(Screenshot via YouTube)

Washington Mystics center Stefanie Dolson came out publicly in an editorial co-written with ESPN writer Katie Barnes for ESPN The Magazine.

Dolson, who is known for her purple hair as much as her athleticism, says she never considered dating women until her first WNBA off-season when a woman approached her in a D.C. coffee shop. Although Dolson does not specifically label her sexuality she says “I’m not attracted to someone’s gender. I’m attracted to their energy as a being.”

The Mystics center says she doesn’t think everyone in the WNBA needs to disclose their sexuality but she felt “called to lead an authentic life in the open.”

“There are a lot of girls who struggle being who they are. We need people who are out so that those girls know it’s OK to be themselves, regardless of stereotypes. By being open, I give them someone to look up to, and however they identify, I can inspire them to support equality and LGBT issues,” Dolson writes.

“We’re not as far along as we could be, where everyone is comfortable talking about LGBT issues and being open about their sexuality. I think it will require more people being out and sponsors and leagues supporting that movement in a meaningful way to take a bigger step forward,” Dolson continues.

Dolson notes that her sexuality is more fluid and that individuals in the LGBT community are varied but says she is just being herself.

“I just am who I am. And I’m happy,” Dolson concludes.