Yolanda Griffith
Encyclopedia
Yolanda Evette Griffith is a former American professional basketball
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".
n basketball team, as well as first team All-America in softball.
She was offered a scholarship
to play for the women's basketball team at the University of Iowa
, but had to cancel it after she gave birth to her daughter, Candace.
Afterward, she attended Palm Beach Junior College in Lake Worth, Florida
, where she earned Junior College All-America honors in 1990-91. She later transferred to Florida Atlantic University
, which was then a Division II school, where she graduated in 1993., earning Kodak Division II Player of the Year honors. While in school, she supported herself and her daughter by working for a car repossession company.
as the number one pick overall in the ABL players draft. In their only season, Griffith led the Stingrays to the brink of the ABL title, only to lose to the defending champions, the Columbus Quest
. Griffith was named the 1997-1998 ABL Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-ABL first team. She finished second in the ABL's 1998 Most Valuable Player voting to her future 2000 Summer Olympics
teammate Natalie Williams
.
When the Long Beach franchise folded after the end of the 1997-98 season, she was dealt to the expansion Chicago Condors
, in her hometown. She played there only briefly, however, as the league folded on December 22, 1998. Prior to that, Griffith ranked fifth among league leaders in scoring (17.2 ppg), first in rebounding (12.3 rpg), 19th in assists (2.6 apg), second in steals (3.3 spg), and second in blocked shots (1.3 bpg).
selected Griffith as the #2 overall draft pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft
. She is a seven-time WNBA All-Star, and won the WNBA's MVP
and Defensive Player
awards in 1999.
In 2005, the Monarchs won their first WNBA title
over the Connecticut Sun
, three games to one in a Best-of-five playoff series. Griffith was named series 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. She will be out for the season and since she retired at the end of the season, it will end her career. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in the fifteen year history of the WNBA.
Yolanda Griffith has remained in Indiana as an Adjunct Assistant Coach. She is considered their Player Development Coach.
| align="left" | 1999
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 29 || 29 || 33.8 || .451 || .000 || .617 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|11.3 || 1.6 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|2.5 || 1.9 || 2.28 || 18.8
|-
| align="left" | 2000
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 32 || 32 || 32.1 || .535 || .000 || .706 || 10.3 || 1.5 || 2.6 || 1.9 || 2.56 || 16.3
|-
| align="left" | 2001
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 32 || 31 || 33.7 || .522 || .000 || .720 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|11.2 || 1.7 || 2.0 || 1.2 || 2.34 || 16.2
|-
| align="left" | 2002
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 17 || 17 || 33.9 || .520 || .000 || .803 || 8.7 || 1.1 || 0.9 || 0.8 || 2.65 || 16.9
|-
| align="left" | 2003
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 34 || 34 || 29.9 || .485 || .000 || .774 || 7.3 || 1.4 || 1.7 || 1.1 || 2.21 || 13.8
|-
| align="left" | 2004
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 34 || 34 || 30.3 || .519 || .000 || .853 || 7.2 || 1.2 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|2.2 || 1.2 || 1.74 || 14.5
|-
| align="left" | 2005
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 34 || 33 || 28.3 || .485 || .000 || .707 || 6.6 || 1.5 || 1.2 || 0.9 || 2.00 || 13.8
|-
| align="left" | 2006
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 34 || 34 || 25.1 || .457 || .000 || .751 || 6.4 || 1.6 || 1.3 || 0.5 || 1.94 || 12.0
|-
| align="left" | 2007
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 32 || 32 || 23.1 || .502 || .000 || .658 || 4.6 || 1.5 || 1.0 || 0.4 || 2.03 || 9.0
|-
| align="left" | 2008
| align="left" | Seattle
| 30 || 30 || 21.9 || .462 || .000 || .648 || 6.3 || 1.5 || 1.4 || 0.6 || 1.70 || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | 2009
| align="left" | Indiana
| 3 || 0 || 13.7 || .500 || .000 || .778 || 2.3 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.7 || 1.00 || 6.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |11 years, 3 teams
| 311 || 306 || 28.8 || .506 || .000 || .713 || 7.9 || 1.5 || 1.7 || 1.0 || 2.11 || 13.6
| align="left" | 2000
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 2 || 2 || 39.0 || .522 || .000 || .625 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|12.0 || 1.0 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 2.00 || 14.5
