Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who is locked up in a Russian gulag for possessing illegal substances just received another devastating blow, this time from a former coach.
During Griner’s incredible career playing basketball for the Baylor Bears she was coached by Kim Mulkey where the two won a national title together. Mulkey is currently a head coach at Louisiana State University.
Since Griner’s imprisonment Mulkey has been silent about her former star player not providing any comments on the situation.
During a LSU women’s basketball press conference The Daily Advertiser’s Cory Diaz asked Mulkey the reasoning for her silence.
“I just want to get your thoughts on the Brittney Griner situation. I don’t think I’ve seen anything from you on that and just-.” Before Diaz could finish his question Mulkey cut him off saying “And you won’t. I’ll answer the first one for ya.”
Yahoo Sports reported on the sticky situation between Griner and her former coach.
Griner, who turns 32 next month, played for Mulkey at Baylor from 2009-13. During Griner’s junior year, the Bears went 40-0 to win the national championship.
Griner was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player, as well as earning AP Player of the Year and the Wade Trophy Player of the Year. She also won the Wade in 2013 before being drafted No. 1 overall by the Phoenix Mercury, with whom she’s spent her entire WNBA career.
Mulkey and Griner had a falling out nearly a decade ago, and the star’s relationship with Baylor has been strained. Months before she was detained, Griner told ESPN she hoped to have a better relationship with her alma mater and see her jersey retired there one day.
The current Baylor Bears women’s basketball head coach Nicki Collen made a statement on the college’s former star.
“I just think about what it would be like to be away from my family for over 200 days.
“I think this is a humanitarian thing.
“We can argue about whether what she did is grounds for a trade for an arms dealer. I think there are a lot of arguments in play.
“I think what isn’t in play, in my mind, is that we shouldn’t be doing everything in our power to get Brittney home.”
What do you make of Griner’s former coach refusing to speak on her behalf? Let us know in the Facebook comments!
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