| Michelle Snow, center for the Women's National Basketball Association;s Houston Comets, is not one to wear her emotions on her sleeve. The six-foot, five-inch Snow, however, is not ashamed to display the source of her blessings while she runs the court during her games.
"I keep the initials IJN, which stands for In Jesus Name, on my shoes," said Snow, who is sure to acknowledge her Lord and Savior at every opportunity.
"On every free throw made I raise my hands and let Him know. At times, during a game, I raise my hand up. People might think I'm saying, "I'm number one, but I'm actually giving Him all the glory, because I know that it's only because of Him that I'm successful. I only want to give Him all the glory and all the praise."
After two WNBA seasons, Snow has quickly established herself as one of the league's top defensive centers. The 10th overall pick by the Comets in the 2002 draft, the former University of Tennessee all-America honorable mention now ranks among the WNBA's leaders in rebounds and blocked shots. In a game during the 2003 season, Snow hauled in a franchise record 16 rebounds.
As she continues to improve her game to meet the challenges that face her in basketball, Snow is also focused on growing in her walk with Jesus Christ "I can't do anything without Him," added Snow. "Every step I take He's guiding me, watching over me and molding me."
Snow is fortunate to have been raised in a Christian home with a strong support system around her. Still, there are many challenges and temptations that she must contend with in a life that is played out in the public eye. By continually reading her Bible, being prayerful and spending time with fellow Christians, she finds herself strengthened for her journey.
"I think it helps me when I have teammates who are Christians," added Snow, whose head coach Van Chancellor is a devout Christian. "I also attend chapel before the games. All these things keep me grounded and remind me who got me here and why I'm here. I was always taught to believe that without God, you can't do anything but fail."
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