Debbie Black
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Debbie Black (born July 29, 1966, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an assistant coach for the Ohio State University's women's basketball team and a former professional basketball player. During her professional career, Black played for the Women's National Basketball League in Australia, the American Basketball League and the Women's National Basketball Association. She retired from the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA in 2005.
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[edit] College years
Black played for St. Joseph's University and graduated in 1988. She is a 1984 graduate of Archbishop Wood High School. While there she helped lead the Hawks to two Philadelphia Big 5 championships and an Atlantic 10 Conference title. A multi-sport athlete, Black earned 12 varsity letters in basketball, field hockey, and softball.
[edit] WNBL career
Black played eight seasons with the Tasmanian Islanders (1989-96) of the WNBL in Australia. She helped the team win national titles in 1991 and 1995
[edit] ABL career
Black played for the Colorado Xplosion and was also an All-Star selection for the ABL. Black is the only professional female basketball player to have accomplished, and is one of very few basketball players (male or female) ever to accomplish a quadruple double (10 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists, 10 steals); she accomplished this feat against the Atlanta Glory on Dec. 8, 1996. She received Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1997.
[edit] WNBA career
Black was drafted 15th overall by the Utah Starzz in 2nd round of the 1999 WNBA Draft. She then played for the Miami Sol from 2000 to 2002. While playing for the Sol, she earned the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award at the age of 35. In 2003, Black was acquired by the Connecticut Sun during the dispersal draft. She played for the Sun until her retirement in 2005.
Throughout Black's basketball career, her energy, intensity, and toughness were well-known among her teammates and opponents alike. Her relentless defense earned her the nickname "The Pest."
[edit] Vital statistics
- Position: Point Guard
- Height: 5 ft 2.5 in (1.59 m)
[edit] Playing stats
[edit] St. Joseph's University
At graduation:
- All-time career leader in assists (718)
- All-time career leader in steals (572)
- All-Atlantic 10 Conference, First Team, 1988
- All-District, First Team, 1988
- All-League, Second-team, 1986
- All-Rookie team, 1985.
- Inducted into the St. Joseph's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000
- Inducted into the Philadelphia Big Five Hall of Fame, 1995
- Inducted into the St. Joseph's Basketball Hall of Fame, 1994
[edit] Professional
At retirement:
- WNBA - 8th in career steals (315)
- WNBA - 10th in career assists (612)
- WNBA - 1st in career steal-to-turnover ratio
- WNBA - 4th in career steals per game (2.26)
- WNBA - Defensive Player of the Year, 2001
- ABL - All-time leader in steals (330)
- ABL - 2nd all-time in assists (608)
- ABL - Defensive Player of the Year, 1997
[edit] Trivia
- At 5' 2.5", she is the shortest player in the WNBA, just edging out Temeka Johnson
- She is a half inch shorter than the shortest NBA player in history, Muggsy Bogues.
- During 1999 she played in Utah Starzz with tallest WNBA player 7'2" Małgorzata Dydek.
