This morning, ESPN Magazine released its highly anticipated, yearly Body Issue, which celebrates the beauty of the physique of various athletes from different sports. Along with NFL superstar Odell Beckham, Jr., and NBA stars Deandre Jordan (*swoon*) and Kevin Love (*double swoon*), Phoenix Mercury superstar and DPOY Brittney Griner graced the pages, and she SLAYED!!
This gorgeous photo shoot holds a deeper meaning to the WNBA champ. Brittney has been very vocal and open about some of the challenges she faced while growing up, including being bullied for her size and sexuality. In the accompanying interview to shoot, ESPNW’s Kate Fagan talked to Brittney about her those experiences and why she now decided to go nude for the magazine. When asked to describe her body:
“I’d describe myself as athletically lanky. I want to show people that. I’m comfortable in my body and I don’t mind putting it on display. Honestly, I like how unique it is. My big arms, my bigger hands, these long legs-I love being different. If everybody was the same, it’d be a boring-ass world.
I’m sure people are going to have a lot of critical things to say [about these photos]. “Yo, she’s a man!” But hey, that’s my body and I look the way I look. People are either going to accept me for who I am or they’re not. I don’t know what people think I’m hiding. I’ve heard, “Oh, she’s not a female, she’s a male.” I’ve been told, “Oh, she’s tucking stuff.” They thought I was tucking. I mean, [in the Body Issue] it’s out there. Let me show that I embrace the flatness! I just want people to see somebody who embraces being naked, embraces everything about them being different.
Being 6-foot-8, I definitely get stares. I think my feet are bigger than Kareem’s. They are size 17 men’s. My hands are even bigger than LeBron’s. I could palm a basketball since I was a freshman in high school. For me, it’s a very tall world. Just walking around, it’s kind of like being on display at a museum, like being on display 24/7.
When I first started playing basketball, my coordination was horrible! I went into high school at 6 feet and left at 6-7 and then grew another inch in college. Catching the ball, it was bad. I’ve always been pretty athletic, but when I got really tall, I just felt awkward. And I had crazy knee pain in about seventh and eighth grade. It was hell for me to sit down in the school chairs with the seat connected to the desk. I hated it! I’d just be sitting there dealing with pain … even excruciating knee pain just walking. But in ninth grade, it just stopped. I guess it was my pre-growth-spurt pain. It was the worst.”
6’8″. 205lbs. Size 17 shoe. #Flawless
Brittney joins the ranks of fellow WNBA players who have been featured in past ESPN Body Issue include Angel McCoughtry, Swin Cash, Diana Taurasi and Candice Parker. The issue is available now online, and hits newsstands on July 10th!
(Original Story: ESPNW)
(Photo Credit: ESPN/Paola Kudacki)
