Kara Wolters
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 Kara Wolters (right) and a fan.
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| Position | Center |
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| Nickname | Big Girl |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Weight | 227 pounds (103.0 kg) |
| Nationality | USA |
| Born | August 15, 1975 Holliston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| High school | Holliston High School |
| College | University of Connecticut, |
| Draft | 3rd round, 36th overall, 1999 Houston Comets |
| Pro career | 1999 – 2003 |
| Former teams | Houston Comets, Indiana Fever Charlotte Sting |
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Kara Wolters (born August 15, 1975 in Holliston, Massachusetts) was an American collegiate and professional basketball player. Standing at six feet and seven inches (2.01 m), she was appropriately nicknamed "Big Girl".
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[edit] Personal
She grew up in a basketball family. Her father, William Wolters, is in the Boston College Hall of Fame and played professional basketball for the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA. Her brother, Ray, played at Assumption College and Eastern Connecticut State University, and her sister, Kristen, was a standout player at the University of Rhode Island.
She formed the "Kara Kares Foundation", which supports brain tumor research.
[edit] University of Connecticut
She played for the women's basketball team at the University of Connecticut from 1994 to 1997. She was a member of the 1995 team that won the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship, which capped a perfect 35-0 won-loss record. In 1997 she was named the National Player of the Year.
[edit] WNBA career
New England Blizzard of the ABL, Wolters was selected by the Houston Comets in the third round (36th overall) during in the 1999 WNBA Draft, Fourth round pick (No. 16 overall) and then the 2000 Expansion Draft by Indiana Fever on December 15, 1999. In her four-year WNBA career, Wolters averages 50 percent in field goal shooting, 75 percent in free throw shooting, 3.2 rebounds per game, and 6.5 points per game.
Wolters was then traded to the Sacramento Monarchs for the 14th pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft on April 11, 2001. Wolter's continued to play for the Monarchs until the end of her WNBA career when on May 20, 2003 it was announced she had been released from the team. The reason put forward by the Monarchs for cutting Wolters was due to adding youth and new talent to the roster which they felt would be better for the team.[1]
[edit] International Competition
Wolters was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic women's basketball team during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Also, she ranks second among all-time USA World Championship competitors for the most blocked shots (11).
Wolters is one of only six women to receive a Gold Medal in the Olympics, an NCAA championship, and a WNBA Championship. The others are Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Ruth Riley, Sheryl Swoopes, and Diana Taurasi. This is called a set.
[edit] After the WNBA
Wolters married Sean Drinan, a banking executive, in November 2004 and currently works as a women's basketball game color commentator during games involving her alma mater, the University of Connecticut. Her first daughter, Sydney Elizabeth, was born on March 8, 2007.
[edit] Honors and Awards
[edit] USA Basketball Notes
- Gold Medals: 1999 U.S. Olympic Cup, 1998 World Championship, 1997 World University Games, 1996 R. William Jones Cup.
- Silver Medal: 1995 World University Games
- Bronze Medal: 1994 World Championship.
- Named to the 1999-2000 USA Basktball Women's Senior National Team on January 6, 2000.
- Added to the 1999-2000 USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team roster for the 1999 NCAA Tour.
- Added to the 1999-2000 USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team roster for the Sept. 7-18 training and competition, helped the USA capture the 1999 U.S. *Olympic Cup gold medal and USA Basketball International Invitational title.
- Participated in the USA Basketball Women's National Team's 1999 Spring Training Camp in Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Member of the gold medal winning 1998 USA World Championship Team which finished with a perfect 9-0 record and was named the 1998 USA Basketball Team of the Year; aided the U.S. to a 12-1 record in its 13 game pre-World Championship tour.
- Earned All-Tournament honors as a member of the 1997 USA Basketball Women's International Invitational Tournament Team that earned the tournament title.
- Selected as one of the first six members to the 1998 USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team on Sept. 4, 1997.
- Member of the 1997 USA Women's World University Games Team that captured the gold medal.
- 1996 USA Olympic Team finalist (18).
- Member of the gold medal 1996 USA Jones Cup Team.
- Member of the silver medal 1995 World University Games team.
- The only collegian named to the bronze medal winning *1994 USA World Championship Team.
[edit] USA Basketball Records:
- Ranks second among all-time USA World Championship competitors for blocked shots (11).
- Drafted by the Indiana Fever in the fourth round (16th overall) of the 2000 WNBA expansion draft.
- Drafted by the Houston Comets in the third round (36th overall) of the 1999 WNBA draft.
- Averaged 1.6 ppg. and 1.2 rpg. for the Houston Comets in 1999.
- Helped the Houston Comets to the 1999 WNBA finals, averaged 2.0 ppg. in two 1999 WNBA Western Conference playoff games.
- Prior to the ABL folding in December, 1998, ranked among league leaders 24th for scoring (11.0 ppg.), 16th for rebounding (5.3 rpg.), third for blocked shots (16) and first for field goal percentage (58.4%).
- Finished the 1997-98 ABL season ranked as the league's leader for blocked shots (1.5 bpg.) , fourth in field goal percentage (53.5%) and 16th in rebounds (5.2 rpg.).
- Finished second in the 1998 ABL All-Star Dunk contest.
- Selected as the third pick in the 1997 ABL Draft by the New England Blizzard.
[edit] Collegiate Notes
- During her four seasons (1994-97), UConn compiled a 132-8 record (94.3%), appeared in four NCAA Tournaments, won the 1995 NCAA championship, advanced to the 1996 Final Four, the 1997 and 1994 Final Eights, and won four Big East Conference championships and four Big East Tournament titles.
- Named by Associated Press 1997 All-America first team and Player of the Year.
- Runner-up for the 1997 Boost/Naismith National Player of the Year.
- Awarded the 1996 Victor Award as the nation's top female collegiate player.
- Ranks second among all-time USA World Championship competitors for blocked shots (11).
- She is one of three finalists for the 1997 Women's College Basketball ESPY award.
- Named 1997 All-America by Basketball America, United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and Kodak.
- Named 1996 All-America first team by the USBWA, United Press International and the Associated Press.
- Named 1997 and 1995 District I All-America by Kodak, and 1996 All-America honorable mention by Kodak.
- Named to 1995 NCAA Tournament All-Final Four Team, averaged 20.5 ppg. in the Final Four.
- Named to 1997 and 1996 All-NCAA Midwest Regional and 1995 and 1994 All-NCAA East Regional.
- Named 1997 Big East Conference Player of the Year, 1997 and 1996 All-Big East first team, 1995 All-Big East second team and 1994 Big East All-Rookie Team.
- Named 1996 and 1995 Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player and Big East All-Tournament all four years.
[edit] Trivia
- Kara has always worn uniform number 52, the same number as her father, William Wolters.
- She is most proud of winning the NCAA Championship in 1995 and graduating college.
- Her dog's name when she was in high school was "Hoops".
- Member of the 1999 WNBA Champion Houston Comets.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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