|-
| align="left" | 2001
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 5 || 5 || 36.2 || .478 || .000 || .764 || 8.8 || 1.4 || 1.6 || 1.2 || 2.20 || 21.2
|-
| align="left" | 2003
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 6 || 6 || 33.3 || .537 || .000 || .912 || 8.8 || 1.2 || 1.2 || 1.0 || 2.00 || 17.2
|-
| align="left" | 2004
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 6 || 6 || 34.0 || .492 || .000 || .833 || 8.2 || 1.3 || 2.0 || 1.0 || 2.00 || 13.7
|-
| align="left" | 2005
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 8 || 8 || 30.8 || .491 || .000 || .711 || 8.3 || 1.4 || 1.2 || 0.5 || 1.25 || 17.3
|-
| align="left" | 2006
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 9 || 9 || 26.3 || .485 || .000 || .765 || 7.1 || 1.8 || 1.1 || 0.6 || 1.11 || 14.8
|-
| align="left" | 2007
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 3 || 3 || 23.7 || .409 || .000 || .889 || 6.0 || 0.3 || 0.7 || 0.3 || 2.33 || 8.7
|-
| align="left" | 2008
| align="left" | Seattle
| 3 || 3 || 29.0 || .214 || .000 || .875 || 6.3 || 1.7 || 3.0 || 1.3 || 1.67 || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |8 years, 2 teams
| 42 || 42 || 31.1 || .484 || .000 || .786 || 8.0 || 1.4 || 1.4 || 0.8 || 1.69 || 15.0
, where she played from 1993 to 1997. In 1997, she finished as the top scorer and rebounder in the EuroLeague
, averaging 24.7 points and 16.0 rebounds per game.
During the WNBA offseason, Griffith has played extensively overseas, usually on teams and leagues that feature other WNBA players. In 2003 and 2004, she played for a Russia
n professional team in Ekaterinburg.
team. She won Gold Medal
s at the Summer Olympics in both 2000
and 2004
.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
who played in both the ABL
ABL
ABL is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Abl gene, an oncogene associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia* Abetalipoproteinemia, a rare genetic disorder...
, and WNBA. A Former WNBA MVP she is considered one of the greatest rebounders and defensive players in the history of Women's Basketball
Women's basketball
Women's basketball is one of the few women's sports that developed in tandem with its men's counterpart. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast , in large part via women's colleges...
. She last played in the WNBA as a member of the Indiana Fever
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
. 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".
High School and College
She attended George Washington Carver High School in the Chicago area. In her senior year (1988–1989), she was named in Parade Magazines All-AmericaAll-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n basketball team, as well as first team All-America in softball.
She was offered a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to play for the women's basketball team at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, but had to cancel it after she gave birth to her daughter, Candace.
Afterward, she attended Palm Beach Junior College in Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, which takes its name from the body of water along its eastern border, originally called "Lake Worth", and now generally known as the Lake Worth Lagoon. The lake itself was named for General William J. Worth, who led U.S. forces during the last...
, where she earned Junior College All-America honors in 1990-91. She later transferred to Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a public, coeducational, research university located in , United States. The university has six satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and in Fort...
, which was then a Division II school, where she graduated in 1993., earning Kodak Division II Player of the Year honors. While in school, she supported herself and her daughter by working for a car repossession company.
American Basketball League
In 1997, she joined the American Basketball League (ABL) after playing pro basketball in Germany. Griffith was selected by the Long Beach StingraysLong Beach Stingrays
The Long Beach Stingrays was a women's professional basketball team. It existed for only the 1997-98 season, and was a member of the American Basketball League....
as the number one pick overall in the ABL players draft. In their only season, Griffith led the Stingrays to the brink of the ABL title, only to lose to the defending champions, the Columbus Quest
Columbus Quest
The Columbus Quest was a professional women's basketball franchise located in Columbus, Ohio in the now-defunct American Basketball League . They were one of the league's original eight teams that started play in 1996...
