Kara Wolters
Encyclopedia
Kara Wolters is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball
player.
Standing at six feet and seven inches (2.01 m), she was appropriately nicknamed "Big Girl". She is the tallest player in University of Connecticut
women's basketball history and one of the tallest women to ever play in the WNBA. Only Lindsay Taylor
, Katie Feenstra
, Zheng Haixia, Maria Stepanova
, each 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m), and Margo Dydek
at 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) are taller than she is. Despite her tremendous height, she cannot dunk.
Hall of Fame and played professional basketball for the Seattle SuperSonics
in the NBA. He was born in West Germany
and moved to America with his family when at 11 years old. He later became an insurance lawyer in Boston. Kara has always worn uniform number 52, the same number as her father, as a tribute.
Wolters has stated she has always been tall and was already 6’3 in eighth grade and she continued to grow rapidly during her career at Holliston High School. She still retains the schools scoring, rebounding and blocked shots record.
Her brother, Ray Wolters, played basketball at the University of Rhode Island
, Assumption College and later Eastern Connecticut State University
. She has two older sisters: Kristen who also played college basketball at Rhode Island and Katie.
When Katie was six, a tumor was discovered in her brain. The growth was so large and tangled up in her brain stem that complete removal was not possible. Because of the subsequent surgery and treatment with radiation, she developed short-term memory loss and lost some of her sense of balance, and sometimes has seizures that prevent her from driving. Kara would later form the "Kara Kares Foundation" in 1998, which supports brain tumor
research. Katie died in 2004 as a result of her brain tumor.
Wolters married Sean Drinan, a banking executive, in November 2004 and currently works as a color commentator
during University of Connecticut
women's basketball games with play-by-play announcer Bob Joyce. The games can be heard on the UConn Radio Network, whose flagship station is WTIC (AM)
. Her first daughter, Sydney Elizabeth, was born on March 8, 2007.
from 1993 to 1997. She was a member of the 1995 team that won the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
, which capped a perfect 35-0 won-loss record. Her UConn team compiled a 132-8 record (94.3%)/
She appeared in four NCAA Tournaments advanced to the 1996 Final Four, the 1994 and 1997 Final Eights and also won four Big East Conference Championships and four Big East Tournament titles. In 1997 she was named the National Player of the Year.
She finished her career as Connecticut’s all-time leading rebounder (1286) and shot blocker (396).
Wolters was a member of the inaugural class (2006) of inductees to the University of Connecticut women's basketball "Huskies of Honor" recognition program.
of the ABL in 1997. She played for the team in the 97-98 and 98-99 seasons, the final two of the league's existence.
in the third round (36th overall) during the 1999 WNBA Draft
and subsequently in the 2000 Expansion Draft by Indiana Fever
.
Wolters was traded to the Sacramento Monarchs
for the 14th pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft
on April 11, 2001. Wolters continued to play for the Monarchs until May 20, 2003, when she was released.
In her four-year WNBA career, Wolters averaged 50 percent in field goal shooting, 75 percent in free throw shooting, 3.2 rebounds per game, and 6.5 points per game.
-winning U.S. Olympic women's basketball team during the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney, Australia.
She ranks second among all-time USA World Championship
competitors for the most blocked shots (11).
Wolters is one of only seven women to receive a Gold Medal
in the Olympics
, an NCAA championship
, and a WNBA Championship
. The others are Sue Bird
, Swin Cash
, Ruth Riley
, Sheryl Swoopes
, Cynthia Cooper
, and Diana Taurasi
.
generated with :de:Wikipedia:Helferlein/VBA-Macro for EXCEL tableconversion V1.7<\hiddentext>>
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.
