Brittney Griner says Baylor's stance on homosexuality caused 'pain'

Brittney Griner averaged 12.6 points and 6.3 rebounds in her rookie season in the WNBA. (Barry Gossage/Getty Images) Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner averaged 12.6 points and 6.3 rebounds in her rookie season in the WNBA. (Barry Gossage/Getty Images)

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner covers a number of topics in her new book, In My Skin. 

It includes how her school, Baylor University, dealt with the topic of her homosexuality.

The book, hits stores April 8. USA Today was provided with an advanced copy.

In excerpts from the book, Griner said she felt pain at Baylor even though she received support for her sexual orientation.

"I would love to be an ambassador for Baylor, to show my school pride, but it's hard to do that — it's hard to stand up and say, 'Baylor is the best!' — when the administration has a written policy against homosexuality," Griner wrote."I've spent too much of my life being made to feel like there's something wrong with me. And no matter how much support I felt as a basketball player at Baylor, it still doesn't erase all the pain I felt there."

Griner helped Baylor win a national championship in 2012. In 2013, the Bears were ranked No. 1 and had won 32 straight games before they were upset by Louisville in the Sweet 16. The Mercury drafted Griner No. 1 overall in the 2013 WNBA draft.

"Cracks existed beneath the surface. And the game against Louisville, with the pressure cranked up, blew those cracks wide open ... I didn't deliver the way I usually did, and Kim got outcoached. We both underperformed," Griner said.