Teresa Edwards
Encyclopedia
Teresa Edwards (born July 19, 1964 in Cairo, Georgia
) is an American basketball
player. In 2000, Sports Illustrated
magazine placed her as 22nd of the "100 Greatest Female Athletes of the 20th Century".
The US Olympic Committee appointed Edwards as chef de mission for the 2012 Olympic Games.
where she was a two time All-American. She was the starting point guard for the Georgia Bulldogs, helping lead them to the Final Four
in 1983
and 1985
. Edwards played in her first Olympic Games
as a collegian, and was the youngest member of the team,in 1984. Her college jersey number (#5) was retired, making her one of only three Lady Bulldog players given that honor.
She earned her degree in Leisure Studies in 1990.
of the American Basketball League
(ABL). She played in the ABL inaugural game between the Glory and the San Jose Lasers
, won by the lasers 78–70. She also played for the Philadelphia Rage
.
During the 2003 WNBA Draft
, at the urging of Minnesota Lynx
head coach Suzie McConnell Serio
, the Lynx selected Edwards even though she was 38 years old. Edwards and Serio were teammates on the women's basketball team during the Summer Olympics of 1988
and 1992
.
Edwards played for the Lynx during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Afterward, her contract expired and she became a free agent. But no other WNBA team offered her a contract for the 2005 season.
In December 2006, Edwards returned to Lynx, as an assistant coach.
Edwards served as an analyst for NBC Sports
coverage of Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
(Dorna Godella), and France
(Tarbes
and Valenciennes
). During this time, she also continued to appear in international competition.
After the 1994 season, she stayed in the United States to train for her fourth Olympic appearance at the 1996 Summer Olympics
. Edwards was selected to take the competitors' oath
at the Opening Ceremonies in Atlanta (the opening ceremonies took place on her 32nd birthday). She was named the 1996 Sportswoman of the Year (in the team category) by the Women's Sports Foundation.
She competed for the United States in international competition a total of 19 times. Her teams won 14 gold medals.
Edwards is the first female basketball player to have played in five Olympics
. She is jointly (with Australian Andrew Gaze
) the third basketball player to compete at five Olympics along with Puerto Rican Teófilo Cruz
and Brazilian Oscar Schmidt
.
She also holds the unique distinction of being in the youngest gold medalist in women's basketball (age 20 in 1984
) and the oldest gold medalist in women's basketball (age 36 in 2000
).
She made a record fifth Olympic basketball team, earning a fourth gold medal
to go with her bronze medal
. She returned to Europe
in 2002.
Edwards was a member of the 1987 gold medal winning USA Women's Pan American Team
in Indiana, and the 1991 bronze medal winning team in Havana, Cuba.
She also holds the record for points in a women's basketball game in the United States with 46.
Cairo, Georgia
Cairo is a city in Grady County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,607. The city is the county seat of Grady County.-Syrup City:...
) is an 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. In 2000, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
magazine placed her as 22nd of the "100 Greatest Female Athletes of the 20th Century".
The US Olympic Committee appointed Edwards as chef de mission for the 2012 Olympic Games.
High school
Edwards attended Cairo High School in Georgia, where she was a four year starter. In her junior and senior years, the Syrupmaids were 58–3. She scored 1,982 points in her high school career, and was honored as the Georgia High School Player of the Year in 1982.College years
Edwards began her college 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-American. She was the starting point guard for the Georgia Bulldogs, helping lead them to the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
in 1983
1983 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1983 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 18 and concluded on April 3 with USC winning the title. The tournament consisted of 36 teams. The Final Four was held in Norfolk, Virginia and consisted of USC, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion, and Georgia...
and 1985
1985 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
-Midwest Regional - Louisiana Tech - Ruston, LA:-Mideast Regional - Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY :...
. Edwards played in her first Olympic Games
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...
as a collegian, and was the youngest member of the team,in 1984. Her college jersey number (#5) was retired, making her one of only three Lady Bulldog players given that honor.
She earned her degree in Leisure Studies in 1990.
ABL career
Edwards was the star player and head coach for 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 played in the ABL inaugural game between the Glory and the San Jose Lasers
San Jose Lasers
The San Jose Lasers were a women's professional basketball team in San Jose, California. It was a member of the American Basketball League.The team folded along with the rest of the league during the third ABL season in 1998....
, won by the lasers 78–70. She also played for the Philadelphia Rage
Philadelphia Rage
The Richmond Rage, which after one year relocated to become the Philadelphia Rage, were one of the eight original franchises of the American Basketball League , a women's professional basketball league...
.
