Alayna Gribble’s career ends with medical disqualification

Pitt head coach Lance White delivered some tough news on Friday afternoon, as he announced that the career of Panthers guard Alayna Gribble had come to an end. The former Norwin High School standout suffered several concussions during her playing career and was medically disqualified from the team.

”Alayna Gribble is the epitome of what we look for in a student-athlete, and we are heartbroken for her having to give up the game she loves,” White said. “She has not only performed at a high level on the basketball court, but also off the court as she has represented the city of Pittsburgh and the people in this amazing city in the brightest of lights.”

During her collegiate career, Gribble appeared in 52 games for the Panthers and made 15 starts between 2016 and 2018. She averaged 7.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists. This season, she got off to a hot start, as she came off the bench to score 17 points in 16 minutes against New Orleans. However, Gribble only played in just three games after that before health issues forced her to the bench.

Prior to her arrival at Pitt, Gribble was a local standout in the WPIAL. She won back-to-back championships with Norwin, where she was the school’s all-time leading scorer, with 1,782 points. For her efforts, she was named the Tribune-Review Player of the Year twice as well as the Post-Gazette Player of the Year in 2016.

Unfortunately, after choosing to stay home and attend Pitt, Gribble's career will end with questions of what might have been. She discussed her disqualification in a statement.

”Although I can no longer play basketball with my team, I will be on the sidelines cheering them on and providing any insight that I can to help our team be successful,” Gribble said. “I am thankful for the opportunities that basketball has provided me, especially the opportunity to be part of the Pitt women’s basketball team and the opportunity to attend an amazing university and receive a world-class education."

”To the young basketball players out there: Do not take the game of basketball for granted because you never know when you will play your last game. Embrace all of the opportunities that basketball can provide and appreciate the journey. I am excited for the next chapter of my life. Hail to Pitt.”

Pitt will honor Gribble’s scholarship, providing her with medical care while she finishes the requirements for her accounting degree.