If you’re a fan of the basketball team, Baylor, then you’ve probably heard about the transgender star Brittney Griner.
You may have heard about her arrest in Russia for drug trafficking, but did you know that she played basketball professionally in the United States?
She is currently one of the best players in the country. Hopefully, her story will be inspiring for other women who have been discriminated against for their gender.
Gender expression creates a safe space for other female athletes
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The aforementioned acronym is the NCHSAA acronym for the North Carolina High School Activities Association. Its mission is to promote inclusive sports participation and to provide the best possible experience for its members, players and fans. To achieve this goal, the organization has adopted a series of best practices.
This list includes a well-developed student athlete and staff database, robust and consistent communications with stakeholders, and a comprehensive, multi-year strategic plan. In order to help the aforementioned aforementioned, the organization has enlisted the aid of a cadre of experts in a variety of fields.
These include athletic administrators, academic counselors, coaches, parents and students. They have compiled a best practices library of information, advocacies, and policies for both the collegiate and high school levels of the sport.
Some of these have been incorporated into the organization’s annual operating plan. Those interested in putting together a solid plan of their own can contact NCHSAA at nchsaa.org or by telephone at (877) 77-HSAA.
Career as a professional basketball player
If you’ve been watching the WNBA, you’ve probably heard about Brittney Griner. She’s a 6-foot-9 center who has had a sensational career. As a result, she’s been called the best women’s player ever.
When she played for the Baylor Lady Bears, Griner was a three-time All-American. She also led the league in blocks per game for the second time in her career.
After her senior season, Griner signed an endorsement deal with Nike. She earned a $1 million dollar contract. Then, she went to play for the Russian Premier League.
Her first year, she set a career high in blocks with 223 shots blocked. That was enough to earn her the Associated Press Player of the Year award.
In her second season, Griner led the league in points with 23 points per game. And in her third year, she set a new record in blocked shots. During her sophomore season, she also received First Team All-American honors.
Arrested in Russia for drug trafficking
It’s hard to believe that American basketball superstar Brittney Griner has been in prison since February. She was arrested on drug charges after a simple stop at an airport.
Griner was found in possession of two vape cartridges filled with hashish oil. Despite a plea that she had no criminal intent, the court sentenced her to nine years in a Russian penal colony.
Griner was in Russia to play for her team, UMMC Ekaterinburg, in the Russian Premier League. Several WNBA players have played professionally in Russia during the offseason.
Her trial began last week, and is expected to conclude sometime in August. The US government has labeled her detention a “wrong-side-of-the-border” affront, and a State Department travel advisory has been issued to Americans traveling to Russia.
Griner’s case has enraged many Americans. Some see her as a bargaining chip in a standoff with Russia. While she has maintained her innocence, some experts question whether she did indeed commit a crime.
Fear of going to Baylor
If you’re a Baylor fan, you’ve probably heard the stories of the basketball team’s success. But you might not have known that the program had an unwritten rule against homosexual acts. The Baylor handbook describes heterosexual behavior as “sex outside of marriage” and homosexual behavior as “sexual misconduct”.
As a Baylor player, Griner was not allowed to talk about her sexuality. She was also told to keep her relationships private. According to Griner, this stance was a direct result of fear that parents would not allow their children to play for the Baylor team.
In her new book, Griner explains that she felt pressure to hide her sexuality at Baylor, because she didn’t want to hurt the recruiting of the team. After she became a WNBA player, she was unable to maintain this secret. Eventually, she was forced to tell her coach, Kim Mulkey.
During her time at Baylor, she also faced verbal assaults on the road. Fans and opponents derided her for her height and race. They made jokes about her being a “man in a woman’s body” and for her relationship with a white female player.
