Katrina McClain Johnson
Encyclopedia
Katrina McClain Johnson, born September 19, 1965 in Charleston, South Carolina
, is a retired American basketball
player.
, where she was a two-time All-America
n (1986, 1987) and won varsity letters all four years. She was named a Freshman All-American team in 1984 and the National Player of the Year in 1987. Georgia compiled a record of 116–15 while Johnson was on the team. She ranks second on Georgia’s all-time career charts with 2,195 points (17.6 ppg) and 1,193 rebounds (9.5). Her jersey number (#32) was retired, making one of only three Lady Bulldogs to receive that honor.
to represent the USA at the 1985 World University Games, held in Kobe, Japan. McClain was the leading scorer in the first three games, including a 38 point output in the first game against the People's Republic of Korea, along with 13 rebounds. She would end up leading the team in scoring, with 17 points per game, rebounding, with almost eight per game and blocks with eleven. The team ended up with a 5–1 record, losing to the USSR in the title match. The USA team was down by 18 points at one time, fought back to close the margin, but ended up losing 87–81, to end up with the silver medal.
, held in Moscow
in July 1986. North Carolina State's Kay Yow
served as head coach. The team opened up with a 72–53 of Yugoslavia, and followed that with a 21 point win over Brazil 91–70. The third game was against Czechoslovakia and would be much closer. Johnson was one of the scoring leaders in this game, scoring 12 points to help the USA to a 78–70 victory. The USA faced Bulgaria in the semi-final match up, and again won, this time 67–58. This setup the final against the Soviet Union, led by 7-foot-2 Ivilana Semenova, considered the most dominant player in the world. The Soviet team had a 152–2 record in major international competition over the prior three decades, including an 84–82 win over the USA in the 1983 World Championships. The Soviets held the early edge, leading 21–19 at one time, before the USA went on a scoring run to take a large lead they would never relinquish. The final score was 83–60 in favor of the USA, earning the gold medal for the USA squad. Johnson was the second leading scorer in the finals with 17 points, behind only Cheryl Miller with 18. For the entire event, Johnson averaged eleven points, tied for third leading scorer with Anne Donovan
.
held in Indianapolis, Indiana
USA. The USA team won their first game easily, then had a closer game against Brazil, winning 84–81. The next game was against Cuba, which again was a close match. The USA team was behind at the half, and trailed by seven in the second half, but came back to win 85–80. The title game was a rematch with Brazil. While Brazil's Hortência Marcari
scored 30 points, Johnson matched her output with 30 points of her own, helping the USA win gold with a 111–87 victory. Johnson was the leading scorer (17.8) and rebounder(10) for the USA team.
in Seoul, Korea. The opening match against Czechoslovakia was not easy, with the USA team trailing at the half, but coming back in the second half to win 87–81. Johnson scored 19 for the USA, second most behind Teresa Edwards
. The USA team went on to beat Yugoslavia and China, with Johnson having a 27 point and 13 rebound game against China. The next match was against the USSR, a team the USA had beaten in recent competitions, but never in the Olympics, until this year, when the USA won a "surprisingly easy" game 102–88, with Johnson scoring 26 points, only one fewer than Cynthia Cooper
's 27. The gold medal game was a rematch against Yugoslavia, which the USA team won 77–70. Johnson was the leading scorer and rebounder for the team, with 17.6 and 10.4 respectively.
scored in the final minute to give Brazil a three point lead. Johnson responded to bring the margin to one, but Brazil made free throws in the final seconds to secure the 87–84 upset. After beating Argentina easily, the USA team faced the host Cuba team, and won 91–71. That moved both teams to a rematch in the semi-finals, but this time Cuba would prevail. The USA team then went on to beat Canada for the bronze medal. Johnson was the team's leading rebounder, with 8.8 per game, and the second leading scorer, at 15.3 per game, behind Teresa Edwards.
also had a great game scoring 32 points, and the final score of 110–107 favored the Brazilian team. The USA team regrouped to beat the host Australia team 100–95 to take home the bronze medal. Johnson lead all scores on the USA team with 14.6 points per game and was the teams's leading rebounder, with 11.1 per game.