Standing at six feet and seven inches (2.01 m), she was appropriately nicknamed "Big Girl". She is the tallest player in University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
women's basketball history and one of the tallest women to ever play in the WNBA. Only Lindsay Taylor
Lindsay Taylor
Lindsay Corine Taylor is an American professional basketball player and a former college player who has played in the Women's National Basketball Association , Turkish Women's Basketball League, Ligue Féminine de Basketball , the WKBL, Polish Women's League, and the Women's Chinese Basketball...
, Katie Feenstra
Katie Feenstra
Katharen Ruth Mattera is a female professional basketball player for the WNBA....
, Zheng Haixia, Maria Stepanova
Maria Stepanova
Maria Alexandrovna Stepanova is a Russian professional and Olympic basketball player. In the United States, she plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association ....
, each 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m), and Margo Dydek
Margo Dydek
Małgorzata Dydek , known as Margo Dydek in the United States, was a Polish international professional basketball player. Standing tall, she was famous for being the tallest active professional female basketball player in the world...
at 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) are taller than she is. Despite her tremendous height, she cannot dunk.
Personal
Wolters was born the youngest child of Liz and William Wolters and grew up in a basketball family. Her mother, Liz, once scored 50 points in one game at Wellesley High, more than any Massachusetts high school player before. Her father, William, is in the Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
Hall of Fame and played professional basketball for the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
in the NBA. He was born in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and moved to America with his family when at 11 years old. He later became an insurance lawyer in Boston. Kara has always worn uniform number 52, the same number as her father, as a tribute.
Wolters has stated she has always been tall and was already 6’3 in eighth grade and she continued to grow rapidly during her career at Holliston High School. She still retains the schools scoring, rebounding and blocked shots record.
Her brother, Ray Wolters, played basketball at the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
, Assumption College and later Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, coeducational liberal arts university and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Eastern is located in Willimantic, Connecticut on . Founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest campus in the Connecticut State University System...
. She has two older sisters: Kristen who also played college basketball at Rhode Island and Katie.
When Katie was six, a tumor was discovered in her brain. The growth was so large and tangled up in her brain stem that complete removal was not possible. Because of the subsequent surgery and treatment with radiation, she developed short-term memory loss and lost some of her sense of balance, and sometimes has seizures that prevent her from driving. Kara would later form the "Kara Kares Foundation" in 1998, which supports brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
research. Katie died in 2004 as a result of her brain tumor.
Wolters married Sean Drinan, a banking executive, in November 2004 and currently works as a color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
during University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
women's basketball games with play-by-play announcer Bob Joyce. The games can be heard on the UConn Radio Network, whose flagship station is WTIC (AM)
WTIC (AM)
WTIC is a 50,000-watt radio station operating out of Hartford, Connecticut, broadcasting news and talk radio. Its signal, located at 1080 kHz, can be picked up throughout southern New England by day and over several states as well as parts of Canada by night...
. Her first daughter, Sydney Elizabeth, was born on March 8, 2007.
University of Connecticut
She played for the women's basketball team at the University of ConnecticutUniversity of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
from 1993 to 1997. She was a member of the 1995 team that won the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
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...
, which capped a perfect 35-0 won-loss record. Her UConn team compiled a 132-8 record (94.3%)/
She appeared in four NCAA Tournaments advanced to the 1996 Final Four, the 1994 and 1997 Final Eights and also won four Big East Conference Championships and four Big East Tournament titles. In 1997 she was named the National Player of the Year.
She finished her career as Connecticut’s all-time leading rebounder (1286) and shot blocker (396).
Wolters was a member of the inaugural class (2006) of inductees to the University of Connecticut women's basketball "Huskies of Honor" recognition program.
Professional
ABL
Wolters was drafted by the New England BlizzardNew England Blizzard
The New England Blizzard was a women's professional basketball franchise based in Hartford, Connecticut. The Blizzard was a charter member of the American Basketball League...
of the ABL in 1997. She played for the team in the 97-98 and 98-99 seasons, the final two of the league's existence.
