The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Campbell one of four finalists for WNBA's All Time Greatest Moments
08.21.2006 | Women's Basketball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Former Texas standout guard Edna Campbell (1989-91) had a distinctive career in the WNBA, playing from 1999-2005 for Phoenix (1999), Seattle (2000), Sacramento (2001-04) and San Antonio (2005). The winner of the WNBA Kim Perrott Sportsmanship Award in 2003, Campbell also surpassed the 1,000-point milestone in her WNBA career, finishing with 1,143 points in 161 contests.
Yet, her most stirring moment as a pro came on August 13, 2002 when she returned to the court for the Sacramento Monarchs in a triumphant way after successfully battling breast cancer.
That return - and Campbell's subsequent fast break basket - was voted the WNBA's "Greatest Inspirational Moment" in the league's 10-year history. "Of course I am honored with this recognition," said Campbell. "That moment impacted so many lives inside and outside of the realm of basketball."
Now, Campbell's return is one of four highlights of the first decade of WNBA action which is up for the WNBA's "Great Moment", presented by AOL.com.
To date, the voting has been conducted in four distinct categories: Greatest Shot, Greatest Pass, Greatest Milestone and Greatest Inspirational Moment. Now, the winner from each of these categories will comprise the final ballot, with voting for the top moment running through Tuesday, August 23.
Fans can cast their vote for the #1 Greatest Moment by logging on to www.aol.com/wnba and then tune in to Game 1 of the 2006 WNBA Finals on Wednesday, August 30 to find out which significant moment is seen as the greatest in WNBA history.
The winner will be announced during halftime of ESPN2's telecast of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on August 30.
The finalists include:
• Greatest Shot - Teresa Weatherspoon of the New York Liberty hits a miracle shot from half court on September 4 to win Game 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals in Houston and send the series to a third and final game. The shot is accompanied by one of the best live calls in WNBA history. "This is something great," Weatherspoon commented. "That shot was certainly not done for individual accolades, but just gave the team one more game to go for the championship. It's certainly a nice thing to be remembered for."
• Greatest Pass - Seattle's Sue Bird leads a fast break during the 2003 All-Star Game and drops a spectacular no-look pass between the legs to her trailing teammate Lauren Jackson, who scores an uncontested lay-up. "To be selected as having the greatest pass in WNBA history is exciting and truly an honor," said Bird. "That was such a fun experience at the All-Star game and to have Lauren on the receiving end of the pass made it even better."
• Greatest Milestone - Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks throws down the first dunk in WNBA history against the Miami Sol on July 30, 2002. According to Leslie, "It is such an honor to have my dunk selected as the Greatest Milestone in WNBA history. I think dunking is a whole new era of women's basketball and I'm happy to have been the first to do it."
• Greatest Inspirational Moment - Edna Campbell of the Sacramento Monarchs makes a triumphant return to the court on August 13, 2002, after battling breast cancer. Almost immediately after entering the game Campbell scored her first basket on a fast break that was truly inspirational.
