Becky Hammon
Encyclopedia
Rebecca Lynn "Becky" Hammon (born March 11, 1977) is a professional basketball player currently under contract with the San Antonio Silver Stars
of the WNBA
.
. As a junior, she was South Dakota Miss Basketball. As a senior, she was voted the South Dakota Player of the Year after averaging 26 points, 4 rebounds and 5 steals per game.
n as well as Colorado Sportswoman of the Year. She led her team to a 33-3 record in the 1998-1999 season and helped them advance to the NCAA
Tournament's Sweet Sixteen
. She was the WAC
Mountain Division player of the year for the 1998-1999 season and surpassed University of Utah
player Keith Van Horn
as the WAC's all-time leading scorer.
Hammon set many Colorado State all-time records, including points (2740), points per game (21.92), field goals made (918), free throws made (539), three-point field goals made (365) and assists (538). She received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association
as the best senior player under 5 ft 8 in (1.7 m) in 1999.
On November 12, 2004, Becky Hammon was inducted into the Colorado State University Sports Hall of Fame. On January 22, 2005, her #25 Colorado State jersey was retired at the Moby Arena
.
. She had a surprisingly solid rookie season statistically, backing up starting point guard
Teresa Weatherspoon
. Her aggressive play at both ends of the court made her a favorite among Liberty fans. After the 2003 season, Hammon took over for Teresa Weatherspoon as the Liberty's starting point guard and along with Vickie Johnson
and Crystal Robinson
, became one of the team's co-captains in 2004.
In her first season in 2003 with the Tennessee Fury of the National Women's Basketball League
(NWBL), Hammon led the league in scoring, averaging 20.6 points per game. In 2004, Hammon signed with the Colorado Chill, a new team to the NWBL, but played in only 2 games because of a knee injury she sustained in the 2003 season when playing for the New York Liberty.
Primarily used to provide instant points off the bench, Hammon finally had a breakout season in 2003, providing much-needed offense for the Liberty. However, her season was cut short by a knee injury.
On August 16, 2005, Hammon scored her 2000th WNBA career point. At the end of the 2005 season, she was named to the All-WNBA Second Team.
In January 2007 she played her WNBA "off season" with Rivas Futura in the Spanish League
On April 4, 2007 during the WNBA Draft, Becky Hammon was traded to the Silver Stars along with a second round draft pick in the 2008 draft for the second overall first round pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft, center Jessica Davenport
.
Hammon had her best season of her career in 2007 posting career high averages of 18.8 ppg (fourth best) and 5.0 apg (first in WNBA). While in San Antonio, Hammon earned the nickname, "Big Shot Becky" because of her ability to hit shots in clutch moments. It comes from the nickname "Big Shot Rob" given to San Antonio Spurs
forward, Robert Horry
.
Becky averaged 17.6 ppg, and 4.9 apg as she led the Silver Stars to a WNBA best record 24-10 and led them into the playoffs for a second straight year. In the conference semi finals, Becky scored 30 pts in a Game 1 win against the Sacramento Monarchs. They would eventually win the series and advance to the conference finals. San Antonio would lose the first game to the Los Angeles Sparks led by Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker. In Game 2, Sophia Young hit a buzzer beater shot at the end of regulation and stave off elimination as they beat the Sparks 67- 66. The San Antonio Silver Stars won the Western Conference championship and advanced to the WNBA finals where they were swept by the Detroit Shock.
