Wendy Palmer

Wendy Palmer (born August 12, 1974)^[1] is a former professional basketball player in the WNBA, and former head coach of the UNCG women's basketball team.^[2] Her primary position was forward.

Wendy Palmer

Personal information
Born	(1974-08-12) August 12, 1974 (age 48) Timberlake, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High school	Person (Roxboro, North Carolina)
College	Virginia (1992–1996)
WNBA draft	1997 / Elite draft
Selected by the Utah Starzz
Playing career	1997–2007
Position	Forward
Number	14, 4, 3, 0
Career history
1997–1999	Utah Starzz
1999–2002	Detroit Shock
2002	Orlando Miracle
2003–2004	Connecticut Sun
2005	San Antonio Silver Stars
2006–2007	Seattle Storm
Career highlights and awards
WNBA All-Star (2000) All-WNBA Second Team (1997) WNBA Most Improved Player (2004) 2× ACC Player of the Year (1995, 1996)
Stats at WNBA.com
Medals Women’s Basketball Representing  United States Jones Cup 1994 Taipei Team Competition

High school

Born in Timberlake, North Carolina, Palmer attended Person Senior High School in Roxboro, North Carolina, where she was named a High School All-American by the WBCA.^[3] She participated in the inaugural WBCA High School All-America Game in 1992, scoring eleven points.^[4]

College

Palmer graduated from the University of Virginia in 1996, and is a member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.

USA Basketball

Palmer was named to the team representing the US at the 1994 William Jones Cup competition in Taipei, Taiwan. The USA team won all eight games, winning the gold medal, but not without close calls. In three games the teams had to come from behind to win. One preliminary game ended up as a single-point victory, and the gold medal game went to overtime before the USA team beat South Korea by a single point, 90–89. Palmer was the leading scorer for the team, averaging 18.9 points per game. She also led the team in rebounding with 9.3 per game.^[5]

WNBA career

Palmer was originally drafted by the Utah Starzz 9th overall in the 2nd round of the 1997 Elite draft. She played for the Starzz until 1999, when she became a member of the Detroit Shock.

In 2002, she played for the Orlando Miracle, which later became the Connecticut Sun. In 2004, while as a member of the Sun, she received the WNBA Most Improved Player Award.

In 2005, she played for the San Antonio Silver Stars. After the season ended, she was hired as an assistant coach to the women's basketball team at Virginia Commonwealth University.

In 2006, she signed a free agent contract with the Storm, but played only five games with the team before suffering a partially torn Achilles tendon in her left foot.

Coaching career

Palmer took her first coaching position at Virginia Commonwealth University while playing in the WNBA. In 2007, she joined the staff at the University of Kentucky under Coach Matthew Mitchell. She remained there until 2009.

In 2009, Palmer became an assistant coach at the University of Virginia under legendary Coach Debbie Ryan.

In 2011, Palmer became the women's head coach at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Notes

1. "Women's Basketball Coaches Career". NCAA. Retrieved 26 Sep 2015.
2. "Athletics Announces Change In Women's Basketball Leadership". uncgspartans.com. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
3. . Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 1 Jul 2014.
4. . Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 29 Jun 2014.
5. "1994 Women's R. William Jones Cup". USA Basketball. June 10, 2010. from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.

External links

• WNBA Player Profile
• June 2006 Seattle Storm article on her injury
• July 2005 press release on joining the Virginia Commonwealth University coaching staff