Former Baylor star Brittney Griner said Sunday that her coach at Baylor, Kim Mulkey, asked her to not be publicly open about being gay out of fear it would hurt recruiting.

“It was a recruiting thing,” Griner told espnW.com. “The coaches thought that if it seemed like they condoned it, people wouldn’t let their kids come play for Baylor.

Not discussing one’s sexuality “was more of a unwritten law,” she said. “It was just kind of, like, one of those things, you know, just don’t do it. They kind of tried to make it, like, ‘Why put your business out on the street like that?’ ”

Griner came out as gay last month, before being chosen by the Phoenix Mercury with the No. 1 overall pick of the WNBA draft.


Mulkey declined to comment on Griner’s statement. “Brittney Griner represented Baylor University proudly on and off the basketball court, and she leaves behind an incredible legacy,” the coach said in a statement issued by Baylor. “I cannot comment on personal matters surrounding any of our student-athletes, but I can tell you Brittney will always be a celebrated member of the Baylor family.”

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