Becky averaged 19.5 ppg, her career average, and 5.0 apg in the 2009 WNBA season. The San Antonio Silver Stars had a record of 15-19 and lost to the eventual champion Phoenix Mercury, in the first round. Becky was an All-Star as well as a First Team All WNBA.
| align="left" | 1999
| align="left" | New York
| 30 || 1 || 6.7 || .422 || .289 || .882 || 0.6 || 0.6 || 0.2 || 0.0 || 0.80 || 2.7
|-
| align="left" | 2000
| align="left" | New York
| 32 || 16 || 26.1 || .472 || .369 || .884 || 2.0 || 1.8 || 0.9 || 0.0 || 1.94 || 11.0
|-
| align="left" | 2001
| align="left" | New York
| 32 || 0 || 19.3 || .457 || .378 || .784 || 1.6 || 1.6 || 0.8 || 0.0 || 1.50 || 8.2
|-
| align="left" | 2002
| align="left" | New York
| 32 || 1 || 20.6 || .442 || .386 || .679 || 2.1 || 1.7 || 0.8 || 0.0 || 1.72 || 8.0
|-
| align="left" | 2003
| align="left" | New York
| 11 || 2 || 23.4 || .575 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.469 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.951 || 1.9 || 1.6 || 0.9 || 0.1 || 2.45 || 14.7
|-
| align="left" | 2004
| align="left" | New York
| 34 || 34 || 33.2 || .432 || .335 || .836 || 3.5 || 4.4 || 1.7 || 0.1 || 3.7 || 13.5
|-
| align="left" | 2005
| align="left" | New York
| 34 || 34 || 34.7 || .432 || .365 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.901 || 3.4 || 4.3 || 1.8 || 0.1 || 3.15 || 13.9
|-
| align="left" | 2006
| align="left" | New York
| 22 || 20 || 30.8 || .425 || .343 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.960 || 3.0 || 3.7 || 1.3 || 0.1 || 2.95 || 14.7
|-
| align="left" | 2007
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 28 || 26 || 33.4 || .445 || .404 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.931 || 2.8 || 5.0 || 0.8 || 0.2 || 4.07 || 18.8
|-
| align="left" | 2008
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 33 || 33 || 33.4 || .390 || .350 || .937 || 2.8 || 4.9 || 1.3 || 0.2 || 3.15 || 17.6
|-
| align="left" | 2009
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 31 || 31 || 33.8 || .447 || .369 || .901 || 3.3 || 5.0 || 1.6 || 0.4 || 3.58 || 19.5
|-
| align="left" | 2010
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 32 || 32 || 33.6 || .442 || .390 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.960 || 2.9 || 5.4 || 1.1 || 0.2 || 3.38 || 15.1
|-
| align="left" | 2011
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 33 || 33 || 31.8 || .440 || .389 || .892 || 2.9 || 5.8 || 1.5 || 0.2 || 3.61 || 15.9
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |13 years, 2 teams
| 384 || 263 || 28.0 || .439 || .372 || .895 || 2.6 || 3.6 || 1.2 || 0.1 || 2.77 || 13.3
| align="left" | 1999
| align="left" | New York
| 6 || 0 || 8.3 || .167 || .222 || 1.000 || 0.2 || 0.8 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.00 || 2.0
|-
| align="left" | 2000
| align="left" | New York
| 7 || 7 || 29.4 || .429 || .304 || .895 || 1.4 || 2.1 || 1.3 || 0.0 || 2.43 || 9.4
|-
| align="left" | 2001
| align="left" | New York
| 6 || 0 || 8.0 || .353 || .300 || .000 || 0.5 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 0.0 || 0.50 || 2.5
|-
| align="left" | 2002
| align="left" | New York
| 8 || 0 || 22.9 || .537 || .424 || .875 || 2.1 || 2.0 || 0.6 || 0.0 || 1.38 || 9.9
|-
| align="left" | 2004
| align="left" | New York
| 5 || 5 || 35.6 || .392 || .333 || .400 || 2.6 || 3.4 || 1.2 || 0.0 || 3.80 || 10.6
|-
| align="left" | 2005
| align="left" | New York
| 2 || 2 || 38.0 || .450 || .286 || 1.000 || 3.5 || 2.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 5.00 || 11.5
|-
| align="left" | 2007
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 5 || 5 || 35.0 || .413 || .444 || .800 || 2.8 || 5.0 || 1.2 || 0.2 || 3.20 || 20.8
|-
| align="left" | 2008
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 9 || 9 || 36.8 || .421 || .458 || .895 || 2.3 || 4.6 || 1.0 || 0.6 || 3.44 || 18.1
|-
| align="left" | 2009
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 3 || 3 || 33.7 || .463 || .381 || .900 || 2.7 || 2.0 || 1.7 || 0.0 || 2.33 || 18.3
|-
| align="left" | 2010
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 2 || 2 || 37.0 || .393 || .389 || 1.000 || 3.5 || 5.5 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 4.00 || 20.0
