Christina Wirth

Christina Wirth
WNBA's Free agent
Forward
Born April 18, 1987
Mesa, Arizona
Listed height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight 185 lb (84 kg)
High school Seton Catholic
College Vanderbilt
WNBA draft 19th overall, 2009
Indiana Fever
WNBA career 2009–present
Profile WNBA player profile
WNBA teams
Indiana Fever (2009)
Awards and honors
Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year (2005)

Christina Wirth (born April 18, 1987) is an American basketball player who most recently played for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. She is the daughter of Alan Wirth, a former major league baseball player with the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics.

Playing career

High school

Wirth played her high school basketball at Seton Catholic in Arizona. While at Seton Catholic she compiled 2,550 points, 1,173 rebounds, 312 steals, 266 assists and 120 blocks. In competitive play, she led Seton Catholic to a state runner-up finish and a 28-7 record as a senior in 2004-05. Her statistics as a senior included an average 25.3 points per game., 11.2 rebounds per game., 2.2 steals per game. and 2.2 assists per game. She participated in the 2005 McDonald's All-American game and won the team ball competition.[1]

USA Basketball

Wirth was a member of the USA Women's U18 team which won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The event was held in August 2004, when the USA team defeated Puerto Rico to win the championship. Wirth averaged 1.8 points per game.[2]

Wirth continued with the team as it became the U19 team, and competed in the 2005 U19 World Championships in Tunis, Tunisia. The USA team won all eight games, winning the gold medal. Wirth averaged 3.6 points per game.[3]

Vanderbilt

Wirth's rookie season with Vanderbilt was in 2005–06. She managed to be one of only four Commodores to appear in all 32 games. She played four positions on the floor as freshman. For the first 15 games of her collegiate career, she was in the starting lineup.[1]

Her first two collegiate games were played just miles from her home, as Vanderbilt traveled to Tempe, Arizona for the WBCA/BTI Classic hosted by Arizona State. Statistically, she scored two points in her initial game, and had nine rebounds. In her second contest, she reached double figures in scoring by posting 13 points against Clemson. On two occasions, she would lead the Commodores in scoring (vs. North Carolina in Dec., and vs. Alabama in the SEC Tournament).

In her senior year, Wirth led the Commodores to their 14th appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16 after earning Most Valuable Player honors en route to Vanderbilt's sixth Southeastern Conference Tournament championship.[4] Her last game for the Commodores was played on March 28, 2009 when Vanderbilt fell to Maryland by a score of 78–74 in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2009 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament. Wirth played 37 minutes and scored 28 points.[5]

Academically, Wirth was a four-time honoree on Vanderbilt's Dean's List. She was named a Region IV Academic All-American by CoSIDA in 2007–08 and has earned Southeastern Conference Honor Roll status three times. At Vanderbilt's Peabody College of Education and Human Development, Wirth has carried a 3.55 GPA while majoring in human and organizational development and minoring in child development. Christina was also named the 2009 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year by league coaches, and was chosen to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America third team last month. Wirth has carried a 3.6 GPA and has begun pursuing a master's degree in nursing.[6]

Indiana Fever

She was selected in the 2nd Round, 19th overall in the 2009 WNBA Draft.[7] Wirth got her first taste of WNBA action in a 68-51 victory against the Minnesota Lynx on May 23.[8] Wirth played for 18 minutes, scored 3 field goals, 1 three pointer, 2 free throws made, 3 rebounds and 1 assist.[9] In her first season with the Fever, Wirth played in the 2009 WNBA Finals.

Europe

In the fall of 2009, Wirth reunited with Vanderbilt teammate Jennifer Risper. Both signed for a Slovakian team officially known as BK PU Bemaco Prešov.[10] The season is scheduled to end in April 2010.

Personal

Along with former Vanderbilt teammate Jen Risper, the two are adjusting to professional basketball. Wirth and Risper, now with the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, helped one another move into their new respective homes. After four years together with the Commodores, separating from each other and the rest of their teammates has been an adjustment. Wirth and Risper will meet May 28 in Indianapolis for a preseason game.[11]

Career stats

Vanderbilt

Year Games Minutes Field Goals Three Pointers Rebounds Assists Blocks Steals Points
2005-06 32 560 66 31 79 34 3 26 181
2006-07 34 989 140 53 148 80 3 27 387
2007-08 34 1097 165 71 170 89 9 48 446
2008-09[12] 35 1176 212 80 198 74 8 52 582

Indiana Fever

Year Games Minutes Field Goals Three Pointers Rebounds Assists Blocks Steals Points
2009 21 121 0 0 14 12 2 221

[9]

Awards and honors

[1]

References

External links

Preceded by
Candace Parker		 SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player
2009 		Succeeded by
Unknown