Tammy Jackson
Encyclopedia
Tammy Eloise Jackson is a former American college and professional basketball
player who was a center
in the Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA) for six seasons in the 1990s and early 2000s. Jackson played college basketball
for the University of Florida, and played professionally for the Houston Comets
and Washington Mystics
of the WNBA. She is an Olympic
bronze medal
ist.
. She attended Buchholz High School
in Gainesville, where she played high school basketball for the Buchholz Bobcats.
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she played for the Florida Gators women's basketball
team from 1982 to 1985. During her four years as a Gators, she scored 1,895 points, completed almost 56 percent of her shots from the floor, recovered 1,141 rebounds, and blocked 121 shots on defense. She was a three-time first-team All-SEC selection, and was recognized as a second-team All-American as a senior. She remains the third leading all-time scorer in Lady Gators basketball history.
Jackson was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1995, and honored again as an "SEC
Great" in 2003. Jackson graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
in health and human performance in 2007.
s that won a world championship in 1990, and a bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics
.
When the WNBA began play in 1997, the Houston Comets picked Jackson in the second round of the 1997 WNBA Draft
and she became one of the original players in the league. She played all but two games of her WNBA career with the Comets, mostly in a reserve role, as she played in 143 games and started nine of them. She was with the Comets when they won the three of their first four WNBA titles from 1997 to 2000. She retired at age 39 in 2002; at the time, she was the oldest player in the WNBA.
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 who was a center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
in the Women's National Basketball Association
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...
(WNBA) for six seasons in the 1990s and early 2000s. Jackson played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for the University of Florida, and played professionally for the Houston Comets
Houston 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...
and 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'...
of the WNBA. She is an Olympic
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...
bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
ist.
Early years
Jackson grew up in Gainesville, FloridaGainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
. She attended Buchholz High School
Buchholz High School
F. W. Buchholz High School is a high school in Gainesville, Florida. Buchholz is one of seven high schools in Alachua County. Opened in January 1971, it is the largest of the public high schools in Gainesville...
in Gainesville, where she played high school basketball for the Buchholz Bobcats.
College career
After graduating from high school, Jackson received an athletic scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she played for the Florida Gators women's basketball
Florida Gators women's basketball
The Florida Gators women's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Southeastern Conference...
team from 1982 to 1985. During her four years as a Gators, she scored 1,895 points, completed almost 56 percent of her shots from the floor, recovered 1,141 rebounds, and blocked 121 shots on defense. She was a three-time first-team All-SEC selection, and was recognized as a second-team All-American as a senior. She remains the third leading all-time scorer in Lady Gators basketball history.
Jackson was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1995, and honored again as an "SEC
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...
Great" in 2003. Jackson graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in health and human performance in 2007.
Professional career
After her college playing career was over, she played in various international leagues due to the lack of women's professional basketball leagues in the United States. Jackson was a member of the United States women's national basketball teamUnited States women's national basketball team
The United States women's national basketball team are the defending Olympic champions in women's basketball. The team is composed of some of the top American players in the WNBA and the women's college game....
s that won a world championship in 1990, and a bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics
The Basketball games of the 1992 Summer Olympics were played at the Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona. 12 men's teams and 8 women's teams participated in the tournament....
.
When the WNBA began play in 1997, the Houston Comets picked Jackson in the second round of the 1997 WNBA Draft
1997 WNBA Draft
The 1997 WNBA Draft was the first annual draft held by the WNBA through which teams could select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. Unlike later drafts, this draft was unique because there were three different stages in which teams built their...
and she became one of the original players in the league. She played all but two games of her WNBA career with the Comets, mostly in a reserve role, as she played in 143 games and started nine of them. She was with the Comets when they won the three of their first four WNBA titles from 1997 to 2000. She retired at age 39 in 2002; at the time, she was the oldest player in the WNBA.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- List of Florida Gators basketball players
- List of University of Florida alumni
- List of University of Florida Olympians
External links
- Tammy Jackson – Official WNBA player profile