Rachel Banham

Last updated
Rachel Banham
Rachel Banham 2021.png
Banham playing in 2021
No. 24–Chicago Sky
Position Point guard
League WNBA
Personal information
Born (1993-07-15) July 15, 1993 (age 31)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight181 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school Lakeville North
(Lakeville, Minnesota)
College Minnesota (2011–2016)
WNBA draft 2016: 1st round, 4th overall pick
Selected by the Connecticut Sun
Playing career2016–present
Career history
As player:
2016–2019 Connecticut Sun
2020–2023 Minnesota Lynx
2024 Connecticut Sun
2024–present Chicago Sky
As coach:
2023–present Minnesota (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Rachel Banham (born July 15, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Banham played guard for the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball team, where she set a number of team records. Banham was drafted by the Connecticut Sun with the 4th pick of the 2016 WNBA draft. [1] Banham was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in 2020, [2] and later re-signed with the Sun in 2024.

Contents

Early life

Banham was born on July 15, 1993, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [3]

Banham went to Lakeville North High School in Lakeville, Minnesota and graduated in 2011. She started on the varsity basketball team as an 8th grade student. During her senior year, she averaged 17.8 points per game, 5.3 rebounds, and four assists. With these numbers she led her squad to a 29–3 record and a conference championship. [4]

College career

After graduating from high school, Banham continued her education and basketball career at the University of Minnesota. Banham started all 36 games her freshman year, and was named Freshman All American First Team and Big Ten Freshman of the Year. During her freshman year, (2011–2012) she averaged 16.1 points per game which ranked her 97th in the nation. Her sophomore year (2012–2013) she averaged 20.7 points per game which was good enough for second-leading sophomore scorer in NCAA Division I. As a Junior (2013–2014) Banham averaged 22.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. At the start of her senior season (2014–2015) Banham had only played 10 games before she suffered a season ending ACL injury. Before she tore her ACL, Banham was on ESPN's top 5 players to watch in the upcoming season. She later received a medical hardship waiver so she could play in the 2015–2016 season. When she returned to the court in the 2015–2016 season for her senior year, she had an outstanding season. Banham was named Big Ten Player of the Year and was a John R. Wooden Award finalist. [5] Despite her time off because of her injury, Banham came back to become the Gophers all-time leading scorer and tied an NCAA record with a 60-point game against Northwestern on February 7, 2016. [6] Banham ended her college career on a high note, becoming the sixth-leading scorer in NCAA Division I women's history and the Big Ten Conference's all-time scoring leader at the end of her college career with 3,093 points. (As of the end of the 2017–18 season, she is now eighth on the career scoring list, having since been surpassed by Washington's Kelsey Plum (2013–17), now the D-I all-time scoring leader, [7] and new Big Ten career scoring leader Kelsey Mitchell of Ohio State (2015–18). [8] ) Banham's senior year was not only one of the most memorable seasons in Gopher basketball history, but NCAA basketball history as well. [9]

Professional career

Connecticut Sun (2016–2019)

Banham was selected 4th overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2016 WNBA draft. During her rookie season with the Sun, Banham played in 15 games and averaged 10.9 minutes, 3.7 points, 1 assist, 1 rebound, while shooting 41% from the field and 35% from 3-point distance. Ultimately her rookie year was cut short after she tore her MCL and had micro fracture surgery on July 10. [10] Banham's best year with the Sun came in 2018 when she averaged a career high 5.2 points. During the rest of her time in Connecticut, she did not get much playing time as she only averaged 11.4 minutes, 4 points, 1 assist and 1 rebound a game in her first four seasons with the Sun.

Minnesota Lynx (2020–2023)

On February 25, 2020, Banham was acquired by the Minnesota Lynx in a sign and trade deal that sent a 2021 2nd Round Pick to the Sun. [11] During the 2020 Bubble Season in Bradenton, she showed some improvements averaging multiple career highs – 17.4 minutes, 6.9 points, 2.4 assists and 1.3 rebounds a game. She had her best game as a professional against the Indiana Fever on September 12, when she scored a career high 29 points and 10 assists, while making 7 3-pointers.