|-
| align="left" | 2011
| align="left" | San Antonio
| || || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |11 years, 2 teams
| 53 || 33 || 26.8 || .425 || .389 || .884 || 1.9 || 2.7 || 0.8 || 0.1 || 2.42 || 11.5
, Hammon announced she would try to claim a roster slot on the Russian national team in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Hammon became a Russian citizen in 2008. The coach of Russia's team, Igor Grudin, is also the sports director of the CSKA team that Hammon plays for in Moscow during the WNBA off-season. The announcement that she would participate in camps for the Russian national team came the same day that it was also announced that national team player (and CSKA teammate of Hammon's) Olga Arteshina had become pregnant. Hammon also signed a three-year extension with the CSKA team at around the same time she was named as a prospect for the national team.
Hammon's decision to play for Russia would prove controversial back in her home country. In some circles, she was branded an American traitor, with even then U.S. national basketball coach Anne Donovan
questioning her patriotism. "If you play in this country, live in this country, and you grow up in the heartland and you put on a Russian uniform, you are not a patriotic person in my mind," Donovan said.
Hammon responded to Donovan's criticism saying, "You don't know me. You don't know what that flag means to me. You don't know how I grew up. The biggest honor in our classroom was who could put up the (American) flag, roll it up right, not let the corners touch the ground. Obviously we definitely define patriotism differently." She has also stated. "I love my country. I love our national anthem. It absolutely gives me chills sometimes. I feel honored to be an American, to be from America because of what we stand for." Hammon claimed she only played for Russia to play on the Olympic stage, and it was not a purely financial decision. Although by obtaining Russian citizenship, her salary with CSKA tripled, and she was eligible to make $250,000 for winning a gold medal for Russia. She would have received a $150,000 bonus for winning a silver medal.
Hammon shot 1-for-6 from the field in a 67–52 loss to the United States in the 2008 Olympic Semifinals, but helped the Russian team to win the bronze medal, by scoring 22 points against China.
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
of the WNBA
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
.
Early life
Becky is the daughter of Martin and Bev Hammon, She has one brother, Matt and one sister, Gina. Becky played high school basketball at Stevens High School in her hometown of Rapid City, South DakotaRapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
. As a junior, she was South Dakota Miss Basketball. As a senior, she was voted the South Dakota Player of the Year after averaging 26 points, 4 rebounds and 5 steals per game.
College career
Hammon had a distinguished career at Colorado State. Her prolific scoring made her an All-AmericaAll-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n as well as Colorado Sportswoman of the Year. She led her team to a 33-3 record in the 1998-1999 season and helped them advance to the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Tournament's Sweet Sixteen
NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual college basketball tournament for women. Held each April, the Women's Championship was inaugurated in the 1981–82 season...
. She was the WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
Mountain Division player of the year for the 1998-1999 season and surpassed University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
player Keith Van Horn
Keith Van Horn
Keith Adam Van Horn is a retired American professional basketball player. The 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward graduated from Diamond Bar High School in Diamond Bar, California and attended the University of Utah where he went on to be a consensus First Team All-American in 1997...
as the WAC's all-time leading scorer.
