Clarissa Davis
Encyclopedia
Clarissa Davis (born 4 June 1967 in San Antonio, Texas
) is former Texas women's basketball All-American, who is also known as Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil. She is a National Player of the Year, Olympic and pro standout, and was inducted into The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in April 2006. She was one of six inductees in the Class of 2006, which features four former players and two coaches. Davis played under coach Mike Floyd at John Jay High School
in San Antonio, Texas
before playing at the University of Texas. She also played basketball in Europe with Galatasaray Istanbul and Fenerbahçe Istanbul in Turkey
and won Turkish Championships with both this rival clubs.
, and the 1987 Pan American Games
. After serving as an alternate on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team, she played on the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team, which received a bronze medal in Barcelona, and was the team's second-leading scorer (13.0 ppg.).
in the second round (22nd pick overall) of the 1999 WNBA Draft. She played in fourteen games with the Mercury, averaging 9.3 points per game in her only season in the league.
organization from 1999 to 2002. She ran the Spurs' successful campaign to obtain the San Antonio Silver Stars
as a WNBA franchise, and served as the Silver Star's Chief Operating Officer from 2002-2006. Davis was an assistant coach for the University of Texas Longhorns women's basketball team during the 2006-2007 season. She left Texas after one season to take a similar position with C. Vivian Stringer
's Rutgers University
team in 2008. After helping the Scarlet Knights to the their fifth consecutive Sweet Sixteen
appearance in the 2008-2009 season, Davis-Wrightsil resigned to be with her ailing mother in Texas. Inducted into Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in April of 2006, Davis is also the founder of TEAMXPRESS, a non-profit sports-based mentoring organization for girls in San Antonio, TX.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
) is former Texas women's basketball All-American, who is also known as Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil. She is a National Player of the Year, Olympic and pro standout, and was inducted into The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in April 2006. She was one of six inductees in the Class of 2006, which features four former players and two coaches. Davis played under coach Mike Floyd at John Jay High School
John Jay High School (San Antonio, Texas)
John Jay High School is a high school in the Northside Independent School District of San Antonio, Texaswhich serves a portion of the city of San Antonio. All high schools in the Northside Independent School District are named for US Supreme Court Chief Justices; the first Supreme Court Chief...
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
before playing at the University of Texas. She also played basketball in Europe with Galatasaray Istanbul and Fenerbahçe Istanbul in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and won Turkish Championships with both this rival clubs.
At Texas
- Garnered National Player of the Year recognition, receiving the Naismith Award in both 1987 and 1989 and the Wade Trophy in 1989
- As a senior in 1988-89, named Naismith National Player of the Year, U.S. Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Year, Champion and Mercedes Benz National Player of the Year
- Two-time Kodak All-American and Naismith All-American, U.S. Basketball Writes Association All-American at the University of Texas (1987, 1989) ... consensus All-American
- Earned Most Outstanding Player honors as a freshman at the 1986 Final Four, leading Texas to the NCAA Championship with a flawless 34-0 mark... Also led Texas to the NCAA Final Four (1986) and to the Final Eight twice (1988, 1989)
- Named to both the NCAA and the Southwest Conference "Team of the Decade" for the 1980s, earning top honors as the SWC's "Athlete of the Decade"
- Tallied 2,008 points during her collegiate career for an average of 19.9 ppg ... in the Texas career record book, she stands: 1st, scoring average; 3rd, scoring; 4th, rebound average (8.7 rpg); 5th, field goal pct. (.539); 8th, rebounding (887)
- Set Texas single season records (as a senior) for points (843), scoring average (26.3 ppg) and free throws made (188)
- Came to UT after starring at John Jay High School in San Antonio
USA Basketball
Davis-Wrightsil's first experience with international basketball came in 1986, when she was a member of the team that won a gold medal at the 1986 World Championship. She also played in the 1986 and 1994 Goodwill GamesGoodwill Games
The Goodwill Games was an international sports competition, created by Ted Turner in reaction to the political troubles surrounding the Olympic Games of the 1980s...
, and the 1987 Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
. After serving as an alternate on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team, she played on the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team, which received a bronze medal in Barcelona, and was the team's second-leading scorer (13.0 ppg.).
WNBA career
Clarissa Davis was selected by the Phoenix MercuryPhoenix 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...
in the second round (22nd pick overall) of the 1999 WNBA Draft. She played in fourteen games with the Mercury, averaging 9.3 points per game in her only season in the league.
Coaching career
After her playing career, Davis-Wrightsil worked for the San Antonio SpursSan 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 ....
organization from 1999 to 2002. She ran the Spurs' successful campaign to obtain the San Antonio Silver Stars
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...
as a WNBA franchise, and served as the Silver Star's Chief Operating Officer from 2002-2006. Davis was an assistant coach for the University of Texas Longhorns women's basketball team during the 2006-2007 season. She left Texas after one season to take a similar position with C. Vivian Stringer
C. Vivian Stringer
Charlaine Vivian Stringer is a prominent African American basketball coach, with one of the best records in the history of women's basketball...
's Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
team in 2008. After helping the Scarlet Knights to the their fifth consecutive Sweet Sixteen
Sweet Sixteen
Sweet Sixteen may refer to:*Sweet sixteen , a party thrown in honor of a girl's or very rarely, a boy's, sixteenth birthday, primarily in the United States...
appearance in the 2008-2009 season, Davis-Wrightsil resigned to be with her ailing mother in Texas. Inducted into Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in April of 2006, Davis is also the founder of TEAMXPRESS, a non-profit sports-based mentoring organization for girls in San Antonio, TX.