April 27, 2006
New York –
Former South Carolina star Shannon Johnson is one of 30 candidates for a spot on the WNBA All-Decade Team, and Gamecock fans can vote for Johnson beginning April 28 on WNBA.com. The 30 players nominated for the 10 coveted spots were selected by a panel of national media, coaches, former players and WNBA personnel.
Voting for the WNBA All-Decade Team will begin this Friday, and will be conducted among fans, select national and WNBA-market media, and current WNBA players and coaches. The All-Decade Team will be announced in June and honored at the 2006 WNBA All-Star Game set to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on July 12.
Originally drafted by the Columbus Quest of the American Basketball League in 1997, Johnson signed with the WNBA and the new Orlando Miracle franchise in 1998 after the ABL folded. After seven seasons playing for the Miracle, the Connecticut Sun and currently for the San Antonio Silver Stars, the four-time all-star has averaged 12.1 points and 4.7 assists per game while starting 214 of 220 games played.
During her four years at South Carolina (1992-96), Johnson finished her career as South Carolina’s second-leading scorer with 2,230 points. She averaged 20.4 points per game and led the squad in scoring, assists, rebounds, steals and assists in each of the four seasons. She was named to the All-SEC team in her last three seasons and was selected as the SEC Player of the Week three times during her career. Johnson scored in double figures in 94 games during her career and led the team in scoring in 61 games. She still holds nine USC individual records. A University of South Carolina Hall of Fame selection, Johnson had her No. 14 jersey retired in 2005.
In 1995, The Hartsville, S.C., native was selected as the South Carolina Female Amateur Athlete of the Year and in 1998, she was honored as the South Carolina Female Athlete of the Year as a professional.
In 2005, Johnson ranked No. 4 in the league with 4.6 assists per game and No. 12 in free throw percentage (.837) and has continued to improve since being traded to the Silver Stars in 2004. In addition, she led Team USA to a gold medal finish at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Johnson played three seasons with the Orlando Miracle franchise before it relocated in 2003 to Connecticut. In her lone season as a member of the Connecticut Sun, Johnson averaged a career-best 5.8 assists per game. Her best season came in 2002 when she was named an East All-Star after averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds a game. Johnson is a three-time second-team all-WNBA honoree and ranks among the top 25 in league history in seven different categories, including fourth in assists (1,031), 10th in steals (335), and 19th in scoring (2,653).
The league’s official Web site will feature a special section dedicated to the All-Decade Team, complete with player histories, statistics and video
highlights of each nominee. The new WNBA.com History section, in which the voting will take place, may also serve as a resource for fans and media alike, providing career statistical leaders, award winners, season recaps and more. Fans will be able to vote for their All-Decade Team players once per day (daily).
“We view the celebration of our 10th anniversary as a way to mark the accomplishments of our past and embrace our vision for the future,” said WNBA President Donna Orender. “The selection of the WNBA All-Decade Team will enable our fans and the league to honor the players who have
contributed so much to the growth of the WNBA and of women’s basketball.”
Members of the All-Decade team will be selected on the basis of their overall contribution to the WNBA, with consideration given to on-court performance and ability, leadership, sportsmanship and community service, as well as contribution to team success and the growth of women’s
basketball.
In addition to selecting an All-Decade Team, the WNBA will celebrate its 10th Anniversary season by providing fans an opportunity to determine the
Greatest Moments in league history and through a season-long initiative, “10 Years of Caring,” where all teams will demonstrate their continued
commitment to their communities.
Below is a list of the 30 nominees for the WNBA All-Decade Team.
Name: WNBA Team
Janeth Arcain: Houston Comets (1997-Current)
Sue Bird: Seattle Storm (2002-Current)
Ruthie Bolton*: Sacramento Monarchs (1997-2004)
Swin Cash: Detroit Shock (2002-Current)
Tamika Catchings: Indiana Fever (2001-Current)
Cynthia Cooper*: Houston Comets (1997-2000, 2003)
Tamecka Dixon: Houston Comets (Current) Los Angeles Sparks (1997-2005)
Jennifer Gillom*: Los Angeles Sparks (2003) Phoenix Mercury (1997-2002)
Yolanda Griffith: Sacramento Monarchs (1999-Current)
Becky Hammon: New York Liberty (1999-Current)
Chamique Holdsclaw: Los Angeles Sparks (2005-Current) Washington Mystics (1999-2004)
Lauren Jackson: Seattle Storm (2001-Current)
Shannon Johnson: San Antonio Silver Stars (2004-Current) Connecticut Sun
(2003), Orlando Miracle (1999-2002)
Vickie Johnson: San Antonio Silver Stars (Current) New York Liberty
(1997-2005)
Lisa Leslie: Los Angeles Sparks (1997-Current)
Rebecca Lobo*: Connecticut Sun (2003) Houston Comets (2002), New
York Liberty (1997-2001)
Mwadi Mabika: Los Angeles Sparks (1997-Current)
Taj McWilliams-Franklin: Connecticut Sun (2003-Current) Orlando Miracle (1999-2002)
DeLisha Milton-Jones: Washington Mystics (2005-Current) Los Angeles Sparks (1999-2004)
Deanna Nolan: Detroit Shock (2001-Current)
Ticha Penicheiro: Sacramento Monarchs (1998-Current)
Nykesha Sales: Connecticut Sun (2003-Current) Orlando Miracle
(1999-2002)
Katie Smith: Detroit Shock (2005-Current) Minnesota Lynx (1999-2005)
Dawn Staley: Houston Comets (2005-Current) Charlotte Sting (1999-2005)
Andrea Stinson: Detroit Shock (2005) Charlotte Sting (1997-2004)
Sheryl Swoopes: Houston Comets (1997-Current)
Diana Taurasi: Phoenix Mercury (2004-Current)
Tina Thompson: Houston Comets (1997-Current)
Teresa Weatherspoon*: Los Angeles Sparks (2004) New York Liberty (1997-2003)
Natalie Williams*: Indiana Fever (2003-2005) Utah Starzz (1999-2002)
*Retired