The 2021 season saw a change for Banham as her role decreased as the team signed Kayla McBride, Natalie Achonwa & Aerial Powers during the offseason. On June 29, Banham was waived from the Lynx in order to clear some salary cap space for Minnesota. [12] After clearing waivers, the Lynx re-signed Banham to a rest of season deal on July 5 – allowing her to re-join the team. [13]

Connecticut Sun (2024)

Banham returned to the Sun in February 2024, signing a two year deal with the team. [14] Banham set an WNBA record with 8 three pointers off the bench on July 14, 2024. [15]

Chicago Sky (2024–present)

On July 17, 2024, Banham was traded to the Chicago Sky alongside Moriah Jefferson, a 2025 1st round pick and the rights to swap 2026 first round picks, in exchange for Marina Mabrey and a 2025 2nd round pick from the Chicago Sky. [16]

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

Regular season

Stats current through end of 2024 regular season

WNBA regular season statistics
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2016 Connecticut 15010.9.408.351.6670.70.90.50.10.53.7
2017 Connecticut 3009.4.327.281.8001.10.70.10.00.43.3
2018 Connecticut 33512.8.414.370.8680.91.50.50.10.55.2
2019 Connecticut 29012.2.322.306.6921.00.90.30.10.93.6
2020 Minnesota 20117.0.462.472.8001.32.40.50.11.06.9
2021 Minnesota 27012.6.395.373.6251.21.60.30.10.95.0
2022 Minnesota 36517.5.430.383.8001.32.30.30.11.37.9
2023 Minnesota 32113.6.370.402.7861.01.70.30.11.15.5
2024 Connecticut 21012.9.358.348.9001.20.70.40.20.54.8
Chicago 16919.8.346.382.7001.81.60.40.10.66.9
Career8 years, 3 teams2592113.7.387.370.7951.11.50.30.10.85.3

Playoffs

WNBA playoff statistics
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2017 Connecticut 102.01.0001.000.0000.00.00.00.00.03.0
2018 Connecticut 109.0.2501.000.0001.02.01.01.00.03.0
2019 Connecticut 406.0.375.6001.0000.80.00.00.30.32.8
2020 Minnesota 4018.8.310.3331.0001.51.80.00.31.35.8
2021 Minnesota 105.0.000.0001.0001.00.90.10.30.72.0
2023 Minnesota 3019.7.316.231.0001.73.01.00.71.75.0
Career6 years, 2 teams14012.4.317.3751.0001.11.40.30.40.94.1

College

NCAA statistics [17]
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2011–12 Minnesota 363633.7.419.425.8175.22.71.60.23.216.1
2012–13 Minnesota 323235.3.435.335.8954.03.91.90.42.820.7
2013–14 Minnesota 343435.7.418.421.8743.73.91.30.32.622.1
2014–15 Minnesota 101028.5.426.405.7374.54.61.00.82.318.6
2015–16 Minnesota 323233.8.457.390.8595.93.82.00.33.228.6
Career14414434.2.433.394.8574.73.61.70.32.921.5

Personal life

It was also announced on January 2, 2022, on social media that she and her boyfriend Andre Hollins were engaged at Williams Arena. [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsay Whalen</span> American basketball player and coach (born 1982)

Lindsay Marie Whalen is an American former professional basketball player and coach. She most recently served as the head coach at Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candace Parker</span> American basketball player (born 1986)

Candace Nicole Parker, nicknamed "Ace", is an American former professional basketball player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, she was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She spent 13 seasons on the Sparks, two seasons with the Chicago Sky, and one season with the Las Vegas Aces, winning a championship with each team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janel McCarville</span> American basketball player (born 1982)

Janel McCarville is an American former professional basketball player from Custer, Wisconsin who is currently a high school basketball coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sylvia Fowles</span> American basketball player (born 1985)

Sylvia Shaqueria Fowles is an American former professional basketball player. Fowles played for the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx during her WNBA career. She won the WNBA MVP Award in 2017 and the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award four times. She led the Lynx to win the WNBA Championship in 2015 and 2017, and she was named the MVP of the WNBA Finals both times. In 2020, Fowles overtook Rebekkah Brunson to become the WNBA's career leader in rebounds. In 2025, Fowles will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maya Moore</span> American basketball player (born 1989)

Maya April Moore is an American social justice advocate and former professional basketball player. Naming her their inaugural Performer of the Year in 2017, Sports Illustrated called Moore the "greatest winner in the history of women's basketball". Moore was selected for the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsey Harding</span> American basketball player (born 1984)

Lindsey Marcie Harding is an American professional basketball coach and former player. She is an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Throughout her playing career, Harding played for the Minnesota Lynx, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and has played overseas in Turkey and Russia. She was previously a scout and a player development coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. She was born in Mobile, Alabama, but grew up in Houston, Texas, and also holds a Belarusian passport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plenette Pierson</span> American basketball player (born 1981)

Plenette Michelle Pierson is an American former professional basketball player who last played for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In the 2007 season, Pierson won the first ever Sixth Woman of the Year Award given in the WNBA. Pierson is currently an assistant coach at Texas Tech.