WNBA
Wolters was selected by the Houston CometsHouston Comets
The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
in the third round (36th overall) during the 1999 WNBA Draft
WNBA Draft
The WNBA Draft is an annual draft held by the WNBA through which WNBA teams can select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. The first WNBA draft was held in 1997...
and subsequently in the 2000 Expansion Draft by 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...
.
Wolters was traded to the Sacramento Monarchs
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
for the 14th pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft
WNBA Draft
The WNBA Draft is an annual draft held by the WNBA through which WNBA teams can select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. The first WNBA draft was held in 1997...
on April 11, 2001. Wolters continued to play for the Monarchs until May 20, 2003, when she was released.
In her four-year WNBA career, Wolters averaged 50 percent in field goal shooting, 75 percent in free throw shooting, 3.2 rebounds per game, and 6.5 points per game.
International
Wolters was a member of the gold medalGold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
-winning U.S. Olympic women's basketball team during the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney, Australia.
She ranks second among all-time USA World Championship
World championship
A world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
competitors for the most blocked shots (11).
Wolters is one of only seven women to receive a Gold Medal
Gold Medal
Gold Medal is the sixth studio album by the American hard rock band The Donnas, released in 2004 on Atlantic Records. It was one of the first albums released in the DualDisc format, but was recalled due to a mastering error which resulted in the final track being partially omitted from the CD...
in the Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, an NCAA championship
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...
, and a WNBA Championship
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....
. The others are Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
, Swin Cash
Swin Cash
Swintayla Marie Cash , better known as Swin Cash, is an American WNBA player who plays for the Seattle Storm. A prolific scorer and rebounder, as well as a capable ball handler and defender, she helped lead the University of Connecticut women's basketball team to national titles in 2000 and 2002...
, Ruth Riley
Ruth Riley
Ruth Ellen Riley is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the Women's National Basketball Association . Her Notre Dame team won the NCAA women's championship in 2001, and her Detroit Shock team won the WNBA championship in 2003 and 2006...
, Sheryl Swoopes
Sheryl Swoopes
Sheryl Denise Swoopes is an American professional basketball player who, subsequent to being waived into free agency, signed to re-join the WNBA to play with the Tulsa Shock in 2011. She was the first player to be signed in the WNBA when it was created. She has won three Olympic Gold Medals and...
, Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the...
, and Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
.
USA Basketball notes
- Gold Medal: 2000 2000 Summer Olympics2000 Summer OlympicsThe Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
- Gold Medal: 1999 U.S. Olympic Cup
- Gold Medal: 1998 World Championship
- Gold Medal: 1997 World University GamesUSA Women’s World University Games TeamThe USA Women’s World University Games Team is one of the teams under the auspices of the USA Basketball organization. The Universiade is an international, multi-sport event for university students, generally held every other year since 1959. It is second only to the Olympics in number of...
- Gold Medal: 1996 R. William Jones CupUSA Women’s R. William Jones Cup TeamThe R. Williams Jones Cup Team is one of the teams under the auspices of the USA Basketball organization. The R. William Jones Cup competition is an international basketball tournament for men's and women's teams held in Taipei, Taiwan almost annually since the inaugural event in 1997...
- Silver Medal: 1995 World University GamesUSA Women’s World University Games TeamThe USA Women’s World University Games Team is one of the teams under the auspices of the USA Basketball organization. The Universiade is an international, multi-sport event for university students, generally held every other year since 1959. It is second only to the Olympics in number of...
- Bronze Medal: 1994 World Championship
- Named to the 1999-2000 USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team on January 6, 2000.
- Member of the gold medal winning 1998 USA World Championship Team which finished with a perfect 9-0 record and was named the 1998 USA Basketball Team of the Year; aided the U.S. to a 12-1 record in its 13 game pre-World Championship tour.
- Selected as one of the first six members to the 1998 USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team on Sept. 4, 1997.
- 1996 USA Olympic Team finalist (18).
- The only collegian named to the bronze medal winning 1994 USA World Championship Team.
