Teresa Weatherspoon

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Teresa Gaye Weatherspoon (born on December 8, 1965 in Pineland, Texas) is a former American Women's National Basketball Association player who played for the New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks.

Contents 1 College career 2 WNBA career 3 Personal 4 Vital statistics 5 Career highlights 6 Trivia

[edit] College career

Weatherspoon was a health and physical education major at Louisiana Tech in 1988.

[edit] WNBA career

Weatherspoon is one of the original players of the WNBA in 1997 when she joined the New York Liberty in the WNBA's inaugural season. A talented ball-handler and charismatic leader, her energetic play quickly endeared herself to the fans and media in New York. Up until the 2003 season, she had held the distinction of being the only WNBA player to start every one of her games. After the 2003 season, she was not re-signed by the Liberty and signed with the Los Angeles Sparks. After her 2004 season with the Sparks, Weatherspoon retired.

She is the first winner of the league's Defensive player of the year award. And would win it back to back in 1997 and 1998.

[edit] Personal

Teresa was born to Charles and Rowena Weatherspoon in Pineland, Texas. Her father ,Charles Sr., played minor league baseball for the Minnesota Twins, and holds the record for the most grand slams (3) in a minor league game. She has two brothers and three sisters. She credits her family, especially her mother Rowena Weatherspoon, as the biggest influence on her basketball career. Her fans call her by her nicknames "T-Spoon" or "Spoon".

In 1999, she published a book titled Teresa Weatherspoon's Basketball for Girls, filled with anecdotes and advice on improving basketball skills for young girls.

[edit] Vital statistics

• Position: Guard
• Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
• College: Louisiana Tech '88
• Teams(s): New York Liberty (1997-2003), Los Angeles Sparks (2004)

[edit] Career highlights

• WNBA#2 all-time in career assists
• Led the New York Liberty to the first ever WNBA Finals in 1997
• Started the first four WNBA All-Star games, 1999-2003
• Hit a memorable halfcourt shot to tie the WNBA Finals series with the Houston Comets in 1999
• Started all her WNBA games up until the 2003 season

Preceded by Shelly Pennefeather

Wade Trophy winner 1988

Succeeded by Clarissa Davis

Women's National Basketball Association | WNBA's All-Decade Team
Sue Bird | Tamika Catchings | Cynthia Cooper | Yolanda Griffith | Lauren Jackson | Lisa Leslie | Katie Smith | Dawn Staley | Sheryl Swoopes | Tina Thompson Ruthie Bolton | Chamique Holdsclaw | Ticha Penicheiro | Diana Taurasi | Teresa Weatherspoon (Honorable mention)

[edit] Trivia

• Weatherspoon has been romantically linked to supermodel Tyra Banks. Banks could be seen attending many of Weatherspoon's games sitting courtside during the late 90's.