Kelly Miller (basketball player)
Encyclopedia
Kelly Miller is a professional basketball player currently playing for the Washington Mystics
. She is the identical twin sister of fellow WNBA player Coco Miller
.
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 thirteen 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.
Kelly ranked second in points among University of Georgia women players with 2,177; second in assists with 639; fourth in steals with 379 and tenth in rebounds with 711. She is the only player in UGA women's basketball to rank among the top ten in points, assists, steals and rebounds. She became the third player in that university's history to pass over 2,000 points, and the third player in the Southeastern Conference
's (SEC) history to garner "Player of the Week" awards three weeks in a row.
. Kelly was selected by the Charlotte Sting
2nd overall in the 1st round, where she averaged 4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in her rookie year.
Kelly spent three seasons with the Sting as a utility player before she was traded to the Indiana Fever
prior to the 2004 season. It was with the Fever that Kelly finally became a first-string player on the team, starting on all 34 games she played in the 2004 season.
After the 2005 season ended, Kelly was traded to the Phoenix Mercury
, in exchange for Anna DeForge
.
On January 30, 2009 Miller was traded along with LaToya Pringle to the Minnesota Lynx for Nicole Ohlde.
Power of the National Women's Basketball League
(NWBL).
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'...
. She is the identical twin sister of fellow WNBA player Coco Miller
Coco Miller
-External links:**...
.
Early years
Although Kelly initially was interested in playing soccer and not basketball at high school, soon she joined her sister Coco and they made it to a championship in New York, where they lost in the finals. They also helped their school go 27–0 and win the MinnesotaMinnesota
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 thirteen 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.
Kelly ranked second in points among University of Georgia women players with 2,177; second in assists with 639; fourth in steals with 379 and tenth in rebounds with 711. She is the only player in UGA women's basketball to rank among the top ten in points, assists, steals and rebounds. She became the third player in that university's history to pass over 2,000 points, and the third player in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
's (SEC) history to garner "Player of the Week" awards three weeks in a row.
WNBA career
In 2001 both Kelly and Coco both 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:...
. Kelly was selected by the Charlotte Sting
Charlotte Sting
The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007....
2nd overall in the 1st round, where she averaged 4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in her rookie year.
Kelly spent three seasons with the Sting as a utility player before she was traded to the 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...
prior to the 2004 season. It was with the Fever that Kelly finally became a first-string player on the team, starting on all 34 games she played in the 2004 season.
After the 2005 season ended, Kelly was traded to the Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix 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 exchange for Anna DeForge
Anna DeForge
Anna Louise DeForge is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA. She is the first player from the University of Nebraska to ever play in the WNBA. After finding little success and playing time for several WNBA teams, she finally earned...
.
On January 30, 2009 Miller was traded along with LaToya Pringle to the Minnesota Lynx for Nicole Ohlde.
NWBL career
After the 2002 WNBA season, both sisters played for the BirminghamBirmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
Power 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...
) - 2004–2005:
Woori Bank Hansae (WKBLWomen's Korean Basketball LeagueThe Women's Korean Basketball League is the premier women's basketball league in South Korea.- Teams :There are currently 6 teams in the WKBL.-References:*...
, South Korea) - 2005–2006:
US Valenciennes Olympic (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...
, France) - 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...
, France) - 2007–2009:
Spartak Moscow RegionWBC Spartak MoscowWomen’s Basketball Club Spartak Moscow Region is a women's basketball team based in Vidnoye, Russia that plays in FIBA’s EuroLeague Women. It is a highly successful team in recent years, winning the 2005-2006 EuroCup Women and the 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 EuroLeague Women...
(RussiaRussiaRussia 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...
)
Vital statistics
- Position: Guard
- Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 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): Charlotte StingCharlotte StingThe Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007....
, Indiana FeverIndiana FeverThe 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...
, Phoenix MercuryPhoenix MercuryThe 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...
, Minnesota LynxMinnesota LynxThe Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season...
, Atlanta DreamAtlanta DreamThe Atlanta Dream is a professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2008 WNBA season began. The team is owned by Dream Too LLC, which is composed of two Atlanta...