Danielle Green is the former Notre Dame women’s basketball player who will be honored with the Pat Tillman Award at the ESPYs on July 15. She had an impressive career at South Bend, averaging 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds. After college, she moved back to Chicago and taught at an elementary school and helped coach a high school girls’ team. In 2003, she enlisted in the US Army. She was deployed to Iraq in January 2004. In May, her unit came under enemy fire while guarding an Iraqi police station.
A rocket-propelled grenade hit the wall behind her post and caused the building’s roof to collapse. She lost her lower left arm and hand. She also suffered severe wounds to her upper left arm and thigh. After recovering at Walter Reed, Green returned to Chicago and persevered. She got her master’s degree in counseling and worked with the Chicago Public School system again. The ESPY Awards ceremony will be broadcast on July 15 at 8pm on ABC.
