Coco Miller
Encyclopedia
Colleen Mary “Coco” Miller (born September 6, 1978 in Rochester, Minnesota
) is a professional basketball
player in the WNBA
. She is the identical twin sister of fellow WNBA player Kelly Miller.
, where she lost in the finals. The twins also helped their school go 27-0 and win the Minnesota
state's class 4A championship. Miller was named a WBCA
All-American. She participated in the WBCA High School All-America Game where she scored eight points.
, where they both majored in biology and won a series of awards, including the James E. Sullivan Award
, given to the nation's top amateur athlete. They earned that award in 1999, becoming the first pair of twins to earn the award, and joining such luminaries as Carl Lewis
, Greg Louganis
, Bill Walton
, Bill Bradley
, Kurt Thomas
, Jackie Joyner-Kersee
and Janet Evans
as recipients of the award.
Coco was among the top ten in that school's list among women basketball players in assists and steals. She participated in the World University Games, helping her team to a silver medal. She finished her college career fifth among SEC women in scoring at 16.6, second in free throw percentage at .743% from the free throw line, and eighth in steals with 160. She was a finalist for the Naismith award as the player of the year during her final college season.
. Coco was selected by the Washington Mystics
9th overall in the 1st round, where she averaged 6.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in her rookie season. She played 250 total regular season matches for the Mystics through the end of the 2008 season, just nine short of Murriel Page's club record of 259.
On May 11, 2009 Coco Miller was waived by the Mystics; four days later she was signed by the WNBA's Atlanta Dream.
Her role in 2009 was as support and mentor for rookie point guard Shalee Lehning.
In the 2010 regular season she was sent further down the depth chart, behind Lehning and her sister, newly acquired by the Dream. However, after Kelly Miller
's ankle injury, Coco received more playing time. She started the first game of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against her former team, the Washington Mystics, and in this game she scored 21 points.
of the National Women's Basketball League
(NWBL).
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
) is a professional basketball
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 in 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...
. She is the identical twin sister of fellow WNBA player Kelly Miller.
Early years
Coco played basketball with her sister at Mayo High School in Rochester, Minnesota, and made it to a championship in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where she lost in the finals. The twins also helped their school go 27-0 and win the Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
state's class 4A championship. Miller was named a WBCA
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:...
All-American. She participated in the WBCA High School All-America Game where she scored eight points.
College years
The twins went to University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, where they both majored in biology and won a series of awards, including the James E. Sullivan Award
James E. Sullivan Award
The James E. Sullivan Award, presented by the American Amateur Athletic Union , is awarded annually in April to "the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States". Often referred to as the Oscar of sports awards, it was first presented in 1930. The award is named for the AAU's founder and past...
, given to the nation's top amateur athlete. They earned that award in 1999, becoming the first pair of twins to earn the award, and joining such luminaries as Carl Lewis
Carl Lewis
Frederick Carlton "Carl" Lewis is an American former track and field athlete, who won 10 Olympic medals including 9 gold, and 10 World Championships medals, of which 8 were gold. His career spanned from 1979 when he first achieved a world ranking to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and...
, Greg Louganis
Greg Louganis
Gregory "Greg" Efthimios Louganis is an American Olympic diver and author.He received the James E. Sullivan Award from the Amateur Athletic Union in 1984 as the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States....
, Bill Walton
Bill Walton
William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...
, Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley
William Warren "Bill" Bradley is an American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, and former three-term Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in the 2000 election.Bradley was born and raised in a suburb of St....
, Kurt Thomas
Kurt Thomas (gymnast)
Kurt Bilteaux Thomas is an American Olympic gymnast.While at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, Thomas became a member of the US Olympic team at the 1976 Summer Olympics. In 1978, Thomas was the first American male gymnast to win a gold medal in floor exercise in a world championship...
, Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Jacqueline "Jackie" Joyner-Kersee is a retired American athlete, ranked among the all-time greatest athletes in the women's heptathlon as well as in the women's long jump. She won three gold, one silver, and two bronze Olympic medals, in those four different events...
and Janet Evans
Janet Evans
Janet Beth Evans is a American competitive swimmer who specializes in distance freestyle. She recently announced her comeback to the sport with intentions to swim in the 2012 Olympic Trials.-Biography:...
as recipients of the award.
Coco was among the top ten in that school's list among women basketball players in assists and steals. She participated in the World University Games, helping her team to a silver medal. She finished her college career fifth among SEC women in scoring at 16.6, second in free throw percentage at .743% from the free throw line, and eighth in steals with 160. She was a finalist for the Naismith award as the player of the year during her final college season.
WNBA career
In 2001, Coco and Kelly entered the WNBA Draft2001 WNBA Draft
2001 WNBA Draft - 20 April 2001*On April 20, 2001 the regular WNBA draft took place.-College draft:-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:...
. Coco was selected by the Washington Mystics
Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
9th overall in the 1st round, where she averaged 6.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in her rookie season. She played 250 total regular season matches for the Mystics through the end of the 2008 season, just nine short of Murriel Page's club record of 259.
On May 11, 2009 Coco Miller was waived by the Mystics; four days later she was signed by the WNBA's Atlanta Dream.
Her role in 2009 was as support and mentor for rookie point guard Shalee Lehning.
In the 2010 regular season she was sent further down the depth chart, behind Lehning and her sister, newly acquired by the Dream. However, after Kelly Miller
Kelly Miller
Kelly Miller may refer to:* Kelly Miller , also mathematician, sociologist & journalist* Kelly Miller , American hockey player* Kelly Miller , American WNBA player...
's ankle injury, Coco received more playing time. She started the first game of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against her former team, the Washington Mystics, and in this game she scored 21 points.
NWBL career
After the 2002 WNBA season, both sisters played for the Birmingham PowerBirmingham Power
The Birmingham Power was one of the original franchises of the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Birmingham, Alabama, they played from 2001 to 2005.-External links:**...
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).
International career
- 2002-2003:
Fenerbahçe IstanbulFenerbahçe IstanbulFenerbahçe Women's Basketball is the women's basketball department of Fenerbahçe S.K., a major sports club based in Istanbul, Turkey.Fenerbahçe play their matches in the 1.500-seated Caferağa Sport Hall...
(TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
) - 2003-2004: Fenerbahçe IstanbulFenerbahçe IstanbulFenerbahçe Women's Basketball is the women's basketball department of Fenerbahçe S.K., a major sports club based in Istanbul, Turkey.Fenerbahçe play their matches in the 1.500-seated Caferağa Sport Hall...
(TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
) - 2006-2007:
Lattes-Maurin Montpellier (LFBLigue Féminine de BasketballThe LFB is the top women’s French professional basketball league.- Champions :* precedes the score of the team playing at home.- Season 2006-2007 :* CJM Bourges Basket...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
)
Vital statistics
- Position: Guard
- Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
- College: University of GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
- Team(s): Washington MysticsWashington MysticsThe Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
2001-08; Atlanta Dream 2009