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

Odyssey Celeste Sims is an American professional basketball player for Henan Phoenix of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). An AP and WBCA All-American, Sims was born in Irving, Texas and graduated from MacArthur High School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moriah Jefferson</span> American basketball player (born 1994)

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.

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

Kayla Renae McBride is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted third overall by the San Antonio Stars in the 2014 WNBA draft. McBride played shooting guard for Notre Dame, where she led the Fighting Irish to four consecutive Final Fours and three NCAA championship appearances.

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

Alyssa Thomas is an American professional basketball forward for the Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins. The New York Liberty drafted Thomas 4th overall in the 2014 WNBA draft, and immediately traded her to the Sun along with Kelsey Bone and a 2015 first-round draft pick in exchange for Tina Charles. Thomas is the University of Maryland's all-time leader in scoring, rebounding and double-doubles for both the women's and men's programs, and one of nine athletes in NCAAW history with six career triple-doubles. In the WNBA, Thomas recorded fifteen career triple-doubles. She is one of four players to record 15+, 15+, 10+ with 0 turnovers, the only WNBA player to do so ever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natasha Howard</span> American basketball player (born 1991)

Natasha Howard is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Wings of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Çukurova Basketbol of the Turkish Super League. Howard was the 2019 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. She was drafted in 2014 by the Indiana Fever. Born in Toledo, Ohio, she played college basketball for Florida State University, where she finished sixth in the NCAA for field goal percentage.

<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. She won gold medals for 5x5 basketball at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics.

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

Cheyenne Parker-Tyus is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Beijing Great Wall of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reshanda Gray</span> American basketball player (born 1993)

Reshanda Gray is an American former professional basketball player who played 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">Courtney Williams</span> American basketball player (born 1994)

Courtney Monae Williams is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Williams completed her high school basketball career at Charlton County High School. She signed with the University of South Florida and enrolled at the school in the fall of 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerial Powers</span> American basketball player (born 1994)

Aerial Powers is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Kayseri Basketbol of the Turkish Super League. She played college basketball at Michigan State University. After a successful college career with the Spartans, Powers was drafted by the Dallas Wings with the fifth overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonquel Jones</span> Bahamian basketball player (born 1994)

Jonquel Orthea Jones is a Bahamian professional basketball player for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Sichuan Yuanda of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). She was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft. Since May 2019, she also holds the citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing her to play for the national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridget Carleton</span> Canadian basketball player (born 1997)

Bridget Carleton is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for SERCO UNI Győr in the EuroLeague. She played college basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones and competed internationally with the Canada national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kadi Sissoko</span> French basketball player (born 1999)

Kadiatou "Kadi" Sissoko is a French professional basketball player for OGM Ormanspor of the Turkish Super League. She was selected in the third round of the 2023 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury. She played college basketball at Syracuse, Minnesota, and USC.

References

  1. ↑ "Rachel Banham, the WNBA draft and the Minnesota Lynx". Star Tribune. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  2. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Acquire Rachel Banham". Minnesota Lynx. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
  3. ↑ "2016 WNBA Draft Profile: Rachel Banham". Women's National Basketball Association. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  4. ↑ "GOPHERSPORTS.COM Rachel Banham Bio :: University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site :: Women's Basketball". www.gophersports.com. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
  5. ↑ "GOPHERSPORTS.COM Rachel Banham Bio :: University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site :: Women's Basketball". www.gophersports.com. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  6. ↑ "Rachel Banham scores 60 points". February 7, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Individual Records: Scoring" (PDF). 2017–18 Division I Women's Basketball Records. NCAA. p. 2. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell sets Big Ten record for career points". ESPN.com. January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Gophers' Banham named first-team All-America". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  10. ↑ Allard, Marc. "Knee troubles started early for Sun rookie". norwichbulletin.com. Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved 7 July 2021.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Acquire Rachel Banham". lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  12. ↑ Youngblood, Kent. "Lynx waive Rachel Banham to clear salary cap room, with hope of re-signing her". startribune.com. Star Tribune. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Youngblood, Kent. "After a week in limbo, Rachel Banham re-signs with Lynx". startribune.com. Star Tribune. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  14. ↑ "Rachel Banham Signs with Connecticut". sun.wnba.com. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  15. ↑ "Rachel Banham shines as Connecticut Sun rout Phoenix Mercury 96-69 in final home game before Olympic break". Hartford Courant. 2024-07-14. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  16. ↑ "Connecticut Sun Acquires Veteran Guard Marina Mabrey". WNBA . July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  17. ↑ "NCAA Statistics". web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
  18. ↑ "Banham Engaged to Hollins". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.