Kelsey Griffin

American-Australian basketball player

Kelsey Griffin
Personal information
Born (1987-07-02) July 2, 1987 (age 36)
Anchorage, Alaska
NationalityAmerican / Australian
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight179 lb (81 kg)
Career information
High schoolChugiak (Chugiak, Alaska)
CollegeNebraska (2005–2010)
WNBA draft2010: 1st round, 3rd overall pick
Selected by the Minnesota Lynx
Playing career2010–present
PositionForward
Career history
2010–2014Connecticut Sun
2010–2011Pecs 2010
2011–2012Maccabi Ramat Hen
2012–2018Bendigo Spirit
2018–presentCanberra Capitals
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com

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]

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. ^ a b c d e f g "#23 Kelsey Griffin". Nebraska Huskers. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  4. ^ "Kelsey Griffin – Nebraska". 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. ^ "Kelsey Griffin among former Huskers excelling as pros". Husker Extra. 15 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 May 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  11. ^ a b Bourke, Adam (11 March 2013). "Griffin exceeds expectations". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  12. ^ a b Bourke, Adam (9 March 2014). "Griffin has the winning Spirit". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  13. ^ a b c Ward, Roy (18 February 2019). "Kelsey Griffin claims WNBL MVP, capping stellar Canberra season". Sydney Morning Herald.

External links

  • Profile
  • v
  • t
  • e
Canberra Capitals current roster
  • Head Coach: Veal
  • Assistant Coaches:
  • v
  • t
  • e
  • v
  • t
  • e
Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year
  • v
  • t
  • e
Australia squad – 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup – Silver medal
Australia
Authority control databases: People Edit this at Wikidata
  • Australian Women's Register