Kia Vaughn

Kia Vaughn

WNBA's Washington Mystics  – No. 9
Center
Born	(1987-01-24) January 24, 1987 Bronx, New York
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	198 lb (90 kg)
College	Rutgers
WNBA draft	8th overall, 2009 New York Liberty
WNBA career	2009–present
Profile	WNBA player profile
WNBA teams
New York Liberty (2009–2012) Washington Mystics (2013-present)
Awards and honors
Most Improved Player (2011)

Kia Vaughn (born January 24, 1987 in the Bronx, New York) is a professional women's basketball player for the WNBA's Washington Mystics.^[1] She attended high school at St. Michael's All Girls High School in New York, and later went on to star at Rutgers University.^[2]

High school

Vaughn played for St. Michael Academy in New York, New York, where she was named a WBCA All-American. She participated in the 2005 WBCA High School All-America Game where she scored two points.^[3]

College

Vaughn attended Rutgers University from 2006–2009, playing under legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer. She helped Rutgers to a perfect 16–0 record in the Big East conference her freshman year, averaging 6.3 points per game and 7 rebounds a game. During her sophomore season, she was named the All-Met Division I Women's College Basketball Player of the Year. She averaged 12.8 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game, and 2.5 blocks per game.^[4] That year, she helped lead the Rutgers women's basketball team to a Big East Conference championship. The Lady Scarlet Knights lost to the Tennessee Lady Vols in the NCAA championship game.^[5]

Vaughn continued to excel in her junior season, garnering Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association All-Met First Team honors along with being named to the All Big-East second team. She averaged 10 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game on the season. Her senior campaign was solid, but a little underwhelming as she averaged only 9.7 points per game 6.7 rebounds per game.^[4] Nevertheless, she was named All-Big East Honorable Mention at the season's conclusion.^[6]

USA Basketball

Vaughn was also a member of the Championship winning 2006 USA National Team FIBA Americas U20 Championship for Women in Mexico City, Mexico. Kia averaged 12 points and 3 rebounds in 5 games.

WNBA career

Kia Vaughn was picked 8th overall in the 2009 WNBA Draft. She grew steadily in skill with the passage of time. The 2011 season saw the suspension of Vaughn's teammate and mentor, Janel McCarville. Vaughn was devastated, as the role of starting Center was suddenly thrust upon her. However, she rose to the occasion, and received the honor of being named the WNBA's Most Improved Player later that year.

Litigation

On August 14, 2007, Kia Vaughn, one of the women involved in the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team controversy, filed suit against Don Imus, NBC Universal, CBS Corporation, MSNBC, CBS Radio, Viacom, Westwood One radio, and Bernard McGuirk, citing slander, libel, and defamation of character. Vaughn was the only player to pursue legal damages brought on by the controversy.^[7] Vaughn dropped the lawsuit against Imus on September 11, 2007, citing her desire to "concentrate on her studies and basketball training."^[8][9]

Personal

Vaughn's fiancé, Gary Ervin, is a professional basketball player himself. He has played in both the NBA Development League and the Australian NBL.^[10]

Notes