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Report: Baylor coach told Griner not to talk about her sexuality

Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks

PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 10: Brittney Griner (second from left) of the Phoenix Mercury attends the MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 10, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Former Baylor player and current WNBA top draft pick Britney Griner made it quite clear recently that she has no problem talking about her sexuality. She spoke with Sports Illustrated shortly after her college career ended, and was candid about something that is, frankly, not really anybody’s business. We now know why she never mentioned it publicly prior to that interview. Her coach implored her and others to keep their sexual preferences quiet while they were in her program.

In an ESPNW/ESPN the Magazine interview, Griner once again talked openly about her experiences.

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

Griner apparently made Mulkey aware of her sexuality during the recruiting process, and was assured that it would not be an issue. Baylor is a private university affiliated with the Baptist church. The school has a written policy against premarital sex, be it hetero- or homosexual.

Griner told the Magazine that Mulkey believed that media revelations about player sexuality would undermine recruiting efforts at the conservative institution.

Eric Angevine is the editor of Storming the Floor. He tweets @stfhoops.