USA. The USA team won all their pool play games by large margins, although they were behind Cuba by as much as seven points, before Lisa Leslie's
24 points, helped the USA take over the game. The USA victory over Australia featured a record setting 15 assists by Teresa Edwards, while Johnson was the leading scorer with 24 points. Against Japan, Lisa Leslie set a USA Olympic scoring record with 35 points, and Johnson tied a USA scoring record with 16 rebounds. In the final, the USA team faced 7–0 Brazil—a team that had beaten the USA squad in the 1991 Pan Am games and the 1994 World Championships. This time, playing before a home crowd of 32,987, the USA team started out very strong, hitting 71.9 per cent of their field goals leading to an eleven points margin at the half. The USA team scored the first eight points of the second half and won the gold medal 111–87. Johnson was the second leading scorer (behind Lisa Leslie) and the team's leading rebounder.
of the American Basketball League
(ABL). She was honored as a member of the 1998 ABL All-Star Game Eastern Conference Team.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, is a retired American 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.
College years
Johnson began her career at 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...
, where she was a two-time All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n (1986, 1987) and won varsity letters all four years. She was named a Freshman All-American team in 1984 and the National Player of the Year in 1987. Georgia compiled a record of 116–15 while Johnson was on the team. She ranks second on Georgia’s all-time career charts with 2,195 points (17.6 ppg) and 1,193 rebounds (9.5). Her jersey number (#32) was retired, making one of only three Lady Bulldogs to receive that honor.
USA Basketball
Johnson was a member of eleven USA basketball teams. She holds several records in international competitions including the USA Olympic record for rebounds (66) in a single competition and the USA Goodwill Games competition record for rebounds (54).World University Games 1985
While a sophomore at Georgia, Johnson was selected for the teamUSA Women’s World University Games Team
The 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...
to represent the USA at the 1985 World University Games, held in Kobe, Japan. McClain was the leading scorer in the first three games, including a 38 point output in the first game against the People's Republic of Korea, along with 13 rebounds. She would end up leading the team in scoring, with 17 points per game, rebounding, with almost eight per game and blocks with eleven. The team ended up with a 5–1 record, losing to the USSR in the title match. The USA team was down by 18 points at one time, fought back to close the margin, but ended up losing 87–81, to end up with the silver medal.
Goodwill Games 1986
Johnson was selected to represent the USA at the inaugural 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...
, held in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in July 1986. North Carolina State's Kay Yow
Kay Yow
Sandra Kay Yow was an American basketball coach. She was the head coach of the NC State Wolfpack women's basketball team from 1975 to 2009. A member of the Naismith Hall of Fame, she had more than 700 career wins. She also coached the U.S...
served as head coach. The team opened up with a 72–53 of Yugoslavia, and followed that with a 21 point win over Brazil 91–70. The third game was against Czechoslovakia and would be much closer. Johnson was one of the scoring leaders in this game, scoring 12 points to help the USA to a 78–70 victory. The USA faced Bulgaria in the semi-final match up, and again won, this time 67–58. This setup the final against the Soviet Union, led by 7-foot-2 Ivilana Semenova, considered the most dominant player in the world. The Soviet team had a 152–2 record in major international competition over the prior three decades, including an 84–82 win over the USA in the 1983 World Championships. The Soviets held the early edge, leading 21–19 at one time, before the USA went on a scoring run to take a large lead they would never relinquish. The final score was 83–60 in favor of the USA, earning the gold medal for the USA squad. Johnson was the second leading scorer in the finals with 17 points, behind only Cheryl Miller with 18. For the entire event, Johnson averaged eleven points, tied for third leading scorer with Anne Donovan
Anne Donovan
Anne Donovan is an American retired basketball player and the current head coach of the women's basketball team at Seton Hall University. She was formerly an assistant coach, then interim head coach of the New York Liberty of the WNBA...
.
