Denique Graves

Last updated
Denique Graves
Personal information
Born (1975-09-16) September 16, 1975 (age 50)
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school University City
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
College Howard (1993–1997)
WNBA draft 1997: 2nd round, 15th overall pick
Drafted by Sacramento Monarchs
Position Center
Number33
Career history
Playing
1997 Sacramento Monarchs
Coaching
2008–2009 Binghamton (assistant)
2010–2011 CC of Philadelphia
2012 Keystone College
Career highlights
  • 3× All-MEAC (1995–1997)
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Denique Monai Graves (born September 16, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player. She played for the Sacramento Monarchs in the Women's National Basketball Association's first season.

Contents

College career

Graves left Howard as its fifth all-time leading scorer and fourth all-time leading rebounder. [1] [2]

Professional career

Graves was selected with the 14th overall pick (2nd round, 7th pick) by the Sacramento Monarchs on April 28, 1997. This made her the first player in the WNBA to be drafted from a HBCU (Historically Black College or University). Her debut game was played on June 21, 1997 in a 73–61 win over the Utah Starzz where she recorded two points, three rebounds and two blocks in three minutes of playing time. [3] In her 22nd and final career WNBA game, on August 24, 1997, when the Monarchs defeated the Houston Comets 68–58, Graves recording one rebound and one missed field goal in five minutes and 28 seconds of playing time. [4]

Graves' rookie season was her only season in the WNBA, in which she played 22 games and averaging 4.9 minutes a game. Graves was waived by the Monarchs on May 25, 1998, preceding the 1998 WNBA season. After missing out on the 1998 and 1999 seasons entirely, Graves was signed as a free agent to the Washington Mystics on May 2, 2000. She was waived nine days later on May 11, inevitably not playing in the 2000 season. [5]

Attempting another WNBA comeback, Graves signed a contract with the Orlando Miracle on April 30, 2001. She did not make it past the final round of cuts, being released on May 27, the day before the 2001 WNBA season started. [6] This was her last attempt at returning to the WNBA.

Graves finished her career with totals of 16 points (.7 ppg), 15 rebounds (.7 rpg), and six blocks (.3 bpg). [7]

Personal life

At Howard Graves made the Dean's List three years and earned a bachelor's degree in Science. She graduated in 2008. She joined Keystone College's women's basketball coaching staff in 2012. [8]

Career statistics

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

WNBA

Source [7]

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
1997 Sacramento 2203.9.222.500.7.0.0.3.5.7

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
1993–94 Howard 29--54.00.051.98.80.40.51.1-15.1
1994–95 Howard 24--50.80.044.98.40.80.52.3-14.0
1995–96 Howard 28--46.70.057.78.90.60.72.6-14.4
1996–97 Howard 27--43.40.052.08.20.70.42.4-12.1
Career108--48.70.052.28.60.60.52.1-13.9
Statistics retrieved from Sports-Reference. [9]

References

  1. GRAVES IS DRAFTED BY WNBA - The Washington Post
  2. "Too Much Of A Presence - tribunedigital-thecourant".
  3. "Sacramento Monarchs at Utah Starzz, June 21, 1997". Basketball Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  4. "Sacramento Monarchs at Houston Comets, August 24, 1997". Basketball Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  5. "2000 Washington Mystics Transactions". Basketball Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  6. Staff Reports (1 June 2001). "Miracle Fired Up to Snuff Sparks". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Denique Graves WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference . Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  8. "Keystone Athletics Former WNBA Player Graves Joins Keystone's Coaching Staff".
  9. "Denique Graves College Stats". Sports-Reference . Retrieved April 11, 2024.