Kelsey Griffin

Kelsey Michelle Griffin (born July 2, 1987) is an American-Australian professional women's basketball player. She was drafted 3rd overall in the 2010 WNBA draft. Griffin played college basketball with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Griffin was named to many All-America teams and was the winner of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Griffin is currently playing for the University of Canberra Capitals in the Australian WNBL. Having obtained Australian citizenship in November 2015, Griffin pledged her allegiance to Australia before the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.^[1]

Kelsey Griffin

Personal information
Born	(1987-07-02) July 2, 1987 (age 36) Anchorage, Alaska
Nationality	American / Australian
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	179 lb (81 kg)
Career information
High school	Chugiak (Chugiak, Alaska)
College	Nebraska (2005–2010)
WNBA draft	2010: 1st round, 3rd overall pick
Selected by the Minnesota Lynx
Playing career	2010–present
Position	Forward
Career history
2010–2014	Connecticut Sun
2010–2011	Pecs 2010
2011–2012	Maccabi Ramat Hen
2012–2018	Bendigo Spirit
2018–present	Canberra Capitals
Career highlights and awards
4× WNBL champion (2013, 2014, 2019, 2020) WNBL Most Valuable Player (2019) 3× WNBL Grand Final MVP (2013, 2014, 2019) WNBL Defensive Player of the Year (2015) 2x All-WNBL First Team (2015, 2016, 2019) All-WNBL Second Team (2022) FIBA Asia Cup Most Valuable Player (2017) No. 23 retired by Nebraska Cornhuskers
Stats at WNBA.com
Medals Basketball Representing  Australia Commonwealth Games 2018 Gold Coast FIBA Asia Cup 2017 India

Early life

Griffin was born at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska on July 2, 1987, to Jim and Jan Griffin.^[2] Growing up mostly in nearby Eagle River, Griffin attended Chugiak High School.^[3][4][5][6]

College

Griffin attended Nebraska for five years. She injured an ankle in the summer of 2008. After not being able to practice for 14 weeks, the decision was made to opt for surgery, so she miss the entire 2008–2009 season and was granted a redshirt season.^[7]

Nebraska statistics

Source^[8]

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

Year	Team	GP	Points	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2005-06	Nebraska	32	424	54.1	25.0	69.5	6.0	0.9	1.3	0.8	13.3
2006-07	Nebraska	32	480	54.6	11.1	72.3	8.3	1.1	1.1	0.6	15.0
2007-08	Nebraska	29	444	53.6	14.3	72.2	7.2	1.0	1.4	0.9	15.3
2008-09	Nebraska	Redshirt
2009-10	Nebraska	34	685	59.6	25.0	75.6	10.4	1.9	1.8	0.8	20.1
Career	Nebraska	127	2033	55.8	20.5	72.7	8.0	1.2	1.4	0.7	16.0

Professional career

WNBA

The Minnesota Lynx had the third pick of the 2010 draft and selected Griffin. As she was about to pose for a picture with a Lynx jersey and WNBA President Donna Orender, she was traded to the Connecticut Sun for future draft picks.^[9] In her rookie season for the Sun, Griffin averaged 4.4 points and 4.7 rebounds and was able to earn a spot on the WNBA All Rookie Team.

Europe

Griffin played for Pécs 2010, a professional basketball team in Pécs, Hungary, playing in the Hungarian A league, one of the premier leagues in EuroBasketball. She led the team to a 23–1 record, which earned an entry in the championship series.^[10]

Australia

 

Kelsey Griffin holds the 2018/19 WNBL trophy

Griffin signed with the Bendigo Spirit for the 2012/13 Australian Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). Due to WNBA commitments, Griffin did not join the Spirit until six rounds into the season. Once cleared to play, she made an instant impact for Bendigo, averaging 16.5 points, 8.6 rebounds per game. Griffin was instrumental in Bendigo's WNBL championship victory, claiming grand final MVP honours after scoring 20 points and collecting 11 rebounds. Despite missing close to a third of the season, Griffin finished sixth overall in the WNBL's end of season league MVP voting.

Awards and honors

• 2010—Lowe's Senior CLASS Award^[3]
• 2010—WBCA First-Team All-American^[3]
• 2010—AP First-Team All-American^[3]
• 2010—USBWA First-Team All-American^[3]
• 2010—Wooden First-Team All-American^[3]
• 2010—Big 12 Player of the Year^[3]
• 2013—WNBL Grand Final Most Valuable Player^[11]
• 2013—WNBL Champion^[11]
• 2014—WNBL Grand Final Most Valuable Player^[12]
• 2014—WNBL Champion^[12]
• 2019—WNBL Grand Final Most Valuable Player^[13]
• 2019—WNBL Champion^[13]
• 2019—WNBL MVP^[13]

References

1. Ward, Roy (November 17, 2015). Bendigo Spirit star Kelsey Griffin to receive Australian citizenship on Sunday. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
2. "Vital Statistics — Births". Anchorage Daily News. 22 July 1987. p. B4.
3. "#23 Kelsey Griffin". Nebraska Huskers. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
4. . WNBA. Archived from the original on 11 April 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
5. "Kelsey Griffin WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
6. McKewon, Sam (28 January 2014). "Kelsey Griffin helped change profile of Husker program". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 13 February 2017. ...the example of toughness Yori liked so much about former Husker Kelsey Griffin was how the Eagle River, Alaska, native handled one season in constant pain.
7. "Griffin To Redshirt After Ankle Surgery". Nebraska Huskers. 3 December 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
8. "Women's Basketball Player stats". NCAA. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
9. Altavilla, John (6 May 2010). "Kelsey Griffin Fitting In With Sun". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
10. . Husker Extra. 15 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 May 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
11. Bourke, Adam (11 March 2013). "Griffin exceeds expectations". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
12. Bourke, Adam (9 March 2014). "Griffin has the winning Spirit". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
13. Ward, Roy (18 February 2019). "Kelsey Griffin claims WNBL MVP, capping stellar Canberra season". Sydney Morning Herald.

External links

• Profile