World Championship 1986
Johnson continued to represent the USA with National team at the 1986 World Championship, held in Moscow, a month after the Goodwill games in Moscow. The USA team was even more dominant this time. The early games were won easily, and the semifinal against Canada, while the closest game for the USA so far, ended up an 82–59 victory. Johnson was one of the stars of the tournament, scoring a team high 19 points against Czechoslovakia, and a team high 21 points against Hungary. At the same time, the Soviet team was winning easily as well, and the final game pitted two teams each with 6–0 records. The Soviet team, having lost only once at home, wanted to show that the Goodwill games setback was a fluke. The USA team started by scoring the first eight points, and raced to a 45–23 lead, although the Soviets fought back and reduced the halftime margin to 13. The USA went on a 15—1 run in the second half to out the game away, and ended up winning the gold medal with a score of 108–88. Johnson was one of five double-digit scorers in the game.Pan American Games 1987
Johnson was a member of the USA team at the 1987 Pan American GamesPan 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...
held in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
USA. The USA team won their first game easily, then had a closer game against Brazil, winning 84–81. The next game was against Cuba, which again was a close match. The USA team was behind at the half, and trailed by seven in the second half, but came back to win 85–80. The title game was a rematch with Brazil. While Brazil's Hortência Marcari
Hortencia Marcari
Hortência Maria de Fátima Marcari is a former basketball player who is often considered to be one of the greatest women's basketball player in Brazil, alongside with Paula, and regarded as one of the greatest women's basketball player of all ever in the world by specialists in the world...
scored 30 points, Johnson matched her output with 30 points of her own, helping the USA win gold with a 111–87 victory. Johnson was the leading scorer (17.8) and rebounder(10) for the USA team.
Olympics 1988
Johnson represented the USA at the 1988 Olympics1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul, Korea. The opening match against Czechoslovakia was not easy, with the USA team trailing at the half, but coming back in the second half to win 87–81. Johnson scored 19 for the USA, second most behind Teresa Edwards
Teresa Edwards
-External links:******...
. The USA team went on to beat Yugoslavia and China, with Johnson having a 27 point and 13 rebound game against China. The next match was against the USSR, a team the USA had beaten in recent competitions, but never in the Olympics, until this year, when the USA won a "surprisingly easy" game 102–88, with Johnson scoring 26 points, only one fewer than 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...
's 27. The gold medal game was a rematch against Yugoslavia, which the USA team won 77–70. Johnson was the leading scorer and rebounder for the team, with 17.6 and 10.4 respectively.
World Championship 1990
Johnson continued her USA representation as a member of the USA National team at the 1990 World Championships, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The team won their opening round games fairly easily, with the closest of the first three games a 27 point victory over Czechoslovakia. Then they faced Cuba, a team that had beaten the USA in exhibition matches only a few weeks earlier. The USA team was losing at halftime, but came back to win 87–78. The USA team found itself behind at halftime to Canada in their next game, but came back to win easily 95–70. After an easy match against Bulgaria, the USA team faced Czechoslovakia again, end achieved an almost identical result, winning 87–59 with Teresa Edwards scoring 23 points, and Johnson scoring 16. In the title match, Johnson was the leading scorer with 23 points, and added nine rebounds, to help the USA team win the gold medal. For the entire event, Johnson was the second leading scorer behind Teresa Edwards, and the leading rebounder on the team.Goodwill Games 1990
The 1990 Goodwill game were held in Seattle, Washington less than two weeks following the World Championships. The USA team had now won 36 consecutive games in major international competition, and hoped to continue the trend at the Goodwill Games. The team members and coaches on the USA were unchanged. The USA team struggled in its first two games, starting out behind to South Korea before winning, and falling behind to the Soviet team at halftime, before winning 86–78. Johnson was the star of that game scoring 23 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. The team won against Australia and Bulgaria to face the Soviet team for the gold medal. The USA team won the gold medal with an 82–70 win over the Soviet team. Johnson again lead the team in rebounds at almost eleven per game, and was second in scoring honors, behind Teresa Edwards.Pan American Games 1991
Johnson was a member of the USA team invited to the 1991 Pan American Games held in Havana, Cuba. The teams started with a strong performance against Canada, winning 87–70. The next game against Brazil started well, with the USA team jumping out to an 18–3 lead, which they extended to 26–8, but Brazil came back to take a halftime lead. The game was tied at 81 with just over two minutes left. Hortência MarcariHortencia Marcari
Hortência Maria de Fátima Marcari is a former basketball player who is often considered to be one of the greatest women's basketball player in Brazil, alongside with Paula, and regarded as one of the greatest women's basketball player of all ever in the world by specialists in the world...
scored in the final minute to give Brazil a three point lead. Johnson responded to bring the margin to one, but Brazil made free throws in the final seconds to secure the 87–84 upset. After beating Argentina easily, the USA team faced the host Cuba team, and won 91–71. That moved both teams to a rematch in the semi-finals, but this time Cuba would prevail. The USA team then went on to beat Canada for the bronze medal. Johnson was the team's leading rebounder, with 8.8 per game, and the second leading scorer, at 15.3 per game, behind Teresa Edwards.
