Vanessa Hayden (basketball)

Vanessa Hayden
No. 55
Center
Personal information
Date of birth June 5, 1982 (1982-06-05) (age 29)
Place of birth Orlando, Florida
Nationality  United States
High school William R. Boone High School
Listed height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight 240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
College University of Florida
NBA Draft 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall
Selected by the Minnesota Lynx
Pro career 2004–2009
League WNBA
Career history
2004–2008 Minnesota Lynx
2009 Los Angeles Sparks
Career highlights and awards
  • SEC Defensive Player of the Year (1994)
  • First-team All-SEC (1994)
  • Second-team All-American (1994)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Vanessa L'asonya Hayden-Johnson (born June 5, 1982) is a former American 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.

Contents

Early years

Hayden was born in Orlando, Florida. She attended William R. Boone High School in Orlando, and played high school basketball for the Boone Braves.

College career

Hayden received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where she played for the Florida Gators women's basketball team from 2000 to 2004. As a senior in 2004, she was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection, SEC Defensive Player of the year, and a second-team All-American. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2004.

Professional career

Following her collegiate career, she was selected 7th overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft. As a rookie in 2004, Hayden-Johnson averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. In 2005, she improved, averaging 7.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

The 2006 season was a struggle for the third-year center. After reporting to the pre-season training camp 20 pounds overweight, Hayden-Johnson lost her starting job early on and remained prone to foul trouble. With her minutes cut, she averaged 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Hayden-Johnson missed the entire 2007 WNBA season to give birth to her first child. She returned to action in 2008 as a reserve for the Lynx. On January 30, 2009 Hayden-Johnson was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks for Christi Thomas.

European career

See also

Biography portal
College basketball portal

External links

First Round
Diana Taurasi • Alana Beard • Nicole Powell • Lindsay Whalen • Shameka Christon • Nicole Ohlde • Vanessa Hayden • Chandi Jones • Ebony Hoffman • Rebekkah Brunson • Iciss Tillis • Christi Thomas  • Shereka Wright
Second Round
Ashley Robinson • Kaayla Chones • Jessica Brungo • Amisha Carter • Kelly Mazzante • Catrina Frierson • Tasha Butts • Cindy Dallas • Jenni Benningfield • Erika Valek • Ugo Oha • Doneeka Lewis  • Lindsay Taylor
Third Round
Maria Villarroel • Evan Unrau • Candace Futrell • Cathy Joens • Ieva Kubliņa • Jennifer Smith • Amber Jacobs • Toccara Williams • Jia Perkins • Nuria Martinez • Stacy Stephens  • Kate Bulger
Minnesota Lynx first round draft picks

1999 To. Edwards | 2000 Daley • Lennox • Martin | 2001 Abrosimova | 2002 Williams | 2003 Te. Edwards | 2004 Ohlde • Hayden | 2005 Mann | 2006 Augustus • Thorburn | 2007 Quinn | 2008 Wiggins | 2009 Montgomery • Hollingsworth | 2010 Wright • Griffin | 2011 Moore • Harris

1 Lacy | 3 Parker | 6 O'Hea | 7 Toliver | 8 Milton-Jones | 16 Hoffman | 21 Penicheiro | 30 Pringle | 32 Thompson | 42 Lavender | 45 Quinn | Coach: Bryant

East: ATL • CHI • CON • IND • NY • WAS |

West: LA • MIN • PHO • SA • SEA • TUL