USA Basketball records
- Ranks second among all-time USA World Championship competitors for blocked shots (11).
- Drafted by the Indiana Fever in the fourth round (16th overall) of the 2000 WNBA expansion draft.
- Drafted by the Houston Comets in the third round (36th overall) of the 1999 WNBA draft.
- Averaged 1.6 ppg. and 1.2 rpg. for the Houston Comets in 1999.
- Prior to the ABL folding in December, 1998, ranked among league leaders 24th for scoring (11.0 ppg.), 16th for rebounding (5.3 rpg.), third for blocked shots (16) and first for field goal percentage (58.4%).
- Finished the 1997-98 ABL season ranked as the league's leader for blocked shots (1.5 bpg.), fourth in field goal percentage (53.5%) and 16th in rebounds (5.2 rpg.).
- Selected as the third pick in the 1997 ABL Draft by the New England Blizzard.
Collegiate notes
- During her four seasons (1993–97), UConn compiled a 132-8 record (94.3%), appeared in four NCAA Tournaments, won the 1995 NCAA championship, advanced to the 1996 Final Four, the 1997 and 1994 Final Eights, and won four Big East Conference championships and four Big East Tournament titles.
- Named by Associated Press 1997 All-America first team and Player of the Year.
- Runner-up for the 1997 Boost/Naismith National Player of the Year.
- Awarded the 1996 Victor Award as the nation's top female collegiate player.
- Ranks second among all-time USA World Championship competitors for blocked shots (11).
- She is one of three finalists for the 1997 Women's College Basketball ESPY award.
- Named 1997 All-America by Basketball America, United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and Kodak.
- Named 1996 All-America first team by the USBWA, United Press International and the Associated Press.
- Named 1997 and 1995 District I All-America by Kodak, and 1996 All-America honorable mention by Kodak.
- Named to 1995 NCAA Tournament All-Final Four Team, averaged 20.5 ppg. in the Final Four.
- Named to 1997 and 1996 All-NCAA Midwest Regional and 1995 and 1994 All-NCAA East Regional.
- Named 1997 Big East Conference Women's Basketball Player of the YearBig East Conference Women's Basketball Player of the YearThe Big East Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year award is given to the women's basketball player in the Big East Conference voted as the top performer by the conference coaches. The 16 head coaches of the league's teams submit their votes following the end of the regular season and...
, 1997 and 1996 All-Big East first team, 1995 All-Big East second team and 1994 Big East All-Rookie Team. - Named 1996 and 1995 Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player and Big East All-Tournament all four years.
University of Connecticut statistics
| Kara Wolters Statistics at University of Connecticut | |||||||||||||||||||
| Year | G | FG | FGA | PCT | 3FG | 3FGA | PCT | FT | FTA | PCT | REB | AVG | A | TO | B | S | MIN | PTS | AVG |
|||||||||||||||||||
| 1993-94 | 33 | 168 | 264 | 0.636 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 57 | 0.509 | 159 | 4.8 | 9 | 54 | 75 | 12 | 511 | 365 | 11.1 |
|||||||||||||||||||
| 1994-95 | 33 | 222 | 354 | 0.627 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 89 | 0.663 | 204 | 6.2 | 38 | 60 | 94 | 13 | 761 | 503 | 15.2 |
|||||||||||||||||||
| 1995-96 | 37 | 306 | 486 | 0.630 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 142 | 0.577 | 291 | 7.9 | 37 | 103 | 105 | 14 | 978 | 694 | 18.8 |
|||||||||||||||||||
| 1996-97 | 34 | 251 | 403 | 0.623 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 77 | 135 | 0.57 | 273 | 8.0 | 46 | 78 | 96 | 12 | 894 | 579 | 17 |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | 137 | 947 | 1507 | 0.628 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 247 | 423 | 0.584 | 927 | 6.8 | 130 | 295 | 370 | 51 | 3144 | 2141 | 15.6 |