NEW: Danielle Green Wins Pat Tillman Award for Service at ESPYs — A True Spartan Warrior Inspires the Nation with Unbreakable Spirit
By Jenna Carter | ESPN Human Interest Contributor | July 15, 2025
In a night filled with star power and celebration, it was Danielle Green, a former Michigan State women’s basketball standout and U.S. Army veteran, who stole the show—and the nation’s heart—at the 2025 ESPY Awards. Green received the Pat Tillman Award for Service, an honor reserved for individuals whose courage and selflessness transcend sport.
But for Green, this was not about recognition. It was about resilience.
The moment she stepped onto the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, flanked by fellow veterans and Spartan alumni, the room rose to its feet. Her smile—equal parts humble and fierce—captured what words often cannot: strength forged through sacrifice.
Green’s story is the embodiment of grit. A gritty south-side Chicago native, she became a force on the hardwood at Michigan State in the late 1990s, known for her tenacious defense and all-in hustle. But her most defining moments came not in a basketball arena, but on the battlefield.
After graduating, Green enlisted in the U.S. Army. In May 2004, while serving in Iraq as a military police officer, she was seriously injured in a rocket-propelled grenade attack, losing her left arm. The injury ended her military career—but not her mission.
> “I may have left the battlefield, but I never stopped fighting,” Green said during her ESPY acceptance speech. “For my family, for fellow veterans, for people who feel unseen—I keep going, because that’s what Spartans do.”
Over the past two decades, Green has become a nationally recognized advocate for veterans’ mental health, wounded warrior support, and adaptive sports. She earned a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Notre Dame and has worked with the VA, Team Red, White & Blue, and the Pat Tillman Foundation.
Green’s presence at the ESPYs served as both celebration and reminder: heroism takes many forms. For the Spartan community, it was a moment of profound pride. Michigan State President Kevin Guskiewicz released a statement saying:
> “Danielle Green exemplifies what it means to be a Spartan. She is a leader, a healer, and a warrior. Her legacy will inspire generations.”
The Pat Tillman Award for Service—named for the former NFL star turned Army Ranger who was killed in Afghanistan—is one of the ESPYs’ most revered honors. Previous recipients include Jake Wood, Sgt. Danielle M. Jones, and U.S. Army Captain Florent Groberg. Green’s name now joins that hallowed list.
As the spotlight dimmed and applause echoed through the theatre, Green stood tall—her singular arm raised high, fist clenched in pride.
A heart of a champion. The soul of a Spartan. And the spirit of a nation that will never forget what true service looks like.
