Deanna Nolan
Encyclopedia
Deanna "Tweety" Nicole Nolan (born Deana Nicole Nolan, August 25, 1979 in Flint, Michigan
) is an American professional basketball player for the WNBA
. Her primary position is shooting guard
, but occasionally plays the point guard
position. Her original name was Deana, but was legally changed to Deanna in 2000.
where she led her team to back to back Michigan
state championships in 1994 and 1995, and was crowned as Michigan's 1995 Miss Basketball.
. Overall she helped the Lady Bulldogs achieve an 86–12 record overall during her collegiate career.
As a senior, Nolan earned 2001 All-SEC Tournament Team honors.
, Nolan was selected by the Detroit Shock
in the first round (sixth overall). She has been nicknamed "Tweety", and is well known by fans for her amazing vertical leap.
Nolan also helped the Detroit Shock win their first championship in 2003. In 2006, she won another championship with Detroit and was named MVP of the 2006 WNBA Finals
.
In 2008, she helped the Shock win their third WNBA Championship. In 2007, 2008 and 2009, she was named the Detroit Shock Player of the Year in voting by members of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association.
.
She obtained a Russian passport in order to not count against the team's allowed number of foreign players. She stated during 2008 that she hoped to play for the Russian Olympic team, but was passed over in favor of Becky Hammon
.
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
) is an American professional basketball player for 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...
. Her primary position is shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
, but occasionally plays the 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...
position. Her original name was Deana, but was legally changed to Deanna in 2000.
High school years
Nolan attended Flint Northern High SchoolFlint Northern High School
Flint Northern High School, is a public secondary school located in Flint, Michigan. The original building was built in 1928, and the current site was erected in the 1970's. It is one of three high schools in the Flint Community Schools district along with Flint Northwestern High School and Flint...
where she led her team to back to back Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
state championships in 1994 and 1995, and was crowned as Michigan's 1995 Miss Basketball.
College years
Nolan graduated in December 2001 with a degree in child and family development from the 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...
. Overall she helped the Lady Bulldogs achieve an 86–12 record overall during her collegiate career.
As a senior, Nolan earned 2001 All-SEC Tournament Team honors.
WNBA career
In the 2001 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:...
, Nolan was selected by the Detroit Shock
Detroit Shock
The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
in the first round (sixth overall). She has been nicknamed "Tweety", and is well known by fans for her amazing vertical leap.
Nolan also helped the Detroit Shock win their first championship in 2003. In 2006, she won another championship with Detroit and was named MVP of the 2006 WNBA Finals
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
.
In 2008, she helped the Shock win their third WNBA Championship. In 2007, 2008 and 2009, she was named the Detroit Shock Player of the Year in voting by members of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association.
International career
In the 2007–08, 2008–09 and 2009–10 WNBA off seasons, she played for the Ekaterinburg club in RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
She obtained a Russian passport in order to not count against the team's allowed number of foreign players. She stated during 2008 that she hoped to play for the Russian Olympic team, but was passed over in favor of Becky Hammon
Becky Hammon
Rebecca Lynn "Becky" Hammon is a professional basketball player currently under contract with the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA.-Early life:...
.