![]() Griner didn’t realize the impact her book would make until people from all different genders, sexualities and backgrounds began reaching out to thank her for providing an uplifting voice to a neglected audience. In 2014, Griner released her book “In my Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court.” In it, she shared her journey of how she was able to overcome that childhood bullying and embrace her authentic self. Now, she is using that platform, along with the memories of her challenging past, to become the helping hand that she wished she had growing up. Griner embraces her platform that she spent countless hours grinding and sweating in the gym in order to reach. ![]() One of the most dominant collegiate athletes ever, Griner reached a global status as a gold medalist and a WNBA champion, while also playing overseas during the offseason. I would’ve been like, ‘Maybe I should dress like this or maybe I should do this.’ And then you start changing yourself for somebody you don’t even know.”Īt 30 years old, Griner has already carved out a historic basketball career. If I didn’t have the mentality that I have, that would have hurt me. “I just wanted to go off, but that’s just me being mad at the fact that somebody just wants to sit behind a computer and purposely try to mess up somebody’s day. “It made me so upset this morning when I read it,” Griner said. The morning of this conversation, Griner received a direct message from someone cussing her out and calling her and her friends men because of the way they dress and act. “I would love to say that (my confidence has) shut out all the noise, but I’m human,” Griner said. Griner said that, while those remarks may not hurt her the way they used to, it still surprises her at how low people will stoop. The first three comments garnered thousands of likes of their own as people hid behind their cryptic usernames and profile pictures in order to conceal their identity while attacking a complete stranger. While the Mercury fans were excited to see her in the building, the comment section reflected a different message, filled with hate, bigotry and sexism. The nearly 700,000 views were the most for any video on the team’s channel, and it also drew nearly 115,000 likes. In early May, the Mercury posted a video of Griner on Tik Tok announcing her arrival in Phoenix for training camp. If somebody doesn’t like me, oh well.’ I just got that mentality, like, ‘f ‘em,” Griner said. “Just something clicked in me and I was like, ‘Look, I’m cool. Instead of feeling guilty about who she was, she began to embrace her differences and focused on her own happiness rather than others’ opinions. Known as a happy, giddy and playful person in the locker room, at practice and among her friends, Griner wanted that version of herself to be seen by the rest of the world. ![]() So I just got tired of being that person.” ![]() “I went through some really bad times, really depressing times. “I got tired of feeling like crap,” Griner said. But coming into the WNBA, and being around others like her and in an organization that stands with her, allowed Griner to proclaim, “I’m not hiding who I am.” It was a slow growth that led Griner to build that confidence over time. It’s something she regrets, as she witnessed those emotions turn into built-up anger rather than channeling them into a better outlet. Griner was too scared to speak out and instead spent her childhood dealing with these issues on her own. So I would like just rip it up or burn it in the backyard.” “I would write in journals to myself sometimes, but I was so nervous somebody would find it, like my mom, dad or sister. “That was probably the worst thing I could have ever (done),” Griner said. She felt embarrassment and shame, but always kept her emotions bottled up. Throughout middle school and high school, name calling and judgmental comments were nearly an everyday occurrence for her. However, Griner didn’t always carry that same confidence.
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