. Griffith was named the 1997-1998 ABL Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-ABL first team. She finished second in the ABL's 1998 Most Valuable Player voting to her future 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
teammate Natalie Williams
Natalie Williams
Natalie Williams was a professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
.
When the Long Beach franchise folded after the end of the 1997-98 season, she was dealt to the expansion Chicago Condors
Chicago Condors
The Chicago Condors was a very short-lived member of the American Basketball League . Its hometown was much larger than usual for the ABL, which mainly targeted mid-market cities, and initial team merchandising was successful....
, in her hometown. She played there only briefly, however, as the league folded on December 22, 1998. Prior to that, Griffith ranked fifth among league leaders in scoring (17.2 ppg), first in rebounding (12.3 rpg), 19th in assists (2.6 apg), second in steals (3.3 spg), and second in blocked shots (1.3 bpg).
WNBA career
The Sacramento MonarchsSacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
selected Griffith as the #2 overall draft pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft
WNBA Draft
The WNBA Draft is an annual draft held by the WNBA through which WNBA teams can select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. The first WNBA draft was held in 1997...
. She is a seven-time WNBA All-Star, and won the WNBA's MVP
WNBA Most Valuable Player Award
The Women's National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the league's inaugural season. MVP voting takes place immediately following the regular season. The award recipient is decided by a panel of sportswriters and...
and Defensive Player
WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
The Women's National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the league's inaugural season, to the top defensive player of the regular season...
awards in 1999.
In 2005, the Monarchs won their first WNBA title
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
over the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
, three games to one in a Best-of-five playoff series. Griffith was named series MVP.
On April 8, 2008 after nine seasons with the Sacramento Monarchs
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
Griffith signed with the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
.
On February 20, 2009 Griffith signed with the Indiana Fever
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
after a one year stint with the Storm.
On June 9, 2009 Griffith tore her achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
in a game against the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, her former team. She will be out for the season and since she retired at the end of the season, it will end her career. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in the fifteen year history of the WNBA.
Yolanda Griffith has remained in Indiana as an Adjunct Assistant Coach. She is considered their Player Development Coach.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 1999
1999 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 29 || 29 || 33.8 || .451 || .000 || .617 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|11.3 || 1.6 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|2.5 || 1.9 || 2.28 || 18.8
|-
| align="left" | 2000
2000 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 32 || 32 || 32.1 || .535 || .000 || .706 || 10.3 || 1.5 || 2.6 || 1.9 || 2.56 || 16.3
|-
| align="left" | 2001
2001 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 32 || 31 || 33.7 || .522 || .000 || .720 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|11.2 || 1.7 || 2.0 || 1.2 || 2.34 || 16.2
|-
| align="left" | 2002
2002 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 17 || 17 || 33.9 || .520 || .000 || .803 || 8.7 || 1.1 || 0.9 || 0.8 || 2.65 || 16.9
|-
| align="left" | 2003
2003 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 34 || 34 || 29.9 || .485 || .000 || .774 || 7.3 || 1.4 || 1.7 || 1.1 || 2.21 || 13.8
|-
| align="left" | 2004
2004 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 34 || 34 || 30.3 || .519 || .000 || .853 || 7.2 || 1.2 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|2.2 || 1.2 || 1.74 || 14.5
|-
| align="left" | 2005
2005 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 34 || 33 || 28.3 || .485 || .000 || .707 || 6.6 || 1.5 || 1.2 || 0.9 || 2.00 || 13.8
|-
| align="left" | 2006
2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 34 || 34 || 25.1 || .457 || .000 || .751 || 6.4 || 1.6 || 1.3 || 0.5 || 1.94 || 12.0
|-
| align="left" | 2007
2007 WNBA season
-External links:* * * * * * * *...
