Holdsclaw Joins the Lady Generals The Southern Lady Generals today announced the signing of veteran forward Chamique Holdsclaw (6’2”-F-77, college: Tennessee). Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. Holdsclaw last played in the WNBA for the Atlanta Dream. The 10-year WNBA veteran requested a trade from the Atlanta Dream prior to the start of 2010 training camp an…
“We are thrilled to have Chamique join the WUBA family,” said WUBA Commissioner, Jared Johnson . “Chamique and our staff felt it was such a great fit considering both parties situation. She just has so much to offer the community and our young ladies.”
When asked about the former WNBA star’s past troubles, the UPG leadership remained very positive. “We have known Chamique for over 8 years”, said Universal Phoenix Group CEO Jerone Dodd Jr. “She is a great person that had a bad moment. She is all about the community, the next generation and the game of basketball. We will stand behind her because we know her character.”
Holdsclaw originally was selected first overall by the Washington Mystics in the 1999 WNBA Draft. In her 10 seasons in the WNBA, Holdsclaw has tallied career averages of 17.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
The 6-foot-2 forward was recognized as the 1999 WNBA Rookie of the Year in addition to being named a starter in the league’s inaugural All-Star Game. She spent six seasons in Washington and earned four All-Star Game selections (1999-2002) during her time with the Mystics. Her most productive season came in 2003 as she averaged a career-high 20.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
Prior to the start of the 2005 season, Holdsclaw was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for DeLisha Milton-Jones and the 13th overall pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft. Holdsclaws tally of 17.0 points per game in 2005 ranked her third in the league. She was voted into the WNBA All-Star game for the sixth time in her career and reached two career milestones: 6,000 minutes and 3,000 career points. In 2006, Holdsclaw was named a WNBA All-Decade Honorable.
After playing in five games with the Sparks in 2007, Holdsclaw announced her retirement from the league but continued to play overseas for TS Wisla Can-Pak Krakow (Poland).
Prior to being drafted into the WNBA, Holdsclaw completed an illustrious collegiate career at Tennessee that included being named a four-time Kodak All-American. She collected 3,025 career points and 1,295 career rebounds which made her the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in Tennessee history among both men and women. Additionally, her points and rebounds tallies ranked her first all-time in SEC womens history and also first in the history of the NCAA Womens Basketball Tournament. She won the Naismith Player of the Year trophy twice (1998, 1999) and was named the Naismith Player of the Century for the 1990s as she helped lead the Lady Vols to a 134-17 record during her time at Tennessee.
Holdsclaw debuted for the Lady Generals Sunday afternoon. She posted 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. The Lady Generals will face the top ranked GIE Lady Matrix Sunday afternoon at 5:00pm.