NEW: Congratulations to Danielle Green, former Michigan State Women’s Basketball player, Iraq war veteran, and Purple Heart recipient, for winning the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY awards – true Spartan warrior and a beacon of hope and resilience
Danielle Green Wins Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPYS: A True Spartan Warrior Honored
In a powerful and emotional moment during this year’s ESPY Awards, former Michigan State Women’s Basketball player Danielle Green was awarded the prestigious Pat Tillman Award for Service, an honor that recognizes individuals with a strong connection to sports who have served others in a way that echoes the legacy of the late NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman. Green, an Iraq War veteran and Purple Heart recipient, accepted the award with grace and humility, standing as a shining example of courage, service, and unbreakable spirit.
From Spartan Court to the Battlefield
Before she became a national symbol of resilience, Danielle Green was a standout guard for the Michigan State Spartans women’s basketball team from 1995 to 2000. Known for her leadership on the court, her drive and determination set her apart early on. She averaged 10.4 points per game during her collegiate career, finishing as one of the top scorers of her era.
But basketball was only the beginning of Green’s remarkable journey. Driven by a sense of purpose and a calling to serve her country, she enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after graduating from MSU. In 2004, while deployed in Iraq, Green was serving with the 571st Military Police Company in Baghdad when a rocket-propelled grenade attack changed her life forever. She lost her dominant left arm in the attack — a traumatic injury that could have shattered the will of most people.
But Danielle Green is not most people.
A Life of Service and Strength
Instead of allowing the injury to define her, Green leaned into her pain, using it as fuel for a new mission: to serve and inspire others. After her recovery, she pursued a master’s degree in counseling and went on to work with fellow veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs, helping them navigate their mental health and post-service lives.
Green has since become a motivational speaker, advocate, and counselor, dedicating her life to empowering fellow veterans, especially women and those recovering from trauma. Her story has touched the lives of thousands, reminding people that wounds, whether visible or not, do not lessen one’s value or capacity to give back.
The Pat Tillman Award was established in 2014 to honor individuals whose service reflects Tillman’s values — service beyond self, leadership, and the will to persevere through adversity. Green’s selection this year is a testament to the profound impact she has had not only through her military service but through her continued dedication to healing and uplifting others.
An Emotional ESPYS Moment
As Green took the stage at the ESPY Awards, the entire auditorium rose to their feet in a thunderous standing ovation. Clad in Spartan green and proudly wearing her Purple Heart, Green delivered an emotional acceptance speech that touched on themes of perseverance, community, and the healing power of sports.
“Basketball taught me discipline, teamwork, and heart,” she said. “But it was my service that gave me purpose. And now, my purpose is to give back — to those who serve, to those who’ve been wounded, and to anyone who thinks their journey has to end because of hardship.”
She also paid tribute to Pat Tillman, saying, “Pat and I wore different uniforms, but our values were the same. Courage. Service. Commitment. I’m honored to walk a path that reflects his legacy.”
The Legacy Continues
Danielle Green’s story is a living embodiment of the Spartan spirit — toughness, grit, and community. Michigan State University released a statement shortly after the ceremony congratulating Green, calling her “a beacon of hope and a proud symbol of everything it means to be a Spartan.”
For many veterans and athletes watching, Green’s recognition serves as more than a personal achievement. It is a message: that even when life knocks you down, resilience, purpose, and community can lift you higher.
As she stood on the ESPY stage, her message was loud and clear — not just to veterans, not just to athletes, but to everyone: “We all have the power to serve, to lead, and to rise.”
Congratulations, Danielle Green — a true Spartan warrior and a national inspiration.
…