No. 1–Chicago Sky | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Center / power forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||
League | WNBA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Colchester, England | June 23, 1993|||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | Nigerian/American | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
High school | Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Virginia) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
College | Duke (2011–2015) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
WNBA draft | 2015: 1st round, 4th overall pick | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Selected by the Connecticut Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career | 2015–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | Connecticut Sun | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2015–2016 | İstanbul Üniversitesi | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2016–2021 | Atlanta Dream | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2016–2017 | Nadezhda Orenburg | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2017–2018 | Liaoning Flying Eagles | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2018–2019 | Botaş | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2019–2020 | Fenerbahçe | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2020–2021 | Botaş | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2021–2022 | Fenerbahçe | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | Washington Mystics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2023–2024 | Çukurova Basketbol | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2023–present | Chicago Sky | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stats at WNBA.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stats at Basketball Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
|
Elizabeth Olatayo Williams (born June 23, 1993) is a British-born Nigerian-American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was the longest standing member of the Atlanta Dream until she signed with the Mystics. [1] After immigrating from Colchester, Essex, England, she played her college career at Duke University. Then, she was drafted by the Connecticut Sun 4th overall in the 2015 WNBA draft, and was traded to Atlanta after only one year with the Sun.
Williams was selected to be a member of the first ever U16 team for USA Basketball. The team competed in the First FIBA Americas U16 Championship For Women held in Mexico City, Mexico in August 2009. She led the team leader in rebounds, with 5.2 per game, and averaged 13.4 points per game, second highest on the team. She tied Breanna Stewart for the most number of blocks per game, recording 7 per game. She helped the team to a 5–0 record and the gold medal at the competition. The win secured an automatic bid to the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship. Williams was named the Most Valuable Player in the Championship. [2]
Williams continued with the team as it became the U17 team. The team competed in the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women, held in Rodez & Toulouse, France during July 2010. Williams helped the team win the gold medal and an 8–0 record. She was the leading scorer, averaging 13.5 points per game and hit 61.8% of her shots, highest on the team and second highest among all participants. She led the team in rebounds, averaging 7.6 per game. She recorded 16 blocks, second highest on the team. Williams started strong, recording a double-double in the opening game against France, and again, with 20 points and 14 rebounds in the second game against Russia. [3]
In 2011, Williams was selected to be on the USA basketball U19 team at the U19 World Championship, held in Puerto Montt, Chile.The USA won their first five games, but then came up short, losing to Canada 64–52. They were still qualified for the medal round, and played France in the quarterfinal. The USA was down by as much as 13 points early in the game, but took a lead with just over a minute to go in the game and ended up with the win 70–64. The USA took an early lead in the semi-final against Brazil, and went on to win to qualify for the gold medal game. The final game was against Spain. Williams was one of three USA players with 15 points in the game, along with Stefanie Dolson and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis who helped the USA win the gold medal 69–46. Williams averaged 8.9 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game to help the US to an 8–1 record and the gold medal in the Championship game. [4]
Williams played at Duke for four seasons. During her last year she averaged 14.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Her assist average was the highest of any center in the country in the Atlantic Coast Conference women's basketball league. She ended her career with 426 total blocks, the ninth highest in NCAA history. [5]
Williams was drafted fourth overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2015 WNBA draft. Her rookie season was her only season with the Sun, where she averaged 3.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game.
She was traded to the Atlanta Dream for the 2016 WNBA season. For 2016, after experiencing increased per game averages of 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks, she won the WNBA Most Improved Player Award.