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 32 || 32 || 23.1 || .502 || .000 || .658 || 4.6 || 1.5 || 1.0 || 0.4 || 2.03 || 9.0
|-
| align="left" | 2008
2008 WNBA season
-Season Highlights:*Candace Parker becomes the second and third player in WNBA history to dunk in a regular season game.*A fight breaks out between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock resulting in four ejections and ten suspensions....
| align="left" | Seattle
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
| 30 || 30 || 21.9 || .462 || .000 || .648 || 6.3 || 1.5 || 1.4 || 0.6 || 1.70 || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | 2009
2009 WNBA season
The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008...
| align="left" | Indiana
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
| 3 || 0 || 13.7 || .500 || .000 || .778 || 2.3 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.7 || 1.00 || 6.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |11 years, 3 teams
| 311 || 306 || 28.8 || .506 || .000 || .713 || 7.9 || 1.5 || 1.7 || 1.0 || 2.11 || 13.6
Postseason
|-| align="left" | 2000
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 2 || 2 || 39.0 || .522 || .000 || .625 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|12.0 || 1.0 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 2.00 || 14.5
|-
| align="left" | 2001
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 5 || 5 || 36.2 || .478 || .000 || .764 || 8.8 || 1.4 || 1.6 || 1.2 || 2.20 || 21.2
|-
| align="left" | 2003
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 6 || 6 || 33.3 || .537 || .000 || .912 || 8.8 || 1.2 || 1.2 || 1.0 || 2.00 || 17.2
|-
| align="left" | 2004
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 6 || 6 || 34.0 || .492 || .000 || .833 || 8.2 || 1.3 || 2.0 || 1.0 || 2.00 || 13.7
|-
| align="left" | 2005
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 8 || 8 || 30.8 || .491 || .000 || .711 || 8.3 || 1.4 || 1.2 || 0.5 || 1.25 || 17.3
|-
| align="left" | 2006
2006 WNBA Playoffs
The 2006 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2006 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Shock defeating the Western Conference champion Sacramento Monarchs 3-2.-Format:...
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 9 || 9 || 26.3 || .485 || .000 || .765 || 7.1 || 1.8 || 1.1 || 0.6 || 1.11 || 14.8
|-
| align="left" | 2007
2007 WNBA Playoffs
The 2007 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2007 season which ended with the Western Conference champion Phoenix Mercury defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Shock 3-2.-Format:...
| align="left" | Sacramento
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
| 3 || 3 || 23.7 || .409 || .000 || .889 || 6.0 || 0.3 || 0.7 || 0.3 || 2.33 || 8.7
|-
| align="left" | 2008
2008 WNBA Playoffs
The 2008 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2008 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Shock defeating the Western Conference champion San Antonio Silver Stars 3-0.-Format:...
| align="left" | Seattle
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
| 3 || 3 || 29.0 || .214 || .000 || .875 || 6.3 || 1.7 || 3.0 || 1.3 || 1.67 || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |8 years, 2 teams
| 42 || 42 || 31.1 || .484 || .000 || .786 || 8.0 || 1.4 || 1.4 || 0.8 || 1.69 || 15.0
Playing overseas
Shortly after graduating from college, Griffith began her professional basketball playing career in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where she played from 1993 to 1997. In 1997, she finished as the top scorer and rebounder in the EuroLeague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
, averaging 24.7 points and 16.0 rebounds per game.
During the WNBA offseason, Griffith has played extensively overseas, usually on teams and leagues that feature other WNBA players. In 2003 and 2004, she played for a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n professional team in Ekaterinburg.
Europe
- 1993-1997 :
DJK Wildcats Aschaffenburg - 2000-2002 :
Lavezzini Basket Parma - 2003-2004 :
UMMC Ekaterinburg - 2005-2006 : UMMC Ekaterinburg
Olympics
Griffith has twice been a member of the U.S. National Women's BasketballUSA Basketball
USA Basketball is a non-profit organization and the governing body for basketball in the United States. The organization represents the United States in FIBA and the men's and women's national basketball teams in the United States Olympic Committee...
team. She won Gold Medal
Gold Medal
Gold Medal is the sixth studio album by the American hard rock band The Donnas, released in 2004 on Atlantic Records. It was one of the first albums released in the DualDisc format, but was recalled due to a mastering error which resulted in the final track being partially omitted from the CD...
s at the Summer Olympics in both 2000
Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics
-Group B:-Championship bracket:-Classification matches:-Preliminary round:The four best teams from each group advanced to the quarterfinal round.-Group A:-Group B:-Championship bracket:...
and 2004
Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena in Athens, Greece for the preliminary rounds, with the latter stages being held in the Olympic Indoor Hall at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex....
.