Sophia Witherspoon

Last updated
Sophia Witherspoon
Personal information
Born (1969-07-06) July 6, 1969 (age 55)
Fort Pierce, Florida, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight145 lb (66 kg)
Career information
High school Fort Pierce Central (Fort Pierce, Florida)
College Florida (1988–1991)
WNBA draft 1997: 2nd round, 11th overall pick
Selected by the New York Liberty
Playing career1997–2009
Position Guard
Number13
Career history
1997–1999 New York Liberty
2000–2001 Portland Fire
2002–2003 Los Angeles Sparks
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
World University Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1993 Buffalo, New York Team competition

Sophia L. Witherspoon (born July 6, 1969) is an American former college and professional basketball player who was a guard for seven seasons in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Witherspoon played college basketball for the University of Florida, and was selected in the second round of the 1997 WNBA draft. She played professionally for the New York Liberty, Portland Fire and Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.

Contents

Early life

Witherspoon was born in Fort Pierce, Florida. Her older brother introduced her to basketball when she was 6 years old. She attended Fort Pierce Central High School, where she was a standout high school basketball player for the Fort Pierce Central Cobras.

College career

Witherspoon accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where she played for coach Carol Ross's Florida Gators women's basketball team from 1988 to 1991. In three seasons as a Gator, she scored 1,381 points, made 445 rebounds, and was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection in 1991. She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in health and human performance in 1991, and was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 2005. [1] [2] In her honor, the Florida Office of Student Life awards the Sophia Witherspoon Award for Overall Excellence each semester to two Gator athletes "who exemplify the positive attitude and strong work ethic in the classroom that they display on the playing field."

Florida statistics

Source [3]

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
1988-89Florida2943641.6%26.3%62.2%5.72.11.30.515.0
1989-90Florida2842440.7%22.9%59.1%4.42.21.80.515.1
1990-91Florida2852143.9%38.0%72.9%5.71.92.40.718.6
TOTALSFlorida85138141.9%32.3%65.5%5.22.11.80.216.2

USA Basketball

Witherspoon was named to the USA team for the 1993 World University Games competition in Buffalo, New York. The team had a 6–2 record and won the bronze medal. Witherspoon averaged 1.8 points per game. [4]

Professional career

The New York Liberty selected Witherspoon in the second round (11th pick overall) of the 1997 WNBA Draft. Her debut game was played on June 21, 1997 in a 67 - 57 victory over the Sparks where she recorded 6 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. [5] She played for the Liberty her first three years in the league, being a starter in every game she played during her first two seasons. Witherspoon's minutes and PPG averages for her rookie year were 31.0 MPG and 14.5 PPG. During her second year she averaged 29.9 MPG and 13.8 PPG. However, her minutes diminished in her third season (down to 18.2 MPG) and so did her productivity (down to 8.5 points).

On December 15, 1999, Witherspoon was drafted by the Portland Fire during the Expansion Draft and played for the Fire for two seasons. She would play for the Fire for two seasons, averaging 16.8 points, 3.3 rebounds in the 2000 season, and 12 points, 2.4 rebounds in the 2001 season.

Along with her teammate Nikki Teasley, Witherspoon was traded to the Sparks for Ukari Figgs and Gergana Slavcheva on April 19, 2002. [6] She officially signed with the Sparks on June 11, 2002 and would make the Finals during her first year with the team. The Sparks defeated the Liberty 2-0 and Witherspoon earned her first and only WNBA Championship. [7] The Sparks reached the Finals again in 2003 but would be defeated by the Detroit Shock in three games (2-1).

After missing the entire 2003 season, Witherspoon would sign a contract as a free agent with the Charlotte Sting on April 5, 2004 [8] but would be waived by them before as part of the final roster cuts before the season started. [9]

Due to her stint with the Sting not coming to fruition, Witherspoon's final WNBA game ever ended being Game 3 of the 2003 Finals against Detroit on September 16, 2003. The Sparks lost the game 78 - 83 with Witherspoon playing for three and a half minutes and only recording two missed 3-point attempts and no other stats. [10]

WNBA 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

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
1997 New York 282831.040.634.974.83.02.31.80.32.814.5
1998 New York 303029.940.134.478.63.01.91.30.12.413.8
1999 New York 322318.239.635.971.01.51.21.00.11.58.5
2000 Portland 323233.238.436.887.13.32.11.20.32.816.8
2001 Portland 313027.831.631.384.92.41.71.00.32.312.0
2002 Los Angeles 31111.541.541.876.10.90.90.40.10.75.2
2003 Los Angeles 23210.232.134.585.70.80.20.30.00.32.4
Career7 years, 3 teams20714623.538.035.180.22.21.51.00.11.910.7

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
1997 New York 2232.527.840.00.05.02.51.51.02.56.0
1999 New York 6014.344.740.063.62.20.30.70.01.37.5
2002 Los Angeles 606.535.736.4100.00.80.30.20.00.23.0
2003 Los Angeles 502.820.00.075.00.40.00.20.00.41.0
Career4 years, 2 teams19210.737.334.573.71.60.50.50.10.84.2

See also

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 FanDuel Sports Network 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sue Wicks</span> American basketball player and aquaculture farmer

Susan Joy Wicks is a former basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played with the New York Liberty from 1997 to 2002. Wicks was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. Sue now works in aquaculture on Long Island continuing her family 400 year legacy on working on the water

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tina Thompson</span> American basketball player (born 1975)

Tina Marie Thompson is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Most recently, she served as the head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball team from 2018 to 2022. Thompson was inducted into both the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

Nikki Teasley is an American former basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Tamara Kim "Tammy" Sutton-Brown is a Canadian retired professional basketball player. Her primary position was center. Throughout her playing career, Sutton-Brown played for the Charlotte Sting and Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She had also played in Asia and Europe. Sutton-Brown has won a WNBA championship (2012) and is a two-time WNBA All-Star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeLisha Milton-Jones</span> American basketball player (born 1974)

DeLisha Lachell Milton-Jones is an American retired professional basketball player and head coach of Old Dominion. Milton-Jones played college basketball for the University of Florida. She was a first-team All-American and SEC Player of the Year her senior season.

Crystal LaTresa Robinson is an American basketball coach and former player. She grew up in Atoka, Oklahoma, and first garnered national recognition during her collegiate career at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Professionally, Robinson played for the Colorado Xplosion of the ABL before playing in the WNBA for the New York Liberty and Washington Mystics.

Zheng Haixia is a Chinese retired professional women's basketball player for the China women's national basketball team and the Women's National Basketball Association.

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

Vanessa L'asonya Hayden-Johnson, née Vanessa L'asonya Hayden, is an American former college and professional basketball player who was a center in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for five seasons in the 2000s. Hayden played college basketball for the University of Florida, and she played professionally for the Minnesota Lynx and Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.

Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is an American former Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002, before finishing her playing career with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2003. Gillom is also a former Sparks head coach, also coached the Minnesota Lynx, and was, until 2015, an assistant coach of the Connecticut Sun.

LaMurriel Page is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a forward and center in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for eleven seasons. Page played college basketball for the University of Florida, and was drafted in the first round of the 1998 WNBA draft. She played professionally for the Washington Mystics and the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA. Currently, she is an assistant women's basketball coach at Miami Hurricanes.

Tammy Eloise Jackson is an American former college and professional basketball player who was a center in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for six seasons in the 1990s and early 2000s. Jackson played college basketball for the University of Florida, and played professionally for the Houston Comets and Washington Mystics of the WNBA. She is an Olympic bronze medalist.

Bridget Pettis is an American former college and professional basketball player who was a guard in the WNBA for eight seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Pettis played college basketball for the University of Florida, and professionally for the Phoenix Mercury and the Indiana Fever of the WNBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Gators women's basketball</span> College basketball team

The Florida Gators women's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gators play their home games at the O'Connell Center located on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, and are currently led by head coach Kelly Rae Finley, following the resignation of Cameron Newbauer. The Gators have appeared in 15 NCAA tournaments, with a record of 12–15.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kym Hampton</span> American basketball player (born 1962)

Kym Hampton is a retired professional basketball player. A 6'2" center, Hampton was drafted as the number four pick in the 1997 WNBA Elite draft and played three seasons for the New York Liberty (1997–1999). Following a 12-year professional stint in Europe along with her three years in the WNBA, Hampton retired from basketball in 2000, due to worn cartilage in her right knee.

Carol Ross is an American college and professional basketball coach. Ross has served as the head women's basketball coach for the University of Florida and the University of Mississippi, and also as the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Rhonda Mapp is an American former professional basketball player. She played six years of professional basketball overseas before joining the WNBA in 1997. After her time in the WNBA, Mapp continued to play overseas, including time in Spain, Italy, France, Turkey, Israel, and Korea.

Trena Trice-Hill is an American former professional basketball player for the New York Liberty and current assistant coach at Columbia University.

Umeki Webb is a former professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for three seasons, playing two for the Phoenix Mercury and one for the Miami Sol.

Yolanda Moore is an American former professional basketball player. She was the post game radio analyst for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2007.

References

  1. ↑ F Club, Hall of Fame, Gator Greats. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Nine Hall of Fame Inductees Announced," GatorZone.com (September 30, 2004). Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Florida Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  4. ↑ "Sixteenth World University Games -- 1993". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  5. ↑ "New York Liberty at Los Angeles Sparks, June 21, 1997".
  6. ↑ "Nikki Teasley Traded to Los Angeles".
  7. ↑ "Sports Team History". 25 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "Charlotte Sting Sign Sophia Witherspoon". 12 April 2004.
  9. ↑ "2004 Charlotte Sting Transactions".
  10. ↑ "Los Angeles Sparks at Detroit Shock, September 16, 2003".
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.