Adia Barnes facts for kids
Barnes in 2024
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| SMU Mustangs | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | February 3, 1977 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| High school | Mission Bay (San Diego, California) |
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Listed weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Arizona (1994–1998) |
| NBA Draft | 1998 / Round: 4 / Pick: 32nd overall |
| Selected by the Sacramento Monarchs | |
| Pro career | 1998–2010 |
| Coaching career | 2011–present |
| League | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1998 | Sacramento Monarchs |
| 1999 | Minnesota Lynx |
| 2000–2001 | Cleveland Rockers |
| 2002–2004 | Seattle Storm |
| 2004–2006 | Mersin BB |
| 2006–2007 | UMMC Ekaterinburg |
| 2007–2008 | Napoli Basket Vomero |
| 2008–2009 | Libertas Trogylos |
| 2009–2010 | Pallacanestro Pozzuoli |
| As coach: | |
| 2011–2016 | Washington (assistant) |
| 2016–2025 | Arizona |
| 2025–present | SMU |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As coach:
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Adia Oshun Barnes (born February 3, 1977) is an American basketball coach and former player. She is the head coach for the SMU Mustangs team. Adia played college basketball at the University of Arizona. She also played for seven seasons in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Her WNBA teams included the Houston Comets, Seattle Storm, Minnesota Lynx, and Sacramento Monarchs. She also played basketball in other countries, like Ukraine. Adia Barnes has also worked as a TV sports commentator.
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Early Life and High School Basketball
Adia Barnes grew up in San Diego, California. She went to Mission Bay Senior High School there. Her father, Pete Barnes, was a player in the NFL. Adia set an amazing record during her high school career. She blocked 1,112 shots, which is the most ever by a female high school basketball player!
College Basketball Career
Adia was 5 feet 11 inches tall. This was not very tall for a "post player" at a top college. A post player usually plays close to the basket. The coach at the University of Arizona, Joan Bonvicini, first thought Adia might not be able to play that position. But after seeing her play in person, the coach quickly offered her a scholarship.
Adia joined the Arizona team in 1995. She played with a lot of physical strength. A writer even compared her to famous basketball player Charles Barkley. In her first year, she was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. This was a first for any player from Arizona.
In her second year, Adia helped her team win the WNIT championship. WNIT stands for Women's National Invitation Tournament. She was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. As a junior, Adia led her team to their first-ever NCAA tournament. They won their first game but then lost a close game. Adia set 22 individual records for the Arizona Wildcats. Many of these records, like career points and rebounds, still stand today. She was also the first woman from Arizona to be drafted into a professional basketball league.
WNBA Playing Career
Adia knew she would need to change her playing style for the pros. She was an "undersized post" player in college. This meant she was shorter than most players who played close to the basket. So, she decided to become a guard, who plays further from the basket.
She first signed with the Sacramento Monarchs. She played in 29 games and started in 16 of them. Later, she was traded to the Minnesota Lynx and then the Cleveland Rockers. Her playing time became less. She played overseas to improve her skills. In 2002, she joined the Seattle Storm. The Storm was not expected to do well that year. But with star players like Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson, the coach wanted Adia to be a strong defender. Adia worked hard and helped the team reach the playoffs in just their third year. She also won a WNBA championship with the Seattle Storm in 2004.
Playing Basketball Internationally
Adia Barnes also played basketball in other countries. She played for teams in Ukraine, Italy, Israel, Russia, and Turkey. Some of these teams included Dynamo Kyiv and UMMC Ekaterinburg.
Working as a Sports Commentator
In 2007, Adia started working as a color commentator for the Seattle Storm's radio broadcasts. A color commentator helps explain the game and gives insights. She had some experience from commenting on the 2006 FIBA World Championship games. By 2012, she was doing broadcasts for both radio and TV. She also commented on Seattle University women's basketball games.
Coaching Career
Adia's former college coach, Joan Bonvicini, asked her if she was interested in coaching. At first, Adia was still playing for the Storm and said no. But she enjoyed working at basketball camps. So, when the University of Washington's new coach, Kevin McGuff, asked her in 2011, she agreed. She became an assistant coach for the Huskies.
Coaching at Arizona
On April 4, 2016, Adia Barnes became the head coach for the women's basketball team at the University of Arizona. Her first few seasons were a bit tough. But in her third season, the team started strong with 12 wins and only 1 loss. They finished the regular season with 17 wins, which was their best record since 2010–11.
The Wildcats then entered the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). Adia led them all the way to the WNIT Final. They won the championship in 2019! In 2021, the Wildcats made history. They beat Indiana to reach the school's first-ever Final Four in the NCAA tournament. On April 2, 2021, they beat the University of Connecticut Huskies. This win sent them to the NCAA tournament championship game for the first time in school history.
Coaching at SMU
Adia Barnes became the head coach of the SMU Mustangs in 2025.
Awards and Achievements
- 1995—Pac-10 Conference Freshman of the Year
- 1996—WNIT Most Valuable Player
- 1998—Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year
- 1998—AP All-American (third team)
- 1998—U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-American (first team)
- University of Arizona—Career Points: 2,237
- University of Arizona—Single Season Points: 653
- University of Arizona—Single Game Points: 35
- University of Arizona—Career Rebounds: 921
- 2003—Inducted into the University of Arizona Hall of Fame
Personal Life
Adia Barnes married Salvo Coppa on July 4, 2012. Salvo is also a basketball coach whom she met in Italy. They have two children together.
