaylorBears.com/WBBvTech.
More from 6 News: