HARTSVIILE, S.C. – Coker College head women's basketball coach Shannon Johnson will travel to Dallas, Texas to participate in the Women's Professional Basketball Alumnae (WPBA) Lady Legends Celebrity Game on Thursday (Mar. 30) at 7:30 p.m. at the P.C. Cobb Athletic Complex.
Johnson is one of 18 people playing the game, which is one of the many events going on during the NCAA Women's Final Four, also taking place in Dallas.
"This is a great time for a lot us to come back, catch up, play together again and network," said Johnson. "We will have a meeting with the president of the WNBA, which will be followed by an autograph session and I am really looking forward to it."
Johnson, a three-time All-SEC performer at the University of South Carolina, finished her four-year collegiate career with 2,230 career points, ranking second all-time for the Gamecocks. Her career scoring average of 20.4 points per game is a school record, she was an All-American selection during the 1995-96 season and was a finalist for the Wade Trophy, which is an award given to the top women's basketball player in NCAA Division I.
She was a member of the 2004 USA Women's Basketball Olympic Gold medal team and seven-time WNBA All-Star. She was also an American Basketball League (ABL) All-Star and she played overseas earning Copa De La Reina and Queen Cup MVP honors. During her 10-year WNBA career, she played for the Seattle Storm (2009), the Houston Comets (2008), the Detroit Shock (2007), the San Antonio Stars (2004-06), the Connecticut Sun (2003), and the Orlando Miracle (1999-2002). She competed in the ABL for three seasons playing for the Columbus Quest, helping lead them to the ABL championships in 1997 and 1998.
Those accolades landed Johnson a spot on the WNBA's All-Decade Team in 2006 and made her a household name during and after her playing time, known as one of the players that helped pave the way for the WNBA, which is currently in its 20th season of existence.
"It is a privilege to be a part of it, be a representative and have ladies look forward to pursuing their dreams of playing professional basketball at home, something that was not available over 20 years ago," said Johnson. "It has also been an honor to have watched the game develop in the last 10 years. The following of the WNBA is much bigger, the kids are more athletic and the game has grown more international. It is really an honor and treat to watch."
Johnson, a Hartsville native, was selected as the South Carolina Female Amateur Athlete of the Year in 1995 and was honored as the South Carolina Female Athlete of the Year in 1998 as a professional. However, she remembers a time when playing women's basketball after college was uncertain for many.
"You think about it when you are in high school, having the opportunity to go to college and that was it," said Johnson. "You either had to work or go play overseas, but now these young girls have the opportunity to play at home, play in front of their friends and parents and create a following."
Johnson, who finished her professional playing career in 2009, is looking forward to a chance to lace up the kicks again with play with some of her fellow WNBA legends.
"I played the guard spot, but the older I got, the closer I had to get to the rim, so now I think I am a power forward so I will be focusing on making layups rather than penetrating and kicking." said Johnson. "It will be a great time for all of us to get together and enjoy each other."
The game is set for a 7:30 p.m. start on Thursday (Mar. 30) at the P.C. Cobb Athletic Complex in Dallas, Texas.
About the WPBA
The Women's Professional Basketball Alumnae (WPBA) is the only organization structured to assist women who have played professionally in the WNBA or in Europe as they transition into mainstream society. We are committed to providing support and resources for:
- Career Transition
- Higher Education
- Philanthropic Engagement
- Spiritual & Psychological Well-Being
The WPBA is a sisterhood; a team willing to assist in your journey as you attain excellence in your next career.