Hammon set many Colorado State all-time records, including points (2740), points per game (21.92), field goals made (918), free throws made (539), three-point field goals made (365) and assists (538). She received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award is an annual college basketball award in the United States intended to honor shorter–than–average players who excel on the court despite their size. The award, named in honor of James Naismith's daughter–in–law, was established for men in 1969 and for women in 1984...
from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association
Women's Basketball Coaches Association
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is an association of coaches of women's basketball teams at all levels.The organization was formed in 1981, with the goal of addressing the needs of women's basketball coaches.The mission of the WBCA is:...
as the best senior player under 5 ft 8 in (1.7 m) in 1999.
On November 12, 2004, Becky Hammon was inducted into the Colorado State University Sports Hall of Fame. On January 22, 2005, her #25 Colorado State jersey was retired at the Moby Arena
Moby Arena
Moby Arena is a 8,745-seat basketball arena in Fort Collins, Colorado. The arena, originally named Moby Gymnasium, was opened on January 27, 1966 with a victory over New Mexico State...
.
Professional career
Undrafted during her rookie season, Hammon was signed to the WNBA on May 12, 1999 and joined the New York LibertyNew York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
. She had a surprisingly solid rookie season statistically, backing up starting point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
Teresa Weatherspoon
Teresa Weatherspoon
-Personal:Weatherspoon was born to Charles and Rowena Weatherspoon in Pineland, Texas. Her father, Charles Sr., played minor league baseball in the Minnesota Twins' farm system, and holds the record for the most grand slams in a minor league game. Weatherspoon has two brothers and three sisters...
. Her aggressive play at both ends of the court made her a favorite among Liberty fans. After the 2003 season, Hammon took over for Teresa Weatherspoon as the Liberty's starting point guard and along with Vickie Johnson
Vickie Johnson
Vickie Johnson , is a WNBA player who played for the San Antonio Silver Stars until her retirement in 2009. She grew up in Coushatta, Louisiana.-High School Years:Johnson was a letterman in basketball and track and field...
and Crystal Robinson
Crystal Robinson
Crystal Robinson , is a former Women's National Basketball Association player who played for the Washington Mystics and New York Liberty. She grew up in Atoka, Oklahoma.-High school:...
, became one of the team's co-captains in 2004.
In her first season in 2003 with the Tennessee Fury of the National Women's Basketball League
National Women's Basketball League
The National Women's Basketball League, often abbreviated to the NWBL, was an organization governing professional basketball leagues for women in the United States. The league was founded in 1997 and began play in the Fall of that year. The league used to have its own season during the off-season...
(NWBL), Hammon led the league in scoring, averaging 20.6 points per game. In 2004, Hammon signed with the Colorado Chill, a new team to the NWBL, but played in only 2 games because of a knee injury she sustained in the 2003 season when playing for the New York Liberty.
Primarily used to provide instant points off the bench, Hammon finally had a breakout season in 2003, providing much-needed offense for the Liberty. However, her season was cut short by a knee injury.
On August 16, 2005, Hammon scored her 2000th WNBA career point. At the end of the 2005 season, she was named to the All-WNBA Second Team.
In January 2007 she played her WNBA "off season" with Rivas Futura in the Spanish League
On April 4, 2007 during the WNBA Draft, Becky Hammon was traded to the Silver Stars along with a second round draft pick in the 2008 draft for the second overall first round pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft, center Jessica Davenport
Jessica Davenport
Jessica Davenport, born June 24, 1985, is a reserve center for the WNBA's Indiana Fever. She previously played for The Ohio State University's women's basketball team.-High school:...
.
Hammon had her best season of her career in 2007 posting career high averages of 18.8 ppg (fourth best) and 5.0 apg (first in WNBA). While in San Antonio, Hammon earned the nickname, "Big Shot Becky" because of her ability to hit shots in clutch moments. It comes from the nickname "Big Shot Rob" given to San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
forward, Robert Horry
Robert Horry
Robert Keith Horry Jr. is a retired American basketball player and current sports commentator. He played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association , winning seven championships, the most of any player not to have played on the 1960s Boston Celtics...
