Bridget Pettis
Encyclopedia
Bridget Pettis is a former American college and professional basketball
player who was a guard in the Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA) for eight seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Pettis played college basketball
for the University of Florida
, and professionally for the Phoenix Mercury
and the Indiana Fever
of the WNBA.
. She attended East Chicago Central High School
, and played high school basketball for the EC Central Cardinals.
in Coolidge, Arizona
, and played junior college basketball for the Central Arizona Vaqueras. She accepted an athletic scholarship
to transfer to the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
, where she played for the Florida Gators women's basketball
team from 1991 to 1993. Memorably, she completed eight three-point shots against the Georgia Bulldogs
on January 20, 1993—still the Gators' single-game record.
She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
in 1993.
. She played for the Mercury from 1997 to 2001, the Indiana Fever in 2002 and 2003, and the Mercury again in 2006. her first two seasons with the Mercury were he most productive, when she started fifty-six of sixty games played, and averaged over fourteen point per game. In her eight-season WNBA career, she played in 228 games, started seventy-one of them, and scored 1,408 points.
Pettis is currently coaching in the WNBA for the Phoenix Mercury.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who was a guard in the Women's National Basketball Association
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...
(WNBA) for eight seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Pettis played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and professionally for the Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
and the Indiana Fever
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
of the WNBA.
Early years
Pettis was born in East Chicago, IndianaEast Chicago, Indiana
East Chicago is a city in Lake County, Indiana. The population was 29,698 at the 2010 census.-Geography:East Chicago is located at ....
. She attended East Chicago Central High School
East Chicago Central High School
EC Central High School is a high school in the industrial city of East Chicago, Indiana, United States, located in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its address is 1100 W. Columbus Drive, on the corner of Columbus Drive and Indianapolis Boulevard...
, and played high school basketball for the EC Central Cardinals.
College career
Pettis attended Central Arizona CollegeCentral Arizona College
Central Arizona College is a public community college located in Coolidge, Arizona. "CAC," as the school is commonly known, serves the population of Pinal County.The school's sports teams are called the Vaqueros and the colors are green and gold...
in Coolidge, Arizona
Coolidge, Arizona
Coolidge is a city in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 8,154.Arizona Highway 87 and Arizona Highway 287 pass through the town. Coolidge is 56 miles southeast of Phoenix, and 69 miles northwest of Tucson. It is 21 miles...
, and played junior college basketball for the Central Arizona Vaqueras. She accepted an athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to transfer to the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where she played for the Florida Gators women's basketball
Florida Gators women's basketball
The Florida Gators women's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Southeastern Conference...
team from 1991 to 1993. Memorably, she completed eight three-point shots against the Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference...
on January 20, 1993—still the Gators' single-game record.
She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1993.
Professional career
The Phoenix Mercury selected Pettis in the first round (seventh pick overall) of the 1997 WNBA Draft1997 WNBA Draft
The 1997 WNBA Draft was the first annual draft held by the WNBA through which teams could select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. Unlike later drafts, this draft was unique because there were three different stages in which teams built their...
. She played for the Mercury from 1997 to 2001, the Indiana Fever in 2002 and 2003, and the Mercury again in 2006. her first two seasons with the Mercury were he most productive, when she started fifty-six of sixty games played, and averaged over fourteen point per game. In her eight-season WNBA career, she played in 228 games, started seventy-one of them, and scored 1,408 points.
Pettis is currently coaching in the WNBA for the Phoenix Mercury.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- List of Florida Gators basketball players
- List of University of Florida alumni
External links
- Bridget Pettis – Official WNBA player profile