Йоланда Гриффит: Баскетбол әлемінің жұлдызы

Basketball player

Yolanda Evette Griffith (born March 1, 1970) is an American professional basketball hall of fame player who played in both the ABL and WNBA. A former WNBA MVP, she is considered one of the greatest rebounders and defensive players in the history of Women's Basketball. She last played in the WNBA as a member of the Indiana Fever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the top 15 players in WNBA history. She is sometimes called by her nicknames: "Yo" and "Yo Yo". Since retiring from the professional ranks, Griffith was as assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is currently an assistant coach with the Boston College Eagles. Griffith was inducted into the 2014 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame's class on her first year of eligibility.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Griffith attended George Washington Carver High School in the Chicago area. as well as first team All America in softball. Afterward, she attended Palm Beach Junior College in Lake Worth, Florida, where she earned Junior College All America honors in 1990 91.

After four seasons in Germany, Griffith joined the American Basketball League (ABL). and Defensive Player awards in 1999. In 2001, Griffith set the WNBA single season record for most offensive rebounds with 162. In 2005, the Monarchs won their first WNBA title over the Connecticut Sun, three games to one in a best of five series. Griffith was named Finals MVP. On April 8, 2008, after nine seasons with the Sacramento Monarchs, Griffith signed with the Seattle Storm. On February 20, 2009, Griffith signed with the Indiana Fever, after a one year stint with the Storm. On June 9, 2009, Griffith tore her achilles tendon in a game against the Seattle Storm, her former team. In August the same year, she announced her retirement from professional basketball. In 2016, Griffith was once again honoured by the WNBA in the WNBA Top 20@20 in celebration of the league's 20th season.

As the WNBA and the seasons in Europe did not overlap, Griffith, like many other WNBA players played in Europe during the winter. She played two seasons for Lavezzini Basket Parma in Italy from 2000 to 2002. In 2003–2004 and 2005–2006, she played for Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg.

Griffith has twice been a member of the U. S. National Women's Basketball team. She won Gold Medals at the Summer Olympics in both 2000 and 2004.

In 2011, Griffith accepted an assistant coach position with Ivy League university, Dartmouth, located in Hanover, NH. In 2013, Griffith was named the First Assistant Coach for Lafayette College a member of the Patriot League. She was an assistant coach for Joanna Bernabei MacNamee at the University of Albany. When Bernabei MacNamee was named as the new head coach at Boston College in 2018, she brought Griffith along as her assistant. Griffith has been instrumental in the development of post players at BC.