.
Becky averaged 17.6 ppg, and 4.9 apg as she led the Silver Stars to a WNBA best record 24-10 and led them into the playoffs for a second straight year. In the conference semi finals, Becky scored 30 pts in a Game 1 win against the Sacramento Monarchs. They would eventually win the series and advance to the conference finals. San Antonio would lose the first game to the Los Angeles Sparks led by Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker. In Game 2, Sophia Young hit a buzzer beater shot at the end of regulation and stave off elimination as they beat the Sparks 67- 66. The San Antonio Silver Stars won the Western Conference championship and advanced to the WNBA finals where they were swept by the Detroit Shock.
Becky averaged 19.5 ppg, her career average, and 5.0 apg in the 2009 WNBA season. The San Antonio Silver Stars had a record of 15-19 and lost to the eventual champion Phoenix Mercury, in the first round. Becky was an All-Star as well as a First Team All WNBA.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 1999
1999 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 30 || 1 || 6.7 || .422 || .289 || .882 || 0.6 || 0.6 || 0.2 || 0.0 || 0.80 || 2.7
|-
| align="left" | 2000
2000 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 32 || 16 || 26.1 || .472 || .369 || .884 || 2.0 || 1.8 || 0.9 || 0.0 || 1.94 || 11.0
|-
| align="left" | 2001
2001 WNBA season
-External links:**...
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 32 || 0 || 19.3 || .457 || .378 || .784 || 1.6 || 1.6 || 0.8 || 0.0 || 1.50 || 8.2
|-
| align="left" | 2002
2002 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 32 || 1 || 20.6 || .442 || .386 || .679 || 2.1 || 1.7 || 0.8 || 0.0 || 1.72 || 8.0
|-
| align="left" | 2003
2003 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 11 || 2 || 23.4 || .575 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.469 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.951 || 1.9 || 1.6 || 0.9 || 0.1 || 2.45 || 14.7
|-
| align="left" | 2004
2004 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 34 || 34 || 33.2 || .432 || .335 || .836 || 3.5 || 4.4 || 1.7 || 0.1 || 3.7 || 13.5
|-
| align="left" | 2005
2005 WNBA season
-External links:***...
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 34 || 34 || 34.7 || .432 || .365 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.901 || 3.4 || 4.3 || 1.8 || 0.1 || 3.15 || 13.9
|-
| align="left" | 2006
2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 22 || 20 || 30.8 || .425 || .343 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.960 || 3.0 || 3.7 || 1.3 || 0.1 || 2.95 || 14.7
|-
| align="left" | 2007
2007 WNBA season
-External links:* * * * * * * *...
| align="left" | San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
| 28 || 26 || 33.4 || .445 || .404 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.931 || 2.8 || 5.0 || 0.8 || 0.2 || 4.07 || 18.8
|-
| align="left" | 2008
2008 WNBA season
-Season Highlights:*Candace Parker becomes the second and third player in WNBA history to dunk in a regular season game.*A fight breaks out between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock resulting in four ejections and ten suspensions....
| align="left" | San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
| 33 || 33 || 33.4 || .390 || .350 || .937 || 2.8 || 4.9 || 1.3 || 0.2 || 3.15 || 17.6
|-
| align="left" | 2009
2009 WNBA season
The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008...
| align="left" | San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
| 31 || 31 || 33.8 || .447 || .369 || .901 || 3.3 || 5.0 || 1.6 || 0.4 || 3.58 || 19.5
|-
| align="left" | 2010
2010 WNBA season
The 2010 WNBA season was the 14th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began with a televised meeting between the defending champion Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks in Phoenix, Arizona on May 15. The Connecticut Sun hosted the 10th Annual All-Star...
| align="left" | San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
| 32 || 32 || 33.6 || .442 || .390 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.960 || 2.9 || 5.4 || 1.1 || 0.2 || 3.38 || 15.1
|-
| align="left" | 2011
2011 WNBA season
The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began on June 3 with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Minnesota Lynx, featuring 2011 WNBA Draft top pick Maya Moore, in a game televised on NBA TV...
