Yuko Oga
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese professional basketball
player. She is a point guard
currently playing for JX Sunflowers of the Women's Japan Basketball League
. She formerly played for Phoenix Mercury
in the WNBA
. Her nickname is Shin.
basketball club. In the same year, she received her first call-up for the national team.
In 2004, she represented Japan
at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
and became the youngest Japanese female basketball player at the Olympics ever.
In 2007, she became the first Japanese female player to sign a professional contact in the domestic leagues. In 2008, she signed a training camp contract with Phoenix Mercury. The club announced on May 16, 2008 that she made the opening day roster. She is the second Japanese player to play in the WNBA after Mikiko Hagiwara who also played for the Mercury from 1997-98. She recorded 4 points and 1 assist in her WNBA debut on May 17, 2008 in the season opener, a 94-99 loss against the Los Angeles Sparks
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese professional 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. She is a point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
currently playing for JX Sunflowers of the Women's Japan Basketball League
Women's Japan Basketball League
The Women's Japan Basketball League is the premier women's basketball league in Japan.-W League:* JX Sunflowers* Fujitsu Redwave* Chanson V-Magic* Toyota Antelopes* JAL Rabbits* AISIN AW Wings* Denso Iris* Hitachi High-Technologies Cougars...
. She formerly played for 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 the WNBA
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...
. Her nickname is Shin.
Career
She started playing basketball influenced by her father who was a basketball coach. She was educated at and played for Nagoya College High School (currently Ōka Gakuen High School). While there, she helped the school win 7 national titles. After graduation in 2001, she joined Japan EnergyJapan Energy
is a Japanese petroleum company, which is a subsidiary wholly owned by . Nippon Mining Holdings Group has four main business areas, petroleum, non-ferrous metals, electronics materials and other operations...
basketball club. In the same year, she received her first call-up for the national team.
In 2004, she represented Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and became the youngest Japanese female basketball player at the Olympics ever.
In 2007, she became the first Japanese female player to sign a professional contact in the domestic leagues. In 2008, she signed a training camp contract with Phoenix Mercury. The club announced on May 16, 2008 that she made the opening day roster. She is the second Japanese player to play in the WNBA after Mikiko Hagiwara who also played for the Mercury from 1997-98. She recorded 4 points and 1 assist in her WNBA debut on May 17, 2008 in the season opener, a 94-99 loss against the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
.
Vital statistics
- Position: Point guardPoint guardPoint guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
- Height: 5 ft. 7 in. / 1.70 m
- Team(s): 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...
(WNBA)