Williams led a basketball driven campaign to force Atlanta team owner Senator Kelly Loeffler to renege on her comments about the Black Lives Matter movement. Williams was also a part of a campaign consisting of Atlanta Dream players to elect Loeffler's opponent, Raphael Warnock, the eventual winner of the 2020-21 special election for US senator of Georgia. [6]
In an article for The Players' Tribune published on February 4, 2022, Williams detailed the circumstances and her rationales behind her decision to sign with the Washington Mystics for her eighth WNBA season. [7]
She was born in England to Nigerian parents. Williams' younger brother, Mark, played college basketball at Duke and was selected 15th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2022 NBA draft. [9] [10]
GP | Games 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 |
Stats current through end of 2024 season
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | Connecticut | 21 | 0 | 11.7 | .528 | — | .560 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 3.3 |
2016 | Atlanta | 34° | 34° | 34.7° | .442 | .000 | .692 | 8.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 11.9 |
2017 | Atlanta | 34 | 34° | 31.4 | .485 | .000 | .659 | 7.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 10.4 |
2018 | Atlanta | 33 | 32 | 26.8 | .548 | — | .563 | 5.8 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 9.1 |
2019 | Atlanta | 32 | 32 | 28.4 | .455 | — | .732 | 6.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 9.3 |
2020 | Atlanta | 22° | 22° | 29.2 | .489 | — | .742 | 5.7 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 10.1 |
2021 | Atlanta | 32° | 32° | 23.8 | .516 | — | .509 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 5.8 |
2022 | Washington | 30 | 0 | 14.9 | .482 | — | .581 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 5.4 |
2023 | Chicago | 40° | 40° | 29.7 | .514 | — | .630 | 5.8 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 9.8 |
2024 | Chicago | 9 | 9 | 27.7 | .487 | — | .667 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 10.0 |
Career | 10 years, 4 teams | 287 | 235 | 26.4 | .489 | .000 | .648 | 5.9 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 8.6 |
All-Star | 1 | 0 | 14.2 | .500 | .000 | .500 | 7.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 8.0 |
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Atlanta | 2 | 2 | 38.5 | .381 | — | .778 | 12.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 11.5 |
2018 | Atlanta | 5 | 5 | 31.4 | .511 | — | .545 | 8.8 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 10.8 |
2022 | Washington | 2 | 0 | 5.5 | 1.000 | — | .250 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2.5 |
2023 | Chicago | 2 | 2 | 33.0 | .286 | — | .000 | 10.0 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 4.0 |
Career | 4 years, 3 teams | 11 | 9 | 28.3 | .452 | — | .560 | 8.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 8.2 |
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011-12 | Duke | 33 | 33 | 30.5 | .486 | .500 | .607 | 7.8 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 14.0 |
2012–13 | Duke | 36 | 32 | 29.5 | .508 | .000 | .695 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 15.2 |
2013–14 | Duke | 35 | 34 | 30.5 | .526 | — | .563 | 7.6 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 13.8 |
2014–15 | Duke | 32 | 31 | 32.0 | .488 | — | .599 | 9.0 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 14.5 |
Career | 136 | 130 | 30.6 | .502 | .333 | .619 | 7.9 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 14.4 |
Nicole Kristen Powell is an American basketball coach who was the head women's basketball coach at University of California, Riverside. As a player, she had a standout collegiate career at Stanford University, Powell had an 11-year WNBA career most notably with the Sacramento Monarchs where she was an All-Star and won a WNBA Championship. Powell also played professionally overseas for Fenerbahçe Istanbul. Powell had previously served on the coaching staffs at Gonzaga, Oregon, and Grand Canyon before being named the head coach of UC Riverside in March 2020.
Chamique Shaunta Holdsclaw is an American former professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She announced her retirement from the Los Angeles Sparks on June 11, 2007, though she eventually came out of retirement to play with the Atlanta Dream for the 2009 WNBA Season. Holdsclaw was inducted into the NYC Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015, and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
Ann Elise Strother is an American basketball coach, and former professional player, most recently for the Indiana Fever. Strother played at the collegiate level for the Connecticut Huskies, helping the team to two national titles.
Lynn Pride is an American former collegiate and professional basketball player.
Loree Marlowe Moore is a former professional basketball player for the New York Liberty in the WNBA.
Courtney Paris is an American basketball coach and former player. She is currently an assistant coach for the Dallas Wings of the WNBA. She last played as a center for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is best known for her accomplishments during her college career at the University of Oklahoma, where she holds career averages of 21.4 points and 15.3 rebounds per game. She holds the NCAA record for most consecutive double-doubles at 112. During her senior season in 2009, Paris received considerable media attention when she announced that she would pay back her tuition to the University of Oklahoma if the Sooners did not win the 2009 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament. She would lead Oklahoma to the Final Four before falling short to eventual national runner-up Louisville. Paris was selected with the number seven overall pick by the now-defunct Sacramento Monarchs in the 2009 WNBA draft.
Crystal Allison Langhorne is an American former basketball player of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played for the University of Maryland Terrapins. In 2008 she was drafted by the Washington Mystics.
Nnemkadi Chinwe Victoria "Nneka" Ogwumike is an American professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks first overall in the 2012 WNBA draft and signed an endorsement deal with Nike soon after. Ogwumike spent 12 seasons with the Sparks and 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.
Tina Alexandria Charles is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Super League and EuroLeague Women for the off season. Originally from Jamaica, Queens, New York City, Charles was drafted first overall in the 2010 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun. In 2009 and 2010, she and teammate Maya Moore led the Connecticut Huskies to two undefeated national championships. She has won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was inducted into the NYC Basketball Hall of Fame at the head of the Class of 2024 - the first female to head a class at any major basketball hall of fame and the first active player ever inducted.
Marissa Coleman is an American former professional basketball player.
Erlana La'Nay Larkins is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent.
Monica Ashante Wright Rogers is an American basketball executive and former player and coach. She played college basketball for Virginia and was selected second overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2010 WNBA draft. Outside of the WNBA, she played professionally in Poland, Turkey, Australia, South Korea and Iceland. She is currently the assistant general manager for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.
Kaleena Jordan Mosqueda-Lewis is an American former professional basketball player. Prior to enrolling at the University of Connecticut she played for Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. She played on the USA Basketball U16 National Team, where she helped the team win the FIBA Americas U16 Championship Gold Medal. Mosqueda-Lewis was named the 2011 State Farm/WBCA High School Player of the Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. In 2015 Mosqueda-Lewis was drafted third overall by the Seattle Storm, going on to win a WNBA championship with the franchise in 2018.
Breanna Mackenzie Stewart, nicknamed "Stewie", is an American professional basketball player for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is one of the most accomplished players in basketball history.
Morgan Tuck is an American former professional basketball player. She played her first four WNBA seasons with the Connecticut Sun. She won 4 consecutive NCAA championships with the University of Connecticut. She completed her high school career at Bolingbrook High School in Bolingbrook, Illinois. She played on the USA Basketball U17, U18 and U19 teams, where she helped each team win a gold medal.
Moriah Jefferson is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted second overall by the San Antonio Stars in the 2016 WNBA draft. Jefferson played point guard for UConn women's basketball team, where she won four consecutive national championships. She finished her UConn career ranked first in assists, second in steals, and as a two-time winner of the Nancy Lieberman Award as the top point guard in the nation. On May 16, 2019, Jefferson was traded to the Dallas Wings.
Kiah Irene Stokes is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was selected by the New York Liberty with the No. 11 pick in the first round of the 2015 WNBA draft.
Erica McCall is an American professional basketball player. She played college basketball at Stanford University and completed her high school education at Ridgeview High School in Bakersfield, California.
Linnae Harper is an American professional basketball player. She completed her college education at Ohio State University. She completed her high school education at Whitney M. Young High School in Chicago, Illinois. She has played on seven USA Basketball teams in Americas and world competition.
Lorela Cubaj is an Italian professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Umana Reyer Venezia of the Lega Basket Femminile. She played college basketball at Georgia Tech. She was drafted by the Seattle Storm in the 2022 WNBA draft and played for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. She was waived by the team during her rookie season on July 1, 2022 after playing 11 games.