WNBA career
Edwards did not turn to the WNBA, later claiming that if she had joined, she would be receiving the minimum salary due to her status as an WNBA "rookie".During the 2003 WNBA Draft
2003 WNBA Draft
The 2003 WNBA Draft, both the dispersal draft and the regular WNBA draft, took place on April 24. The dispersal draft involved players from the rosters of the Portland Fire and Miami Sol teams which had both folded after the 2002 season....
, at the urging of Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota Lynx
The 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...
head coach Suzie McConnell Serio
Suzie McConnell Serio
Suzie McConnell-Serio is a women's basketball coach and former player in the United States. She is currently the Head Coach for the women's basketball team at Duquesne University.-Career:...
, the Lynx selected Edwards even though she was 38 years old. Edwards and Serio were teammates on the women's basketball team during the Summer Olympics of 1988
1988 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...
and 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
.
Edwards played for the Lynx during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Afterward, her contract expired and she became a free agent. But no other WNBA team offered her a contract for the 2005 season.
In December 2006, Edwards returned to Lynx, as an assistant coach.
Edwards served as an analyst for NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
coverage of Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Basketball contests at the 2008 Olympic Games were held from August 9, 2008 to August 24, 2008. Competitions were held at the Wukesong Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China...
.
International career
After Edwards graduated, she went abroad as there was not a professional basketball league for women in the United States. She played abroad for nine seasons splitting time between Vicenza- Italy, Nagoya- Japan, SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(Dorna Godella), and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(Tarbes
Tarbes Gespe Bigorre
Tarbes Gespe Bigorre is a French basketball club, taking part to the professional French league for women, the LFB, and to European Cups ....
and Valenciennes
Union Sportive Valenciennes Olympic
US Valenciennes Olympic is a former French basketball team based in Valenciennes. It will be replaced by Union Hainaut Basket, because of the merging with Union Saint-Amand Porte du Hainaut ....
). During this time, she also continued to appear in international competition.
After the 1994 season, she stayed in the United States to train for her fourth Olympic appearance at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. Edwards was selected to take the competitors' oath
Olympic Oath
The Olympic Oath is a solemn promise made by one athlete -- as a representative of each of the participating Olympic competitors; and by one judge -- as a representative of each officiating Olympic referee or other official, at the opening ceremonies of each Olympic Games...
at the Opening Ceremonies in Atlanta (the opening ceremonies took place on her 32nd birthday). She was named the 1996 Sportswoman of the Year (in the team category) by the Women's Sports Foundation.
She competed for the United States in international competition a total of 19 times. Her teams won 14 gold medals.
Edwards is the first female basketball player to have played in five 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...
. She is jointly (with Australian Andrew Gaze
Andrew Gaze
Andrew Barry Casson Gaze is Australia's best known basketball player, and one of its most successful. He is considered as the greatest player in the history of the NBL....
) the third basketball player to compete at five Olympics along with Puerto Rican Teófilo Cruz
Teófilo Cruz
Teófilo Cruz Downs was a Puerto Rican professional basketball player. Cruz has played in the NCAA, and the National Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico with Santurce Crabbers, Guaynabo Mets, Canovanas Indians, Río Piedras Cardinals, and Mayagüez Tainos. Cruz has played internationally in...
and Brazilian Oscar Schmidt
Oscar Schmidt
Oscar Daniel Bezerra Schmidt is a retired Brazilian basketball player. He is also known as Oscar Schmidt Bezerra in Spain, where he played for Fórum Valladolid for the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons, and simply Oscar or Mão Santa in his homeland. At his peak, he was 2.05 m tall and weighed...
.
She also holds the unique distinction of being in the youngest gold medalist in women's basketball (age 20 in 1984
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
) and the oldest gold medalist in women's basketball (age 36 in 2000
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...
).
She made a record fifth Olympic basketball team, earning a fourth gold medal
Gold 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...
to go with her 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...
. She returned to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 2002.
Edwards was a member of the 1987 gold medal winning USA Women's Pan American Team
USA Women's Pan American Team
The Pan American Team is one of the teams under the auspices of the USA Basketball organization. The Pan American Games are held every four years in the year before the Olympics. The first Pan American Games were held in 1951, but those games were men only. The Second Pan American games in 1955...
in Indiana, and the 1991 bronze medal winning team in Havana, Cuba.
She also holds the record for points in a women's basketball game in the United States with 46.
Vital statistics
- Position: Guard
- Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.8 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): 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...
Awards and honors
- 2010 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...
- 2009-2012 USA Basketball Board of Directors
- 2011 NCAA Silver Anniversary AwardSilver Anniversary Awards (NCAA)The Silver Anniversary Awards are given each year by the American National Collegiate Athletic Association to recognize six distinguished former student-athletes on their 25th anniversary as college graduates. The Silver Anniversary Awards were first given in 1973, when five distinguished former...