In a momentous occasion, Baylor University announced that the No. 42 jersey of basketball star Brittney Griner will be retired during a game against Texas Tech on February 18th. The ceremony will take place at the recently opened Foster Pavilion in Waco, Texas, adding further significance to the event.

Griner, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2013 WNBA draft and currently plays for the Phoenix Mercury, played for Baylor from 2009 to 2013. Her accomplishments on the court are truly remarkable. Twice leading Baylor to the Final Four during her college career, she also had an extraordinary undefeated 40-0 national championship season as a junior. Griner's talent has extended beyond the collegiate level, as she is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and won the 2014 WNBA title with the Mercury. This season marks her extraordinary tenth year playing in the WNBA.

Hailing from Houston, Griner left a profound impact on the Baylor basketball program. Setting numerous records, she remains the NCAA career leader in blocked shots with an astounding 748. Additionally, she accumulated 3,283 points and 1,305 rebounds for Baylor, solidifying her place among the all-time scoring leaders in women's college basketball. Although recently surpassed by Iowa's Caitlin Clark for the No. 4 spot on the NCAA's career scoring list, Griner's legacy at Baylor remains unparalleled.

Expressing her gratitude and excitement, Griner stated, "I'm honored to return home to Baylor and celebrate where so much of my journey started. 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."

It is worth noting that Griner's relationship with former coach Kim Mulkey, who recently left the Bears to coach at LSU, was strained. According to Mulkey's requirements, a player had to have graduated for their jersey to be retired. However, when Coach Collen took over the program, she made it a priority to honor Griner by retiring her jersey. Collen emphasized that Griner's exceptional skills and contributions make her one of the best basketball players in Baylor's history, deserving of this recognition.

Griner's retired jersey will be the seventh in Baylor women's basketball program's history. She will join former teammates Odyssey Sims and Melissa Jones in earning this prestigious honor. Collen expressed her delight, stating, "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."

The jersey retirement of Brittney Griner stands as a tribute to her immense talent, unwavering dedication, and significant contributions to the Baylor basketball program. It is a moment that marks her everlasting legacy in women's college basketball and serves as an inspiration for future athletes to strive for greatness.