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

In a night filled with celebration, inspiration, and sports’ most powerful stories, Danielle Green — a former Texas Tech women’s basketball standout, a U.S. Army veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and lifelong advocate for veterans and wounded warriors — was honored with the 2025 Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY Awards, receiving a thunderous standing ovation in a moment that left few in the room with dry eyes.

From her days dominating the hardwood in Lubbock to serving with courage on the frontlines of Iraq, Green has spent her life defying odds, lifting others, and living the values of sacrifice, leadership, and grit that define the legacy of Pat Tillman — the NFL player turned Army Ranger who died in combat in 2004.

When her name was called, and the crowd rose in unison — athletes, entertainers, veterans, and fans alike — it was more than an award. It was a moment of unity, reverence, and healing that transcended sports.

Green’s journey is unlike any other. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, she rose through hardship to become a high school basketball phenom, eventually earning a scholarship to play at Texas Tech University in the late 1990s. Known for her defensive tenacity and selfless play, Green became a fan favorite in Lubbock — not for flashy scoring, but for her heart, her hustle, and her unwavering team-first mentality.

After graduating, Green made a decision that surprised many: she enlisted in the U.S. Army, motivated by a desire to serve her country and pursue a career in criminal justice.

It was during a 2004 deployment in Iraq that her life would change forever. While conducting a routine patrol near Baghdad, Green was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. The explosion cost her her left arm below the elbow, and she was evacuated under fire in a daring rescue that saved her life.

Her recovery was long, painful, and uncertain. But her resolve never wavered.

“I didn’t want to be a story of pity,” Green said during her ESPY acceptance speech. “I wanted to be a story of purpose.”

Since her injury, Green has dedicated her life to supporting veterans, particularly those facing physical and emotional challenges after returning home from combat. She earned her Master’s degree in counseling from the University of Notre Dame and began working with the Veterans Affairs Office and Wounded Warrior Project, helping thousands of soldiers navigate PTSD, disability, and reintegration.

Her work has taken her from hospitals to Capitol Hill. She has become a sought-after speaker, mentor, and symbol of the quiet strength that so many veterans carry. She’s also been instrumental in creating adaptive sports programs for women veterans, encouraging empowerment through physical fitness and community.

“She’s what the Tillman Award is all about,” said ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi. “Service, sacrifice, humility, and impact. Danielle Green is a warrior in every sense of the word.”

The ESPY Awards, held this year at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, were already emotional — with tributes to late sports legends, underdog champions, and barrier-breaking achievements. But the moment Green took the stage, the energy changed.

As her name was announced by fellow veteran and NFL Hall of Famer Roger Staubach, a highlight video played showcasing her journey — from game-winning steals at Texas Tech to battlefield heroics and community advocacy. The camera panned to NBA stars, Olympic gold medalists, and even President Joe Biden, who appeared via video to congratulate her on the honor.

“Danielle,” Biden said, “your courage — on and off the battlefield — reminds us of what real strength looks like. Thank you for serving this country, and for continuing to serve every single day.”

When Green walked onstage, the crowd stood before she said a word. The ovation lasted nearly two full minutes.

Green’s acceptance speech was heartfelt, raw, and profoundly human. Speaking without notes, she addressed the room — and the world — not as an award recipient, but as a messenger of unity and hope.

“I don’t stand here tonight because I’m the strongest,” she began. “I stand here because I refused to stop moving forward.”

She paid tribute to her fellow service members, especially those who never made it home.

“I lost a limb. Some lost their lives. But all of us gave something. And I carry their names with me, every day.”

Green also addressed the need for better mental health resources for veterans, calling on Congress and the sports world to do more.

“We fight wars abroad. But too many of us come home and fight alone. That must change.”

She ended with a message that brought the crowd to its feet again:

“Pat Tillman left the game he loved to answer a higher calling. Tonight, I accept this award not as a final honor — but as a challenge to keep serving, to keep giving, and to keep living with heart.”

Tributes poured in on social media after the ESPYs, with athletes, veterans, and fans praising Green’s strength and spirit.

• LeBron James: “Danielle Green is the definition of courage. What an incredible moment.”
• Megan Rapinoe: “Her words shook me. A warrior in every way.”
• JJ Watt: “That ovation? That’s what respect looks like. Thank you, Danielle.”
• USWNT’s Alex Morgan: “Every girl who dreams of both greatness and giving back just found their role model.”

Even Texas Tech Athletics released a statement saying they plan to honor Green with a commemorative banner in United Supermarkets Arena this fall, calling her “an enduring symbol of what Red Raiders are made of.”

Green continues her work with veterans, now leading a new initiative focused on supporting women in combat recovery, a historically underserved group in both VA policy and veteran support networks.

She’s also working on a memoir and planning to return to the basketball court — not as a player, but as a motivational coach for girls’ programs in underserved communities, using her own story to encourage strength through adversity.

“I want them to know,” she said, “that losing something doesn’t mean you’re less. Sometimes, it means you’re more.”

The Pat Tillman Award for Service, created in 2014, has recognized some of the most remarkable people in and around sports — including soldiers, social workers, and first responders. Green’s story joins this legacy with power and grace.

Tillman gave up a lucrative NFL career to serve his country and was killed in action in 2004 in Afghanistan. His foundation has since focused on leadership, education, and service — all of which Green has exemplified in her life’s work.

Marie Tillman, Pat’s widow and the chair of the Tillman Foundation, was in attendance at the ESPYs and embraced Green after the ceremony.

“You’re part of our family now,” she told her. “And Pat would be proud.”

As the lights dimmed and the ESPY Awards moved on, one image lingered in the minds of millions watching around the world: Danielle Green, standing tall, missing an arm, but unshakably whole — her presence a reminder that real heroes don’t always wear jerseys. Sometimes they wear uniforms. Sometimes they bear scars. And sometimes, they lift others not by what they say — but by how they live.

“I didn’t set out to be honored,” Green said. “I set out to honor those who couldn’t be here. Tonight, I carry them with me.”

And with that, she walked off the stage, to another ovation, and into the hearts of a grateful nation.

Danielle Green: Soldier. Athlete. Survivor. Servant. Hero.