The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Tina Thompson selected for induction into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
03.31.2018 | Women's Basketball
Thompson is in her third season on the Texas women's basketball coaching staff.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Tina Thompson, University of Texas women's basketball associate head coach and one of the greatest players in the history of the game, has been selected for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Class of 2018, it was announced Saturday.
The enshrinement ceremony for the 2018 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will take place on Friday, September 7 at 6:30 p.m. CT at the Springfield Symphony Hall in Springfield, Mass. In addition to Thompson, the class includes: Ray Allen, Maurice Cheeks, Lefty Driesell, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Dina Radja, Charlie Scott, Katie Smith, Rod Thorn, Ora Mae Washington and Rick Welts.
Thompson, who is in her third year on the Texas coaching staff, also will be inducted this summer into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Thompson was the first overall pick in the inaugural WNBA Draft, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a four-time WNBA Champion. She works directly with the Longhorns' post players.
"I'm so overwhelmed by the honor of being selected into the Basketball Hall of Fame," Thompson said. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around the news. To think – I played the game of basketball simply because I loved it. It suited me and became one of those things you just knew you were meant to do. All the while not knowing it would become the center of my life and lead me to the unimaginable. I played simply because I loved it. I worked extremely hard at it because I wanted to be the best I could be, as I do with most things in my life. Simply put, I wanted to win and, in order to do that, I had to be pretty good. It has now taken me to the end of the road - the highest point. My work-ethic and my love for basketball has now afforded me the pleasure, the privilege, and the blessing to be housed amongst the greats of our game, all of whom I truly admire. It is totally unbelievable! This one is going to take me a while to absorb."
Throughout her 17-year professional playing career, Thompson was a four-time WNBA champion with the Houston Comets (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000), a member of the WNBA All-Decade team, an eight-time All-WNBA team selection, a nine-time WNBA All-Star, and the WNBA All-Star MVP in 2000.
After 12 seasons in Houston, the Los Angeles native returned to her hometown in 2009 as a member of the Los Angeles Sparks. She became the WNBA's all-time leading scorer on August 8, 2010, scoring her 6,264th career point to pass Lisa Leslie -- a former teammate of Thompson's at the high school, collegiate and professional levels.
Thompson ended her professional career with the Seattle Storm in 2013 as the league's all-time leading scorer with 7,488 points in 496 games played (15.1 ppg). She still remains the league's second-leading all-time scorer behind Diana Taurasi (7,867 points).
On the international level, Thompson has won two Olympic Gold Medals as a member of Team USA in 2004 (Athens) and 2008 (Beijing). She has also participated in other professional leagues overseas. Following the 2001 WNBA season, Thompson played for Rovereto Basket in Italy and in 2003 she joined the Kumho Falcons of the Women's Korea Basketball League (WKBL). In 2006 and 2007, she played for Spartak Moscow Region (Euro league) and in 2010 for the MCM Târgovişte in Romania.
Thompson played collegiately at the University of Southern California (1993-1997) where she helped USC compile a 77-37 record, and led the team to three NCAA tournament appearances (1994, 1995, 1997), including an Elite Eight appearance in 1994.
A three-time All-Pac 10 selection at USC, Thompson was a second-team All-American as a senior in 1997. She finished fifth on the university's career lists in scoring (2,248 points) and (1,168 rebounds).
Thompson graduated from USC in 1997 with a degree in sociology and a minor in psychology.
Texas has posted an 84-21 (.800) record since Thompson's arrival on the Forty Acres.