| align="left" | San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
| 33 || 33 || 31.8 || .440 || .389 || .892 || 2.9 || 5.8 || 1.5 || 0.2 || 3.61 || 15.9
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |13 years, 2 teams
| 384 || 263 || 28.0 || .439 || .372 || .895 || 2.6 || 3.6 || 1.2 || 0.1 || 2.77 || 13.3
Postseason
|-| align="left" | 1999
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 6 || 0 || 8.3 || .167 || .222 || 1.000 || 0.2 || 0.8 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.00 || 2.0
|-
| align="left" | 2000
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 7 || 7 || 29.4 || .429 || .304 || .895 || 1.4 || 2.1 || 1.3 || 0.0 || 2.43 || 9.4
|-
| align="left" | 2001
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 6 || 0 || 8.0 || .353 || .300 || .000 || 0.5 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 0.0 || 0.50 || 2.5
|-
| align="left" | 2002
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 8 || 0 || 22.9 || .537 || .424 || .875 || 2.1 || 2.0 || 0.6 || 0.0 || 1.38 || 9.9
|-
| align="left" | 2004
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 5 || 5 || 35.6 || .392 || .333 || .400 || 2.6 || 3.4 || 1.2 || 0.0 || 3.80 || 10.6
|-
| align="left" | 2005
| align="left" | New York
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
| 2 || 2 || 38.0 || .450 || .286 || 1.000 || 3.5 || 2.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 5.00 || 11.5
|-
| align="left" | 2007
2007 WNBA Playoffs
The 2007 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2007 season which ended with the Western Conference champion Phoenix Mercury defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Shock 3-2.-Format:...
| align="left" | San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
| 5 || 5 || 35.0 || .413 || .444 || .800 || 2.8 || 5.0 || 1.2 || 0.2 || 3.20 || 20.8
|-
| align="left" | 2008
2008 WNBA Playoffs
The 2008 WNBA Playoffs was the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2008 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Shock defeating the Western Conference champion San Antonio Silver Stars 3-0.-Format:...
| align="left" | San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
| 9 || 9 || 36.8 || .421 || .458 || .895 || 2.3 || 4.6 || 1.0 || 0.6 || 3.44 || 18.1
|-
| align="left" | 2009
2009 WNBA Playoffs
The 2009 WNBA Playoffs is the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2009 season.-Format:*The top 4 teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs.**All 4 teams are seeded by basis of their standings....
| align="left" | San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
| 3 || 3 || 33.7 || .463 || .381 || .900 || 2.7 || 2.0 || 1.7 || 0.0 || 2.33 || 18.3
|-
| align="left" | 2010
2010 WNBA Playoffs
The 2010 WNBA Playoffs is the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2010 season.-Format:*The top 4 teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs.**All 4 teams are seeded by basis of their standings....
| align="left" | San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
| 2 || 2 || 37.0 || .393 || .389 || 1.000 || 3.5 || 5.5 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 4.00 || 20.0
|-
| align="left" | 2011
2011 WNBA Playoffs
The 2011 WNBA Playoffs is the postseason for the Women's National Basketball Association's 2011 season. Four teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs seeded 1 to 4 in a tournament bracket, with the two opening rounds in a best-of-three format, and the final in a...
| align="left" | San Antonio
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
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| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |11 years, 2 teams
| 53 || 33 || 26.8 || .425 || .389 || .884 || 1.9 || 2.7 || 0.8 || 0.1 || 2.42 || 11.5
Olympics
After learning that, once again, she would not be invited to try out for the United States women's national basketball teamUnited States women's national basketball team
The United States women's national basketball team are the defending Olympic champions in women's basketball. The team is composed of some of the top American players in the WNBA and the women's college game....
