Danielle Green, a former West Virginia Mountaineers women’s basketball player, decorated Iraq War veteran, and Purple Heart recipient, received the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2025 ESPY Awards, stirring hearts and reminding the world of the power of resilience, service, and unwavering courage. The standing ovation she received from teammates, military members, and fans reflected the influence she has had not only on the court or battlefield but also in the lives of many others who see her as a source of strength and inspiration.
Green’s life has been full of spectacular chapters. She was born in Chicago and went on to become a successful basketball player at West Virginia University, where she was respected for her tenacity, leadership, and dedication to team ideals. After college, she chose a different path—one of selfless service—by serving in the United States Army. Her deployment to Iraq in 2004 as a military police officer would be a watershed moment in her life. Green was ambushed in Baghdad and lost her left arm to a rocket-propelled grenade strike. She received the Purple Heart in recognition of her bravery and sacrifice.
While many people would have considered such an accident as the end of their athletic and professional careers, Green saw it as the start of a new journey. She rebuilt her life with tenacity, becoming a counselor and champion for soldiers, particularly those struggling with catastrophic injuries, PTSD, and the difficulties of reintegration into civilian society. Her devotion inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in counseling and devote her career to assisting others in finding strength in their problems.
The Pat Tillman Award for Service, named after the former NFL player and US Army Ranger who died in Afghanistan, honors people who demonstrate selflessness. Green’s narrative is strikingly similar to Tillman’s in many ways: both left the comforts of professional athletics to serve their country and became icons of purpose-driven lives.
As Green entered the stage to accept the honor, surrounded by military families and veterans she had mentored over the years, the entire room was mesmerized by her presence. In her remarks, she remembered Tillman’s legacy, thanked the Mountaineers community for laying the groundwork for her journey, and recognized the countless men and women in uniform who continue to serve today.
“This award is not just mine,” Green stated through tears. “It belongs to every soldier who has fought and sacrificed, to every veteran looking to reclaim their place in the world, and to every young girl who believes her life must follow a straight route—I’m here to tell you it doesn’t. You just need to keep moving forward.”
Danielle Green’s tale serves as a reminder that true greatness is found in service, sacrifice, and the strength to overcome adversity. Her Pat Tillman Award for Service is more than just a tribute to the past; it’s a beacon for the future.