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Griffith, Yolanda
- Two-time Olympic gold medalist (2000, 2004)
- Has won three international medals, including two gold and one bronze as a member of the USA National Team
- Second all-time leader in rebounds per game in the WNBA
- Led the 2004 Olympic team with the second highest field goal percentage at .605 and rebounds per game at 6.6 “We call her 'Go-Go Gadget' arms because that's what it looks like - she sticks that arm out there and just sucks the ball in,” said Sue Bird
- Was the 2000 Olympic team’s top rebounder with 8.8 rebounds per game and third highest scorer with 11.5 points per game
- Named MVP of the 1999 WNBA season for the Sacramento Monarchs, which was the inaugural year of the league
- Accumulated several awards in the WNBA, including Defensive Player of the Year, All-WNBA first team and a four-time member of the WNBA All-Star team
- Basketball role model is Cheryl Miller
- Competed in the old American Basketball League (ABL) from 1997-1998, before becoming a member of the Sacramento Monarchs during the inaugural season of the WNBA
- Got her professional start in Germany, where she competed from 1993-97 and continues to compete during the WNBA off-season
- Nickname is “Yo-Yo” and has a 15-year-old daughter named Candace
- Likes to read, spend time with her daughter and her favorite music is R&B
- Watches the Andy Griffith Show every morning before she goes to practice. “I just like to laugh and get away from the stress — go somewhere and zone out and laugh,” she said.
- Has a poem titled Double Trouble written about her by Charles R. Smith Jr. in his collection called Hoop Queens.
- Also starred in softball while in high school, earning First-Team All-American honors as a senior
Like many other Olympic athletes, Griffith has aspirations for life after sports. As of right now, she is hoping to go into law enforcement once her basketball career has come to a close. Griffith has had some experience working with law enforcement when she repossessed cars to support herself and her daughter while she attended college. “It was something to do to put food on the table, trying to make ends meet while I was going to school. A lot of people out there did a lot for me to help me get where I am today, and I owe them everything. Basketball is easy. Life is what's difficult.”
On what it feels like on the podium at the 2004 Olympics: “It is unbelievable. You are just speechless. Just to hear your national anthem and letting everybody know that you are the best. We proved it to a lot of teams.”
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Height: 6-4
Born: March 1, 1970
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Sport: Basketball
Event: Forward/Center
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