Brittney Griner’s No. 42 Jersey Retired by Alma Mater Baylor University: I'm 'Just Full of Emotion'

The WNBA star returned to her home state of Texas for an emotional pregame ceremony on Sunday

Ron Jenkins/Getty Brittney Griner.

Brittney Griner, the most decorated women’s basketball player in the history of Baylor University, now has her jersey in the rafters!

On Sunday, the Phoenix Mercury star returned to Waco, Texas, for an emotional pregame ceremony in which her No. 42 jersey was raised to the roof of the university’s new arena, Foster Pavilion, before the Bears took on Texas Tech Red Raiders.

When asked how she was feeling in the monumental moment, Griner, 33, told ESPN, “Just full of emotion.”

“As soon as [the jersey] started to go up, that’s when I started to break,” she added.

Nicki Collen, Baylor’s current coach, stood beside Griner wearing a gold jacket with the athlete’s No. 42 on the back, USA Today reported.

Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images Brittney Griner.

Griner’s career at Baylor spanned a national championship in 2012, two Final Four appearances and six Big 12 conference championships.

Over the course of four seasons, the Houston native scored 3,283 points and pulled down 1,305 rebounds. She also recorded the school’s first triple-double and holds Big 12 records in points scored (3,283), field goals made (1,247), free throws made (787) and attempted (1,054) and blocks (748).

Griner still holds the NCAA blocks record for a season (223) and career. She is also the only player in NCAA women’s basketball history to have over 2,000 career points and 500 career blocks. Out of 148 games she played, Griner scored in double figures for all but two of them.

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Before the big day on Sunday, Griner acknowledged the support of her fans and the Baylor community.

“I’m honored to return home to Baylor and celebrate where so much of my journey started,” she said. “I’m grateful to Coach Nicki and the entire Baylor community and 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.”

Griner’s celebratory day comes roughly 14 months after another notable moment in her journey — when she was released in a prisoner swap, 10 months after she was incarcerated in a Russian prison.

In August 2022, Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug smuggling charges for allegedly having hash oil in her luggage.

Two months after her release on Dec. 8, 2022, Griner was back playing with the Mercury.

Last June, the WNBA star returned to Texas to play for the first time since being detained in Russia.  Griner scored 24 points and grabbed four rebounds in her return against the Dallas Wings, playing in front of a deep cheering section led by her wife, Cherelle Griner, her former high school coach, members of her AAU basketball team and other family members.

ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Brittney Griner.

On the first anniversary of her release from Russia, Griner and her wife posted a heartfelt message to her fans and followers on Instagram.

“This season is about spending time with loved ones,” they wrote. “One year ago today, because of President Biden, his team and the support of many of you, our family was one of the 58 families made whole by this Administration. Our family was able to spend the holidays together, a priceless gift.”

They continued, “This past year has been a whirlwind and we are grateful for all of your support… As you gather with loved ones and take part in your family’s traditions, please tell them how much you love them and also please take a moment to think about and share a story, send a letter or call a representative about one of the many Americans being held away from their families this holiday season.”

Read the original article on People.