Yolanda Griffith

By the time Yolanda Griffith joined the WNBA for the start of the 1999 season, she had seen more, and accomplished more, than most people manage in an entire lifetime. After committing to play for legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer at the University of Iowa, Griffith’s basketball odyssey was disrupted when she learned she was pregnant. From now on, she would be Mom first and All-Star second. Griffith landed at Palm Beach Community College, and then matriculated at Division II Florida Atlantic University where she was named 1993 WBCA Player of the Year. Next stop was Germany for three seasons until the almost simultaneous launch of the ABL and WNBA back home. Griffith chose the ABL, earning the 1998 Defensive Player of the Year award and All-ABL First Team honors. When the ABL folded, the future two-time Olympic gold medalist joined the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs where she really hit her stride. Griffith was a seven-time WNBA All-Star with Sacramento, twice led the league in rebounding and steals, was league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in 1999, and captured the WNBA championship in 2005.