Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s the detailed information on Yolanda Griffith:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Yolanda Evette Griffith
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: 53 years old (Born on March 1, 1970)
  • Hometown: Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm)
  • Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 4 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)
  • Number: 33 (with the Sacramento Monarchs and Seattle Storm)
  • Position: Center / Power Forward
  • High School: George Washington Carver High School in Chicago, Illinois
  • College:
    • Palm Beach Junior College (now Palm Beach State College)
    • Florida Atlantic University
  • WNBA Draft: 1999 WNBA Draft, 1st round, 2nd overall pick by the Sacramento Monarchs
  • Teams Played For:
    • Sacramento Monarchs (WNBA, 1999–2007)
    • Seattle Storm (WNBA, 2008)
    • Indiana Fever (WNBA, 2009)
    • Various teams internationally (Germany, Italy, Russia, and others)
  • Championship Rings: 1 WNBA Championship with the Sacramento Monarchs (2005)
  • Kids: 1 daughter (Candace Griffith)
  • Siblings: Not widely publicized

Player Archetype / Play Style

Yolanda Griffith’s player archetype was that of a dominant two-way interior anchor — a powerful, mobile post player who could control the paint as both a scorer and defensive enforcer. At 6-foot-3 and roughly 185 pounds, she played bigger than her listed size because of her strength, timing, relentless motor, and rebounding instincts, which helped her thrive against true centers and power forwards alike. Defensively, Griffith was a back-line stopper who protected the rim, cleaned the glass, and disrupted actions with physicality and anticipation, a role reflected in her 1999 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year honor and repeated All-Defensive recognition. Offensively, she operated as a low-post focal point and interior finisher, using power, touch, and second-chance activity to generate efficient scoring, which matched the all-around dominance that earned her the 1999 WNBA MVP and later the 2005 WNBA Finals MVP during Sacramento’s championship run. Overall, her play style was forceful, disciplined, and highly competitive — the kind of frontcourt star who imposed herself on both ends and gave her team a dependable identity in the paint. (WNBA)

Sources:

WNBA — Yolanda Griffith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status …
WNBA — 1999 WNBA Season Awards
WNBA — Defensive Player of the Year
WNBA — 2005 WNBA Season Awards
WNBA — Lauren Jackson, Marianne Stanley, Yolanda Griffith Named Naismith HOF Finalist
WNBA — All-Time WNBA Champions