Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner had a difficult journey to the WNBA. She found herself being distanced from other kids and she did not understand it as a kid. BG often struggled to express herself to people due to the fear of being judged for who she was. Griner once revealed that she felt that her former Baylor University coach Kim Mulkey didn’t fully understand her perspective and struggles, even before their differences.

BG talked about her relationship with coach Mulkey in her 2014 biographical memoir, ‘In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court.’ The eight-time All-Star revealed that she had reservations about her new life after being picked by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2013 WNBA drafts. Brittney Griner felt a bit nervous about being far away from Houston and leaving her old life behind, including her friends and family.

Brittney Griner believed Kim Mulkey didn’t fully understand her issues

Former Baylor coach Mulkey noticed Griner’s struggles and asked her if she had some trouble with her girlfriend. BG told Mulkey that she did not have a girlfriend or any girlfriend problems. Brittney Griner wrote, “That was the truth. I had broken up with my girl in Atlanta and I hadn’t started dating Cherelle.”

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Griner explained to her coach that she had a lot going on in her mind. However, she refrained from opening up about it as she did not feel Mulkey ‘got’ her the way her friends did. BG pointed out that Mulkey would have understood her if she expressed more. However, Griner always felt a kind of ‘disconnect’ with Mulkey as she did not know if her coach fully accepted her.

Griner and Mulkey’s differences

Griner explained that she could never figure out where it all went wrong between her and Kim Mulkey. However, she disliked the way Mulkey acted differently in public and in private. BG shared an instance when she was spotted kissing her girlfriend in a movie theatre.

Mulkey called Griner into her office and discussed the matter. However, the LSU coach did not take responsibility for the criticism. She tried to act as a mere messenger, claiming her personal feeling to be different. BG confessed that her discussion with Mulkey cause her a lot of pain and confusion.

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Thus, the relationship between Brittney Griner and Mulkey was a tough one during her time at Baylor from 2009-13. Unfortunately, Griner never felt comfortable enough to share her real thoughts with her former coach Kim Mulkey.

Recently, after Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia, Mulkey once again attracted media attention for refusing to speak on the issue. However, she later on cleared the air by praying for her swift return home.