🏆HONORING A HERO ON AND OFF THE COURT: Former Texas Tech Basketball Star, Iraq War Veteran, and Purple Heart Recipient Danielle Green Awarded 2025 Pat Tillman Award for Service at ESPYS in Emotional, Standing-Ovation Moment That United Sports World in Tears and Tribute 🇺🇸❤️🏀
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS — A wave of heartfelt pride swept across the Texas Tech community and beyond as former Red Raiders women’s basketball player, Danielle Green, was honored on one of sports’ biggest stages. At the 2025 ESPY Awards, held Wednesday night in Los Angeles, Green received the prestigious Pat Tillman Award for Service—a powerful tribute to her courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to others.
The crowd at the Dolby Theatre rose to its feet in a thunderous, emotional standing ovation as Green accepted the award, becoming only the second woman from Texas Tech ever to be recognized on the ESPY stage. Her story—a journey from star athlete to war hero to community advocate—captivated viewers and reminded the world of what true leadership and selflessness look like.
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From the Court to the Battlefield: The Story of Danielle Green
Danielle Green was once known primarily for her tenacity on the hardwood. During her collegiate years at Texas Tech University, she was a formidable force on the women’s basketball team—known for her quick footwork, aggressive defense, and team-first attitude. But it wasn’t just basketball where Green would leave her mark.
In the early 2000s, Danielle made the bold decision to serve her country and enlisted in the U.S. Army. During a deployment in Baghdad, Iraq, Green was severely wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade. The attack cost her her dominant left arm, effectively ending her athletic career and changing the course of her life forever.
But rather than retreat, Green rose. Through rehabilitation and relentless determination, she found a new purpose: serving and uplifting other veterans and advocating for the wounded warrior community. Her resilience and compassion became a beacon of hope for thousands navigating the physical and emotional aftermath of war.
> “Danielle’s journey is the embodiment of what the Pat Tillman Award stands for—sacrifice, courage, and a life of service beyond self,” said NFL legend and ESPYS host J.J. Watt during the ceremony. “She didn’t just survive—she thrived, and she brought so many with her.”
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The Pat Tillman Award for Service: A Fitting Honor
Named after Pat Tillman, the former NFL player who left a lucrative professional career to enlist in the Army and tragically lost his life in Afghanistan, the award recognizes individuals with a strong connection to sports who have served others in a remarkable way.
Danielle Green joins an elite list of recipients who’ve used their platform and pain to make a difference in the lives of others. Her work with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Wounded Warrior Project, and veteran mental health initiatives has earned her national recognition—and now, this honor from ESPN.
> “I didn’t want to be known just for what I lost—I wanted to be known for what I gave,” Green said through tears as she clutched her award. “This isn’t just mine. It belongs to every veteran who’s felt forgotten, to every woman who’s been told she’s too weak, to every athlete who had to find a new dream.”
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Texas Tech Reacts: A Red Raider Champion in Every Sense
Back in Lubbock, the news lit up social media feeds and newsrooms. Texas Tech University released an official statement congratulating Green, calling her “a model of Raider courage, resilience, and pride.” Current members of the women’s basketball team wore custom warmup shirts reading #ForDanielle during a summer practice in her honor.
> “She represents the very best of what it means to wear the Double T,” said Coach Krista Gerlich, head coach of the Red Raiders women’s basketball team. “She was a fighter on the court, and she’s a warrior in life. Every player in that locker room is inspired by her legacy.”
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More Than a Moment: A Lasting Message
The ESPY ceremony may have lasted just one night, but Danielle Green’s story will echo far beyond the red carpet and applause. It’s a story of finding power in pain, of turning tragedy into triumph, and of showing the world that greatness isn’t measured by points scored or trophies earned—but by the lives we lift.
As Green closed her speech, she left the audience with a message that brought many to tears:
> “No matter how many times life knocks you down, no matter how much you lose, you are never too broken to serve, to heal, to love, and to lead. I’m proof of that.”
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Danielle Green: a baller, a soldier, a survivor, and now—an icon.
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