Brittney Griner, the Olympic gold medalist and WNBA superstar, has long been regarded as one of the greatest players in women’s basketball history. Yet, in a powerful new interview, Griner is finally opening up about the emotional toll of her college years at Baylor University, revealing the struggles she faced in hiding her sexuality. Despite her dominance on the court, Griner’s journey to self-acceptance was fraught with personal challenges, particularly under the leadership of her former coach, Kim Mulkey, who is accused of fostering an environment of silence and repression for LGBTQ+ athletes.

Griner’s accomplishments are nothing short of extraordinary. A national champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and one of the most decorated players in WNBA history, Griner has achieved what most athletes only dream of. However, the emotional weight of concealing her identity during her college years was immense. In a candid interview, Griner reflected on the cost of her success, stating, “I’m an Olympic winner, I’m a national champion, but I’ve been suffering every day.” Her success, while undeniably impressive, didn’t come without significant personal sacrifices—chief among them, the need to hide her true self.

During her time at Baylor, Griner was forced to suppress her sexuality in a climate that demanded silence. The pressure to conform came directly from her coach, Kim Mulkey, whose approach to managing her players was reportedly devoid of empathy for LGBTQ+ issues. Griner revealed that Mulkey explicitly told her and her teammates, “Keep quiet. No talking about sexuality. Just play basketball.” This mandate was not simply a suggestion—it was a directive that stifled personal expression and prevented players from being their authentic selves.

“For years, I couldn’t talk about being gay. I couldn’t talk about who I really was, and it was suffocating,” Griner explained. “I had to pretend to be something I wasn’t. There was this constant pressure to keep quiet about it, and that’s something that weighed on me every single day.” Despite her immense talent and leadership on the court, Griner felt confined by the expectations placed on her off the court. She was forced to navigate the complexities of being a young woman in a conservative environment that didn’t welcome her truth.

While Kim Mulkey is widely recognized for her success as a coach, Griner’s account paints a different picture of her leadership. According to Griner, Mulkey’s approach was not one of support but of strict conformity. There was no space for understanding, no room for personal identity beyond the basketball court. Griner expressed her frustration, saying, “There was no sympathy, no understanding from Mulkey. She made it clear that players needed to conform. It was like she didn’t want to hear anything about your personal life if it didn’t fit the narrative she wanted. I just felt like I had to keep my true self hidden in the shadows.”

The lack of support from Mulkey, coupled with the pressure to conform to the image of the “ideal athlete,” left Griner in a state of internal conflict. It wasn’t just the challenges of balancing a high-level athletic career with the secrecy around her sexuality—it was the emotional toll of constantly hiding who she was.

Griner’s account highlights the emotional and psychological damage caused by the need to hide one’s identity. As a college athlete, she was expected to be a role model, a fierce competitor, and a leader. Yet, behind the scenes, she was living a double life—one that forced her to suppress a huge part of who she was. “I was dealing with so much pain and stress,” Griner recalled. “It wasn’t just the pressure of being a college athlete. It was the pressure of keeping a huge part of myself locked away. I couldn’t talk to my teammates about it. I couldn’t be myself around them. I had to pretend, and that hurt more than anyone could know.”

For Griner, the pain wasn’t just about the expectations placed on her as a basketball player—it was the absence of support in a time when she needed it most. The notion that even a star athlete wasn’t protected from such an environment underscores the broader issue of discrimination and marginalization faced by LGBTQ+ athletes in many institutions.

Griner’s journey to self-acceptance was not immediate. After years of struggling in silence, she made the courageous decision to publicly come out in 2013, after her college career had ended. Her announcement was groundbreaking for the sports world, offering hope to others who might be struggling with similar issues. Reflecting on that moment, Griner shared that while coming out brought immense relief, the scars of her time at Baylor lingered. “It was like this weight had been lifted off me, but at the same time, it was so hard to look back and think about how much pain I’d suffered just to be me,” she said.

Since coming out, Griner has used her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in sports. She continues to speak out against discrimination and push for more inclusive environments within the WNBA and beyond, hoping to create a space where athletes can embrace their true selves without fear of retribution or judgment.

Griner’s story is not just about her own experiences—it is a reflection of the larger issues facing LGBTQ+ athletes, particularly in conservative institutions like Baylor. Her testimony sheds light on the culture of silence and exclusion that many athletes have had to endure in their careers. Her pain is a reminder that success and accolades cannot erase the emotional toll of being forced to hide one’s true identity.

As Griner continues to break barriers in the WNBA, her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights is helping to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for athletes everywhere. Her story is one of resilience, but it is also a call for greater understanding and acceptance within the sports world.

Brittney Griner’s revelations about her time at Baylor and the challenges she faced in hiding her sexuality underscore the emotional cost of being forced to live a double life. Her courage in speaking out about her pain is an important step toward creating a future where all athletes—regardless of their sexual orientation—can be celebrated for who they are. Griner’s legacy is not only defined by her incredible athletic achievements but also by her relentless fight for a more inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ athletes everywhere.