Jessica Breland

Last updated

Jessica Breland
Jessica Breland cropped.jpg
Free agent
Position Forward
League WNBA
Personal information
Born (1988-02-23) February 23, 1988 (age 36)
New York City, New York
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight166 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High school Bertie (Windsor, North Carolina)
College North Carolina (2006–2011)
WNBA draft 2011: 2nd round, 13th overall pick
Selected by the Minnesota Lynx
Playing career2011–present
Career history
2011 New York Liberty
2011 Connecticut Sun
2013 Indiana Fever
20142017 Chicago Sky
20182019 Atlanta Dream
2020 Phoenix Mercury
2021 Indiana Fever
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Jessica Nicole Breland (born February 23, 1988) is an American basketball player for the who is currently a free agent.

Contents

High school

Born in New York City, [1] Breland grew up in Kelford, North Carolina, [1] and attended Bertie High School in Windsor where she was a three-sport athlete participating in volleyball and track & field and basketball. In her senior year she averaged 22 points per game and 12 rebounds for the Falcons basketball team. She was an All-American selection by McDonald's, the WBCA, and Parade Magazine, 2nd team All-American selection by EA Sports, 3rd-Team Street and Smith's All-America pick, Gatorade Player of the Year in North Carolina as a senior, and a USA U18 Women's National Team Trials Invitee. [2]

College

Jessica Breland at North Carolina Jessica Breland at Connecticut.jpg
Jessica Breland at North Carolina

In 2009, when playing for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Breland was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph system. She underwent chemotherapy and had to sit out the 2009–10 season, but recovered. [1] In 2011, Breland was awarded the Honda Inspiration Award which is given to a collegiate athlete "who has overcome hardship and was able to return to play at the collegiate level". [3] [4] [5]

North Carolina statistics

Source [6]

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
YearTeamGPPointsFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2006-07North Carolina3724154.4%42.9%67.8%4.50.80.91.36.5
2007-08North Carolina3638053.1%15.4%70.2%7.11.21.12.110.6
2008-09North Carolina3549351.3%46.7%76.7%8.51.71.53.114.1
2009-10North Carolinaredshirt
2010-11North Carolina3442144.2%24.0%65.7%7.11.61.11.912.4
Career142153550.0%30.0%70.8%6.81.31.22.110.8

WNBA

Breland was selected in the second round of the 2011 WNBA draft (13th overall) by the Minnesota Lynx. [7] She was then traded to New York. She signed a free agent contract with the Chicago Sky in 2014.

On February 2, 2018, Breland signed a contract with the Atlanta Dream. [8]

On February 19, 2020, Breland was traded to the Phoenix Mercury in a three-team deal.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Heyman, Brian (May 21, 2011). "Rookie in W.N.B.A. Who Is Veteran in Life's Lessons Faces Battle to Make Liberty". New York Times . Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  2. Bullock, Chris (August 25, 2015). "Jessica Breland and her resilient rise to success". Swish Appeal. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  3. Staff, S. I. "North Carolina's Breland wins Inspiration Award". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  4. "Awards Overview". CWSA. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  5. "Past Inspiration Award Winners". CWSA. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  6. "NCAA Statistics". web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  7. http://www.wnba.com draft2011/draft_board.html 2011 WNBA Draft board
  8. Kennedy, Rene’ (February 1, 2018). "Atlanta making moves early in free agency". SwishAppeal.com. Retrieved February 2, 2018.