Ashley Walker (basketball)

Last updated

Ashley Walker
Personal information
Born (1987-02-24) February 24, 1987 (age 36)
Stockton, California
NationalityAmerican / Romanian
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school Grace M. Davis
(Modesto, California)
College California (2005–2009)
WNBA draft 2009: 1st round, 12th overall pick
Selected by the Seattle Storm
Position Power forward / center
Career history
2009 Seattle Storm
2010 Tulsa Shock
2013 Connecticut Sun
2019 Los Angeles Sparks
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Ashley Walker (born February 24, 1987) is an American-Romanian professional basketball player. She plays the forward position for the Reyer Venezia in the Italian Serie A1.

Contents

Personal life

She was born Ashley Jeneen Walker on February 24, 1987, in Stockton, California. Walker is the daughter of Tiran and Jackie Walker. She has an older brother, Tiran Jr., who plays basketball in England. Her relative James Hardy played basketball for the New Orleans/Utah Jazz of the NBA. She was an American Studies major at the University of California, Berkeley.

High School career

Ashley attended Grace M. Davis High School in Modesto, California. [1] She was named to the Cal-Hi Sports all-state team and league MVP as a senior after averaging 21 points, 20 rebounds, five assists and six blocks per game at Grace Davis. Walker also competed on the varsity volleyball team for four years and the track and field team for one year. She claimed the 2004 conference high jump title and was picked to the all-conference volleyball team three times. [2]

College career

Walker attended the University of California. She played four seasons with the Bears of Cal. She played the forward position and the center position. Walker was the only player in Cal history to score at least 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, 200 assists, and 100 blocks. She recorded 47 career double-doubles. She is ranked first in Cal history for rebounds, free-throws made, and free-throws attempted.

As a freshman, she was one of three Cal players picked to the Pac-10 All-Freshman squad, marking the first time a conference team had more than two selections. As a sophomore Walker was selected to the All-Pac-10 team along with Devanei Hampton, marking only the second time in school history that the Bears placed two players on the All-Pac-10 squad. When she became a junior she became one of only four Cal players to garner first-team All-Pac-10 honors at least twice. She was named to the Pac-10 All-Defensive team and Sports Illustrated second-team All-American. As a junior, she became the 17th Cal player to reach the 1,000-point milestone. As a senior at Cal she was the 2008–09 Pac-10 scoring leader averaging 19.8 points per game. She was named to the First team All-Pac-10 and First team Pac-10 All-Defensive team. [3]

WNBA career

Walker declared for the WNBA draft after 4 seasons at the University of California. She was selected 12th overall in the 2009 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm. [4] She joined WNBA veterans Sue Bird, Swin Cash, and Lauren Jackson. Seattle waived Ashley during the start of the 2010 season. She would then sign with the Tulsa Shock, but was later waived by them as well. In February 2011 she was signed to a training camp contract with the San Antonio Silver Stars for the upcoming season, but would be waived. She signed with the Washington Mystics for the 2012 season. Then, after a short period in Romania, she joined the Connecticut Sun in 2013. In February 2019, Walker signed with the Los Angeles Sparks. [5] She scored 28 points and eight rebounds in two games before being cut in training camp. Walker returned to the Sparks roster in June 2019 as a result of an injury hardship exception. [6] In her regular season debut with the Sparks on June 6, Walker posted two points, two rebounds, three assists, and one steal in a loss to the Connecticut Sun. [7]

International career

Walker signed to play with Maccabi Ashdod in Israel for the 2009–2010 off-season. [8] She would go on to take the league MVP honor after her season there, as her team was runner-up in the Israeli league finals. For the 2010–2011 season she would go back to Israel to play for Maccabi Ramat Hen. Prior to going back to Israel in 2010 she played in the Ukraine for Dynamo NPU. For the 2011-2012 WNBA off-season she would go to Turkey to play for Ceyhan Belediyespor. In 2013, she signed for CSM Târgovişte in Romania.

Statistics

College

Source [9]

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
Year Team GP Points FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2005-06 California 30 398 49.5 25.0 68.0 7.7 1.6 1.51.713.3
2006-07 California 32 552 53.2 - 76.7 8.7 2.2 1.3 1.3 17.3
2007-08 California 34520 51.4 - 78.19.32.41.2 1.3 15.3
2008-09 California 3467255.341.976.2 8.6 1.7 1.4 1.0 19.8
Career California 130 2142 52.7 35.0 75.3 8.6 2.0 1.4 1.3 16.5

WNBA

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold Career best°League leader

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2009 Seattle 1306.9.250.167.8001.80.30.20.20.51.8
2010 Tulsa 204.5.000.0000.00.01.00.01.00.0
2013 Connecticut 707.9.294.2501.0002.30.30.30.40.91.9
2019 Los Angeles 307.3.091.0001.01.00.30.00.00.7
Career4 years, 4 teams2507.0.220.150.8181.70.40.30.20.61.5

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2009 Seattle 101.00.00.00.00.01.00.0

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Leslie</span> American basketball player (born 1972)

Lisa Deshaun Leslie is an American former professional basketball player. She is currently the head coach for Triplets in the BIG3 professional basketball league, as well as a studio analyst for Orlando Magic broadcasts on Bally Sports Florida. In 2002, Leslie made history as the first player to dunk during a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) game. Leslie was ranked 5th on ESPN.com's 2021 list of the WNBA's greatest players of all time.

