This season celebrates the 50th anniversary of the John R. Wooden Award. Leading up to the ceremony on April 10, 2026, The Sporting Tribune is joining forces with the Wood Award and the Los Angeles Athletic Club to spotlight previous winners of the Wooden Award and the Legends of Coaching Award.
Brittney Griner quickly became a viral sensation. Hailing from Houston, Texas, she stood an impressive 6’8″ during her years at Nimitz High School, where she made history by dunking an astonishing 113 times. Griner played a pivotal role in guiding Nimitz to the Texas 5A state title game, earned McDonald’s All-American honors, and was the top-ranked recruit in 2009.
Her college journey began at Baylor University, where her freshman season foreshadowed the greatness to come. She set an NCAA record with 223 blocks in a single season, became the first woman to dunk twice in the NCAA Tournament, and helped lead Baylor to the Elite Eight in her first year.
In 2012, Baylor completed an unprecedented 40-0 undefeated season, a first in NCAA history and one of the most dominant campaigns ever. That year, the Bears defeated 11 ranked opponents, with Griner averaging 23.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 5.2 blocks per game.
By the time she graduated, Griner amassed 3,283 points, 1,305 rebounds, and 223 blocks, earning the title of Big 12’s all-time leading scorer and ranking second all-time in NCAA Division I women’s scoring.
Griner was the first overall pick by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2013 WNBA Draft. She is a two-time WNBA champion (2014, 2024), an eight-time All-Star, a two-time scoring leader, an eight-time block champion, and a two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2014, 2015).
On the international stage, Griner played professionally in China and Russia, where she was both the top scorer and defensive centerpiece for her teams. She also boasts two Olympic gold medals (2016, 2020), playing a vital role in Team USA’s ongoing global dominance.
After 11 seasons with the Mercury, Griner now suits up for the Atlanta Dream. Beyond basketball, she recently launched a YouTube channel aimed at giving fans an intimate look into her daily life.
Fan Take: Brittney Griner’s remarkable journey from high school phenom to global basketball icon continues to inspire WNBA fans everywhere. Her ongoing success and growing presence off the court signify not only the evolution of her personal brand but also the rising visibility and influence of women’s basketball worldwide.