Olympics 1992
Johnson earned a place on the team representing the USA at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. The team started out impressively, scoring 111 points in their opening match against Czechoslovakia, at that time, the most points ever scored by the USA Olympic team. They would best that mark four days later with 114 points against host team Spain. They also had a strong victory over China, winning 93–67, before facing the Unified team. The USA team fell behind by eleven points in the second half, rallied to take a small lead, but could not secure the victory, and ended up with a loss 79–73. The USA team beat Cuba 88–74 to win the bronze medal. Johnson again dominated the boards, leading the team with 9.6 rebounds per game. She scored 11.4 points per game, which was fourth best on the team.World Championship 1994
Johnson continued her participation on the USA team at the 1994 World Championships. The preliminary rounds were held in Hobart, Tasmania while the final rounds were in Sydney, Australia. Johnson was the leading scorer with 20 points in the first round win over South Korea. The USA team won their first six games before playing Brazil in the semi-final match up. Johnson had one of the most impressive performances in Wold Championship history, with 29 points and 19 rebounds. However, Brazil's Hortência MarcariHortencia Marcari
Hortência Maria de Fátima Marcari is a former basketball player who is often considered to be one of the greatest women's basketball player in Brazil, alongside with Paula, and regarded as one of the greatest women's basketball player of all ever in the world by specialists in the world...
also had a great game scoring 32 points, and the final score of 110–107 favored the Brazilian team. The USA team regrouped to beat the host Australia team 100–95 to take home the bronze medal. Johnson lead all scores on the USA team with 14.6 points per game and was the teams's leading rebounder, with 11.1 per game.
Olympics 1996
Johnson's final event as a member of the USA team was the 1996 Olympics, held in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
USA. The USA team won all their pool play games by large margins, although they were behind Cuba by as much as seven points, before Lisa Leslie's
Lisa Leslie
Lisa Deshaun Leslie-Lockwood is a former American professional women's basketball player in the WNBA. She is a three-time WNBA MVP and a four-time Olympic gold medal winner...
24 points, helped the USA take over the game. The USA victory over Australia featured a record setting 15 assists by Teresa Edwards, while Johnson was the leading scorer with 24 points. Against Japan, Lisa Leslie set a USA Olympic scoring record with 35 points, and Johnson tied a USA scoring record with 16 rebounds. In the final, the USA team faced 7–0 Brazil—a team that had beaten the USA squad in the 1991 Pan Am games and the 1994 World Championships. This time, playing before a home crowd of 32,987, the USA team started out very strong, hitting 71.9 per cent of their field goals leading to an eleven points margin at the half. The USA team scored the first eight points of the second half and won the gold medal 111–87. Johnson was the second leading scorer (behind Lisa Leslie) and the team's leading rebounder.
Professional career
Johnson played professionally internationally for several years and ended her professional career with the Atlanta GloryAtlanta Glory
The Atlanta Glory was a women's professional basketball team in Atlanta, Georgia. It was a member of the American Basketball League. The Glory played its home games in Forbes Arena.The team folded before the start of the abortive third ABL season in 1998....
of the American Basketball League
American Basketball League (1996-1998)
The American Basketball League, often abbreviated to the ABL of 1996 was an independent professional basketball league for women in the United States. At the same time the ABL was being formed, the National Basketball Association was creating the Women's National Basketball Association...
(ABL). She was honored as a member of the 1998 ABL All-Star Game Eastern Conference Team.
- 1989–1991 Kyoto Petroleum (Japan)
- 1992 Sidis Ancona (Italy)
- 1993–1995 Valencia (Spain)
- 1995-1996 Galatasaray (Turkey)
Awards and honors
- 1986—Consensus All-America team
- 1987—Consensus All-America team
- 1987—National Player of the Year
- 1988—USA Basketball’s Female Athlete of the Year
- 1992—USA Basketball’s Female Athlete of the Year
- 2006—Induction into Women's Basketball Hall of FameWomen's Basketball Hall of FameThe Women's Basketball Hall of Fame honors men and women who have contributed to the sport of women's basketball. The Hall of Fame opened in 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA...