Tiffani Johnson

Last updated
Tiffani Johnson
Personal information
Born (1975-12-27) December 27, 1975 (age 48)
Charlotte, North Carolina
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school Garinger (Charlotte, North Carolina)
College Tennessee (1994–1997)
WNBA draft 1998: undrafted
Playing career1998–2008
Position Center
Number4, 0, 5
Career history
1998 Sacramento Monarchs
20002004 Houston Comets
2006 Seattle Storm
Career highlights and awards

Tiffani Tamara Johnson (born December 27, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player. She played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for the Sacramento Monarchs, Houston Comets and Seattle Storm. Johnson won a WNBA championship with the Comets in 2000. She played college basketball for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers and won two NCAA championships in 1996 and 1997.

Contents

High school career

Johnson attended Garinger High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was selected as North Carolina Miss Basketball in 1994. [1] She was considered one of the most dominant players in state history as she averaged 28 points and 20 rebounds per game during her senior season. [2] Johnson committed to play college basketball for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers for its tradition and intensity level. [3]

College career

Johnson won her first NCAA championship with the Lady Volunteers in 1996 as she scored 16 points in the title game. [4] At the end of the season, she was suspended for disciplinary reasons and barred from attending team functions including visiting the White House. [5] Johnson won a second NCAA championship with the Lady Volunteers in 1997. [6] She was dropped from the team in 1997 before her senior season by head coach Pat Summitt for disciplinary reasons. [7]

Professional career

Johnson declared for the 1998 American Basketball League (ABL) draft, [8] and was selected as the 26th overall pick by the San Jose Lasers. [9]

Johnson was included on the training camp roster of the Los Angeles Sparks during the 1999 season. [10]

Johnson was a starter for the Houston Comets when they won a WNBA championship in 2000. [11]

On February 22, 2004, Johnson signed with the Houston Stealth of the National Women's Basketball League. [12]

On May 18, 2005, Johnson was waived by the Comets. At the time, she ranked fourth all-time with the Comets in games played (150), total rebounds (643) and blocked shots (79). [13]

Johnson played for the Seattle Storm during the 2006 season as a late addition to the team. [14]

On April 2, 2008, Johnson signed a training camp deal with the New York Liberty. [15] She was waived by the team on May 14, 2008. [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

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
1998 Sacramento 605.30.00.050.01.70.00.30.00.50.3
1999 Did not play (waived)
2000 Houston 312922.248.00.070.04.70.30.30.50.54.2
2001 Houston 322821.044.90.085.74.30.70.40.51.34.6
2002 Houston 323225.543.30.081.05.41.20.50.81.26.3
2003 Houston 22316.348.40.073.92.90.60.10.30.93.5
2004 Houston 331120.050.00.075.03.70.80.30.50.94.3
2005 Did not play (waived)
2006 Seattle 32819.941.50.075.73.90.50.30.51.04.7
Career7 years, 3 teams18811120.545.00.076.34.10.70.30.51.04.5

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2000 Houston 6622.550.00.0100.04.80.20.50.31.23.7
2001 Houston 2235.541.20.057.18.51.50.01.52.09.0
2002 Houston 3317.044.40.00.03.00.30.02.01.32.7
2003 Houston 3010.30.00.00.02.00.00.70.00.30.0
2006 Seattle 3021.050.00.0100.04.31.70.30.31.06.3
Career5 years, 2 teams171120.642.20.081.34.40.60.40.71.13.9

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
1994–95 Tennessee 37--51.225.074.16.50.50.71.1-9.0
1995–96 Tennessee 35--48.720.061.86.30.70.50.7-7.5
1996–97 Tennessee 38--53.20.070.57.40.60.60.7-10.0
Career110--51.121.469.86.70.60.60.8-8.9
Statistics retrieved from Sports-Reference. [17]

Personal life

Johnson graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. [18] She is a cousin of fellow basketball player Ivory Latta. [19] She now coaches youth basketball in the Atlanta area.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houston Comets</span> WNBA womens basketball team

The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Houston. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. They are one of two teams in the WNBA that are undefeated in the WNBA Finals; the Seattle Storm are the other. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and are tied with the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm for the most championships of any WNBA franchise, and despite all of their success, the team was folded and disbanded by the league in 2008 during the height of the Great Recession because new ownership could not be found.

<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">Sheryl Swoopes</span> American basketball player

Sheryl Denise Swoopes is an American former professional basketball player. She was the first player to be signed in the WNBA, is a three-time WNBA MVP, and was named one of the league's Top 15 Players of All Time at the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game. Swoopes has won three Olympic gold medals and is one of eleven women's basketball players to have won an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA Championship, a FIBA World Cup gold, and a WNBA title. She was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. In 2017, she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

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

Kara Elizabeth Wolters is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player and a current sports broadcaster. Standing at six feet seven inches (2.01 m) and nicknamed "Big Girl," she is the tallest player in University of Connecticut women's basketball history and one of the tallest women to ever play in the WNBA. During her playing career, she was an NCAA national champion (1995), FIBA world champion (1998), WNBA champion (1999), and Olympic champion (2000) becoming one of 11 women with those accolades. She also won AP College Player of the Year in 1997

Tari L. Phillips is an American former professional women's basketball player. Her cousin Tayyiba Haneef-Park played for USA Volleyball.

Latasha Nashay Byears is a former American professional women's basketball player. She played in the WNBA for the Sacramento Monarchs, the Los Angeles Sparks, the Washington Mystics, and for the Houston Comets. Byears ranked eighth all-time in the WNBA in field goal percentage (.514) and was among the top 10 rebounders in the league's history as of 2003.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenny Boucek</span> American basketball player and coach

Jennifer Dawn Boucek is an American assistant basketball coach for the Indiana Pacers, a former basketball player, and former head coach of the Seattle Storm. She was hired by the Storm on January 20, 2015, but terminated on August 10, 2017, as the team failed to meet the expectations that came along with the acquisition of consecutive top draft picks Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart. Boucek was previously the head coach for the Sacramento Monarchs from November 15, 2006, until July 12, 2009.

Sonja L. Henning is an American attorney and former collegiate and professional women's basketball player. Born in Jackson, Tennessee, she grew up in Racine, Wisconsin, where she attended Horlick High School.

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.

Venus Lacy is an American former star basketball player, at the high school, college, Olympic and professional levels. A wide-bodied, muscular 6-foot-4-inch (1.93 m) center, at her best Lacy was an intimidating force inside the paint, both scoring and rebounding. Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, she won championships at every level, but her American professional career was diminished by injuries she sustained in a 1997 car accident.

The 2008 WNBA season was the 12th season for the New York Liberty. The first ever outdoor professional basketball game was held at Arthur Ashe Stadium between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever. Over 19,000 fans attended the game.

Tamecka Michelle Dixon is an American former professional basketball player. She played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) from 1997 to 2009 for three different teams, was part of WNBA championship teams in 2001 and 2002, was a three-time WNBA All-Star and announced her retirement prior to the 2010 WNBA season.

Alessandra Santos de Oliveira is a Brazilian former basketball player who spent 17 years in the national team, winning the 1994 FIBA World Championship for Women and two Olympic medals, silver in Atlanta 1996, and bronze in Sydney 2000, along with a fourth place in the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 1998 and 2006 World Championships. She has also competed in 10 different countries, including three WNBA teams - Washington Mystics (1998–99), Indiana Fever (2000) and Seattle Storm (2001).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meighan Simmons</span> American basketball player

Meighan Sharee Simmons is a professional basketball Guard. She was selected in the third round of the 2014 WNBA draft, 26th overall. Meighan was born in Cibolo, Texas and attended the University of Tennessee. She was nicknamed "Speedy" by legendary Tennessee Women's Basketball coach Pat Summitt. She played overseas in Romania in 2015 for ICIM Arad leading the team in scoring with 16.4 points per game and averaged almost 4 assists and 4 rebounds as well, shooting 55% from the floor and 36% from 3 point range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes Russell</span> American basketball player

Mercedes Brianna Russell is an American professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted 22nd overall by the New York Liberty in the 2018 WNBA draft. Russell played center for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team in college. In high school, she was named 2013 Gatorade Girls' Basketball Player of the Year.

Rennia Davis is an American professional basketball player who is a free agent. She was drafted 9th in the 2021 WNBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx.

Evina Westbrook is an American professional basketball player who is a free agent. She most recently played for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball at UConn and Tennessee. She was selected in the 2nd Round of the 2022 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm. During her time in the WNBA, Westbrook has played for the Minnesota Lynx and the Washington Mystics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorela Cubaj</span> Italian basketball player

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.

Rae Burrell is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Tennessee Volunteers after attending Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, where she was named the Las Vegas Review-Journal Best of Nevada Preps Female Athlete of the Year in 2018.

References

  1. "Mr. and Ms. Basketballs through the years". The Charlotte Observer. April 5, 2012. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  2. "AP Picks Johnson Top Player In State". News & Record. April 27, 1994. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  3. Hass, Bill (November 16, 1993). "Garinger's Johnson Ready To Pump Up The Volume". News & Record. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  4. Gelin, Dana (April 8, 1996). "Four on the Floor". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  5. "Tiffani Johnson suspended from Tennessee's championship team". Associated Press. April 23, 1996. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  6. "Tennessee 68, Old Dominion 59". UPI. March 30, 1997. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  7. "National Women's Preview". The Washington Post. October 31, 1997. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  8. "Comparing the Drafts". Hartford Courant. April 26, 1998. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  9. Slusser, Susan (May 6, 1998). "Lasers Take Rebounding Star in ABL Draft / `Shep' to step in at forward for San Jose". SFGate. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  10. Gustkey, Earl (May 14, 1999). "Sparks See a Big Plus in Additions". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  11. Negley, Cassandra (April 6, 2020). "Best Teams Ever bracket: WNBA edition, championship round". Yahoo! Sport. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  12. "Stealth announces signing of Tiffani Johnson". OurSportsCentral. February 22, 2004. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  13. "Johnson and Lambert Waived by Comets". Our Sports Central. May 18, 2005. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  14. Evans, Jayda (May 19, 2006). "Seattle Storm a global threat". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  15. "Liberty Signs Three Post Players To Training Camp Contracts". WNBA. April 2, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  16. "New York Liberty 2008 Season". New York Liberty. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  17. "Tiffani Johnson College Stats". Sports-Reference . Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  18. "WNBA Stars to host youth basketball camp in Charlotte". PRWeb. Archived from the original on December 29, 2003. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  19. Garvin, Jennifer (August 1, 2001). "Point Guard Stands Tall As Carolina Wins Title". Daily Press. Retrieved November 15, 2021.