There’s no doubting the incredible talent of Texas A&M University-Commerce women’s basketball star Britney Jordan. It was evident from the moment she stepped onto the court sporting a Lions’ jersey. After her transfer from Temple University, Jordan was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Lone Star Conference Tournament as a sophomore, tallying 93 points in just three games.
Already this season, she’s averaging about 30 points per game, scored 456 points total, and dished out 78 assists.
“I grew up in Peoria, Illinois,” Jordan said.
Peoria is a town of over 100 thousand people, meaning its environment is quite different
from Commerce.
“I think the pace, just the pace of life,” Jordan said about the differences between life in Peoria and Texas. “The focus on what sports was very different. Growing up in Illinois, it was, like, basketball, basketball. Texas is more like football slash basketball. I think that was very different for me. Basketball was always the main thing growing up in Illinois.
“I think that was the reason I kind of took to it. It was always around, it was something that when I picked up the ball I fell in love with as soon as I did it.”
In high school, Jordan became a major prospect. She was even selected to be a part of the McDonald’s All-American Team as a senior, as well as the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association game. Unfortunately, due to personal reasons, she was unable to attend either game.
From high school, she went on to attend Temple University in Philadelphia. There, she was able to play under many top coaches, one of which was Dawn Staley, a three-time Olympic gold medalist with the women’s basketball team.
Jordan performed fairly well in her freshman year, playing in 30 of 31 games and averaging seven points per game. However, after one full season, she decided to change things up a bit.
“Things ended up not going so well after my first year was complete,” Jordan said. “The beginning of my sophomore year, I made the decision to give basketball a rest for a while. I had a lot of things going on with me as a person, and I think I needed to get straightened out and figure out what was important to me at that time.”
In the two years Jordan spent outside of basketball, many coaches tried contacting her about returning to the game, one of which was A&M-Commerce’s own Denny Downing. However, this did not change her thought process, as she knew it was time to settle down.
“You have to go back to what got you there. I think I had to start living for me. I think a lot of times, people and athletes get caught up in what’s going on around them and pleasing people, they forget what’s important and why you started playing,” Jordan said. “I made the decision myself to come back and play basketball. The game had been good to me, and I wanted to give back to what it had done for me.”
Downing continued to monitor Jordan, and convinced her to become a Lion.
“What set him away and made him different from other coaches was he was interested in me as a person,” Jordan said. “To me, that’s a lot, you know? I’m big on people, and I got from him that it wasn’t just about basketball, it was about people also.”
Jordan has found success with the Lions and says she wouldn’t trade away her sophomore year for anything. Her few years as a part of A&M-Commerce have proved beneficial to women’s basketball. Now, in her senior year, the success only continues
“I think senior year, you always want to go out on top, you always want to go out with a bang,” Jordan said. “So, of course it’s an important year. I think it was just as important to give back to the seniors when you’re not a senior as it is when you are a senior. You want to put in your dues so when you are a senior, people can respect you and give you that same work ethic and that same 110% that you know you gave other seniors.”
Jordan says she has no regrets about how her college basketball career has gone.
Another decision about basketball is fast approaching her, however, with the possibility of the WNBA.
“That question’s kind of been buzzing a little bit now,” Jordan said. “I think some people have contacted my coach. I think I’m capable of going to the next level, it’s just a matter of if I get the right looks. I’ve played with a lot of players that are in the league right now. Being able to be in that atmosphere and be able to play with those types of players and play against them, I think it would be fun. I would be appreciative to get anywhere and be able to play.”