, Hammon announced she would try to claim a roster slot on the Russian national team in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Hammon became a Russian citizen in 2008. The coach of Russia's team, Igor Grudin, is also the sports director of the CSKA team that Hammon plays for in Moscow during the WNBA off-season. The announcement that she would participate in camps for the Russian national team came the same day that it was also announced that national team player (and CSKA teammate of Hammon's) Olga Arteshina had become pregnant. Hammon also signed a three-year extension with the CSKA team at around the same time she was named as a prospect for the national team.
Hammon's decision to play for Russia would prove controversial back in her home country. In some circles, she was branded an American traitor, with even then U.S. national basketball coach Anne Donovan
Anne Donovan
Anne Donovan is an American retired basketball player and the current head coach of the women's basketball team at Seton Hall University. She was formerly an assistant coach, then interim head coach of the New York Liberty of the WNBA...
questioning her patriotism. "If you play in this country, live in this country, and you grow up in the heartland and you put on a Russian uniform, you are not a patriotic person in my mind," Donovan said.
Hammon responded to Donovan's criticism saying, "You don't know me. You don't know what that flag means to me. You don't know how I grew up. The biggest honor in our classroom was who could put up the (American) flag, roll it up right, not let the corners touch the ground. Obviously we definitely define patriotism differently." She has also stated. "I love my country. I love our national anthem. It absolutely gives me chills sometimes. I feel honored to be an American, to be from America because of what we stand for." Hammon claimed she only played for Russia to play on the Olympic stage, and it was not a purely financial decision. Although by obtaining Russian citizenship, her salary with CSKA tripled, and she was eligible to make $250,000 for winning a gold medal for Russia. She would have received a $150,000 bonus for winning a silver medal.
Hammon shot 1-for-6 from the field in a 67–52 loss to the United States in the 2008 Olympic Semifinals, but helped the Russian team to win the bronze medal, by scoring 22 points against China.
International Basktball
Many WNBA players head overseas to play basketball during their WNBA Off-season- Trentino Rovereto Basket (2001–2002)
- Rivas Ecópolis (2006–2007)
- CSKA Moscow (2007–2009)
- Ros Casares Valencia (2009–2010)
- Orenburg (2010-2011)
- Spartak (2011-2012)
Awards and achievements
- 8 - WNBA All-Star Game (2003/2004/2005/2006/2007/2009/2010/2011)
2005
- Colorado State University retired Becky's jersey
- Won the NWBL Championship with the Colorado Chill
- Named to All WNBA 2nd Team
2006
- Won 2nd NWBL Championship with the Colorado Chill
- Named NWBL MVP
2007
- Won World League Championship with CSKA
- Named to All WNBA 1st Team
2008
- Led the San Antonio Silver Stars to the best record in the WNBA and to San Antonio's first ever Western Conference Championship.
- Made the Guinness World Record for Most Free Throws Made in a Minute (women’s category) after hitting 38 of 42 attempts in the allotted 60 seconds on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the NBA All-Star Jam Session.
- Voted into Euroleague All-Star Game
- Won the Cup of Russia with CSKA
- Silver Medalist in the Russian League Championships
- Won the 2008 Haier Shooting Stars Competition along with David Robinson and Tim Duncan
- Chosen as Athlete of the Year by the Rapid City Journal
- Named to All WNBA 2nd Team
2009
- Voted into the EuroLeague All-Star Game
- Won the EuroLeague All-Star 3 Point Shoot Out
- Voted into the WNBA All-Star Game
- Won the WNBA All-Star Game 3 Point Shoot Out
- Named to the All WNBA 1st Team
2010
- Voted into the 2010 EuroLeague All-Star Game (Did not play)
- Won the 2010 Haier Shooting Stars Competition at the NBA All-Star Weekend with Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Smith
- Inducted into the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame
- Named to the WNBA All-Star Game (Did not play due to injury)
2011
- Named to the WNBA's exclusive Top 15 Players of All Time list