The Houston Dash have announced that WNBA star Brittney Griner will take part in the ceremonial coin toss for the team’s season opener on April 10 at BBVA Compass Stadium against the Washington Spirit. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Griner, a Houston native, played high school basketball at Nimitz High School, where she was named the 2009 High School Player of the Year from a variety of organizations, such as Parade Magazine, USA Today and the WBCA, was a McDonald’s All-American, and earned Texas Player of the Year from Gatorade and the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. In honor of her accomplishments as a high school senior, Houston Mayor Bill White proclaimed May 7, 2009, as “Brittney Griner Day” within the city.
Griner attended college at Baylor University, where she won the Wade Award, Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy and AP Player of the Year in both 2012 and 2013, and was a consensus First Team All-American from 2011-13. The 6-foot-8-inch center led Baylor to a 40-0 record and the program’s second NCAA national championship in 2012.
The Phoenix Mercury drafted Griner with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft. Griner has led the league in blocks and been named an All-Star in each of her two seasons since entering the WNBA. Last season, Griner earned the Defensive Player of the Year Award as the Mercury won the 2014 WNBA Championship.
Griner will take part in ceremonial events surrounding the Dash’s 2015 opening match, including a media event at Dash training on April 9. For more information on meet-and-greet opportunities for fans before and after the match on April 10, fans should contact Jen Fusci at (713) 276-7598 or by emailing jfusci@houstondashsoccer.com. Tickets for the match are available here.
