The USC Charlotta Bass Journalism and Justice Lab is thrilled to honor three-time Olympic gold medalist, WNBA champion, and fearless advocate Brittney Griner as the third awardee in the Charlotta Bass Media Trailblazer Speaker Series.

Griner’s impact extends far beyond the hardwood—she’s a warrior for justice, a voice for the marginalized, and a symbol of unshakable resilience. In her powerful memoir, Coming Home, she shares the raw, unfiltered reality of surviving 293 days of incarceration in Russia—and the extraordinary journey that brought her back to freedom.

This landmark evening will feature an illuminating conversation with USC Annenberg associate professor, Bass Lab founder, and award-winning author Dr. Allissa V. Richardson, offering a deep dive into Griner’s story, activism, and unwavering commitment to justice.

Click here to watch the U.S. women's basketball team get its gold medals after the dramatic final at the Paris Olympics.

Admission is free. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Brittney Griner is a decorated professional basketball player for WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and a three-time Olympic gold medalist. Renowned for her dominant presence in the paint, she is a six-time WNBA All-Star and a 2014 WNBA champion. Her collegiate career at Baylor University was equally outstanding, highlighted by an undefeated season that culminated in a national championship. Beyond her athletic achievements, Griner is a passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+ equality, using her platform to combat discrimination and speak out against unjust legislation. In 2022, she was detained and imprisoned in Russia in a widely publicized case before being released in a prisoner exchange. Since her return home, she has focused on her well-being while expressing her commitment to resuming her professional basketball career.

Dr. Allissa V. Richardson is an associate professor of journalism at USC Annenberg, specializing in how African Americans use mobile and social media to create innovative journalism, particularly in times of crisis. She is the author of Bearing Witness While Black: African Americans, Smartphones, and the New Protest #Journalism, an award-winning book that examines 15 mobile journalist-activists who documented the Black Lives Matter movement using only their smartphones and Twitter from 2014 to 2018. In 2022, Richardson founded the USC Charlotta Bass Journalism & Justice Lab to highlight and archive the social justice contributions of Black media makers throughout history.

The Charlotta Bass Media Trailblazer Award honors groundbreaking media figures who embody the fearless spirit of Charlotta Bass, a pioneering journalist and civil rights activist. This award recognizes individuals who use their platforms to challenge injustice, amplify marginalized voices, and push the boundaries of storytelling for social change. Past recipients include Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, whose work reshapes the national discourse on race and history, and Grammy- and Academy Award-winning artist Common, whose activism and artistry inspire movements for justice. Through this award, the USC Charlotta Bass Journalism & Justice Lab celebrates those who continue Bass’s legacy of truth-telling and advocacy. Our proud sponsors include the Ford Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

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