Jamila Wideman is an American lawyer, activist, and former professional basketball player. She is the daughter of author John Edgar Wideman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley Paris</span> American basketball player (born 1987)

Ashley Paris is an American basketball player. She is the twin sister of former WNBA center Courtney Paris, who last played for the Seattle Storm and is currently an assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma. She has been nationally recognized for her basketball achievements at the University of Oklahoma. She was selected on April 9, 2009 with 22nd overall pick in the 2009 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nneka Ogwumike</span> American basketball player

Nnemkadi Chinwe Victoria "Nneka" Ogwumike is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), after being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2012 WNBA draft. Soon after being drafted, Ogwumike signed an endorsement deal with Nike. She is the older sister of Chiney Ogwumike, who also plays for the Sparks. Ogwumike was named WNBA MVP for the 2016 WNBA season and won the WNBA Finals the same year She was named to The W25 the league's list of the top 25 players of its first 25 years, in 2021.

Alexis Amber Gray-Lawson is a basketball player who most recently played for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association. She was the 2010 recipient of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith award, which is presented by the WBCA annually to 'the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division I female basketball player who stands 5'8" tall or under".

Charmin Smith is an American basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the California Golden Bears women's team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Golden Bears women's basketball</span> College womens basketball team representing the University of California, Berkeley

The California Golden Bears women's basketball team is the women's college basketball team of the University of California, Berkeley. The program has been to the NCAA tournament a total of nine times, and won three conference championships. The current head coach is Charmin Smith, who was hired on June 21, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chiney Ogwumike</span> American basketball player

Chinenye "Chiney" Ogwumike is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In 2020, she became the first Black woman and the first WNBA player to host a national radio show for ESPN. She was one of the first and youngest commentators ever to be named an NBA analyst for the network covering the NBA, WNBA, and variety of sports, while simultaneously playing in the WNBA. Chiney is a graduate of Stanford University, where she majored in International relations. She played in three Final Fours and finished as the conference leader in scoring and rebounding as of January 3, 2014. As of 2016, Ogwumike was elected Vice-President of the WNBA Players Association, and signed an endorsement deal with Adidas. In May 2018, Ogwumike signed a multi-year contract with ESPN to become a full-time basketball analyst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Layshia Clarendon</span> American basketball player

Layshia Renee Clarendon is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Clarendon is the first openly non-binary WNBA player, and the first active WNBA player to complete a top surgery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelsea Gray</span> American basketball player (born 1992)

Chelsea Nichelle Gray is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was the eleventh pick in the 2014 WNBA draft. She missed the 2014 WNBA season due to injury, but she made her debut with the Sun in the 2015 WNBA season. Gray won her first title with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016. She won her second title with the Las Vegas Aces in the 2022 WNBA Finals, where she was named Finals MVP, and a third title the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivan Rabb</span> American basketball player (born 1997)

Ivan Charles Rabb Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the California Golden Bears. Growing up in California, he was named the top high school player in the state as a senior in 2015. He also received national recognition as an All-American. As a freshman with the Golden Bears, Rabb earned second-team all-conference honors in the Pac-12. He was named first-team All-Pac-12 as a sophomore before being selected in the second round of the 2017 NBA draft. He began his pro career playing two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brittany Boyd</span> American basketball player

Brittany Boyd-Jones is an American basketball free agent in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She previously played for the Chicago Sky. She played college basketball for the California Golden Bears. She was selected by New York in the first round of the 2015 WNBA draft with the ninth overall pick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reshanda Gray</span> American basketball player

Reshanda Gray is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the California Golden Bears and was named the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year as a senior in 2015. She was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2015 WNBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katie Lou Samuelson</span> American basketball player

Katie Lou Samuelson is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the UConn Huskies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristine Anigwe</span> Professional basketball player

Kristine Chioma Anigwe is an American professional basketball player for the Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Çukurova Basketbol in the Women's Basketball Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karlie Samuelson</span> American basketball player

Karlie Anne Samuelson is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Townsville Fire of the Australian Women's National Basketball League. In college, Samuelson played for Stanford University. Her sisters are Bonnie and Katie Lou Samuelson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordin Canada</span> American basketball player

Jordin Elizabeth Canada is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was selected by the Seattle Storm with the 5th overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Canada played collegiately with the UCLA Bruins. She is known for her playmaking, speed and crossover skills. In her rookie season with the Storm, she won her first WNBA championship as they swept the Washington Mystics. In 2020, after winning her second WNBA championship, she signed an endorsement deal with Air Jordan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megan Walker</span> American basketball player

Megan Kayla Walker is an American professional basketball player. She played college basketball for the UConn Huskies. Walker was selected to the first team All-American by the Associated Press (AP) and by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) in 2020.

Jasmine Walker is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She previously played for the College side Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kianna Smith</span> American basketball player

Kianna Smith is an American-South Korean professional basketball free agent in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the California Golden Bears and the Louisville Cardinals. Smith graduated from Troy High School in Fullerton, California, where she was rated a five-star recruit by ESPN and earned McDonald's All-American honors.

References

  1. "Ashley Walker - Women's Basketball". California Golden Bears Athletics. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  2. "Cal player profile High School Section". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011.
  3. "Cal player profile". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011.
  4. "Seattle Storm take Walker with the 12th pick". Archived from the original on April 13, 2009.
  5. "Sparks Sign Ashley Walker". sparks.wnba.com. February 6, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  6. "Sparks bring back Ashley Walker using injury hardship exception". Daily News. June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  7. "Los Angeles Sparks @ Connecticut Sun: June 6, 2019". ESPN . June 6, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  8. "Ashley Walker Scores Big as Assistant Basketball Coach at Boston University | UAGC".
  9. "Women's Basketball Player stats". NCAA. Retrieved September 22, 2015.