DeLisha Milton-Jones facts for kids
Milton-Jones at the 2007 WNBA All-Star game.
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| Old Dominion Monarchs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Head coach | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | September 11, 1974 Riceboro, Georgia, U.S. |
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| High school | Bradwell Institute (Hinesville, Georgia) |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Florida (1993–1997) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1999 / Round: Supplemental / Pick: 4th overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Los Angeles Sparks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1999–2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 2016–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Sun Belt Conference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As player: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | Portland Power | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2004 | Los Angeles Sparks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | UMMC Ekaterinburg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Washington Mystics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Gambrinus Brno | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Ros Casares Valencia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Ros Casares Valencia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2012 | Los Angeles Sparks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | San Antonio Silver Stars | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | New York Liberty | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Atlanta Dream | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As coach: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Pepperdine (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | Pepperdine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Syracuse (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–present | Old Dominion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As player:
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| Career Sun Belt Conference statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Field goals completed | .440 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Free throws completed | .790 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Points scored | 5,571 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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DeLisha Lachell Milton-Jones (born September 11, 1974) is a famous American retired professional basketball player. She is currently the head coach for the Old Dominion women's basketball team.
Milton-Jones played college basketball for the University of Florida. She was recognized as a top player in her senior year.
She started her professional career in 1997 with the Portland Power. Later, she joined the Los Angeles Sparks in 1999. During her 17 years in the WNBA, she played for several teams.
DeLisha Milton-Jones has won two Olympic gold medals (in 2000 and 2008). She also won two WNBA championships (in 2001 and 2002). She was chosen to play in the WNBA All-Star Game three times.
Contents
Early Life and High School
DeLisha Lachell Milton was born in Riceboro, Georgia, in 1974. She went to Bradwell Institute in Hinesville, Georgia. There, she played high school basketball for the Bradwell Tigers. She graduated from Bradwell in 1993.
College Basketball Career
Milton-Jones received a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Florida. She played for the Florida Gators women's basketball team from 1993 to 1997. She helped her team reach the NCAA Tournament four times in a row.
In her final year (1996–97), she was named an All-American. This means she was one of the best college players in the country. She also won the Wade Trophy and the Honda Sports Award. These awards recognize the top women's college basketball player in Division I.
In 2007, Milton-Jones was honored by being added to the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. This is a special group for great athletes from the university.
Playing for Team USA
Milton-Jones played for the US national team in 1997 at the World University Games in Italy. The US team won all six of their games and took home the gold medal.
She also joined the U.S. national team in 1998 for the FIBA World Championships in Germany. The team won the gold medal after a tough final game against Russia.
DeLisha Milton-Jones is known for her very long arms, which give her an impressive reach. She was a key player for the U.S. national women's basketball teams. These teams won gold medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Australia and the 2008 Summer Olympics in China. She also helped the U.S. win world championships in 1998 and 2002.
Professional Basketball
Starting in the ABL
In 1997, Milton-Jones was picked second overall by the Portland Power. This was in the American Basketball League (ABL). She played in almost all games during her first season. The ABL stopped playing in December 1998.
Playing in the WNBA
In 1999, Milton-Jones was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks. She played for the Sparks for six years, from 1999 to 2004. During this time, she won two WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002.
In 2005, she moved to the Washington Mystics. Later, in 2008, she returned to the Los Angeles Sparks.
In 2013, she played for the San Antonio Silver Stars and then the New York Liberty. In 2014, she was traded to the Atlanta Dream.
In August 2015, Milton-Jones played in her 497th WNBA game. At that time, this was a league record for the most games played by a player. She officially announced her retirement in September 2016.
Playing Overseas
Milton-Jones also played basketball in other countries. In 2003, she won the Euroleague Championship with the team Ekaterinburg in Russia. In the 2005–06 season, she won the Euroleague again with Gambrinus Brno in the Czech Republic. She also played for Ros Casares Valencia in Spain.
Coaching Career
In 2005, DeLisha Milton-Jones became a coach for a men's professional basketball team. She coached the ABA's Los Angeles Stars. She was one of the first women to coach a men's team.
On March 29, 2017, she became the head coach of Pepperdine University's women's basketball team. In 2019, she became an assistant coach at Syracuse University. Then, on April 17, 2020, she was named the head coach at Old Dominion University.
Personal Life
Milton-Jones appeared in the 2000 movie Love and Basketball. She played a character named Delisha Milton. In 2003, she married Roland Jones.
Awards and Honors
DeLisha Milton-Jones has received many awards and honors throughout her career.
WNBA Awards
- 2015 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award
Gold Medals
- 2000 & 2008 Olympic Games
- 1998 & 2002 FIBA World Championship
- 1997 World University Games
Bronze Medal
- 2006 FIBA World Championship
College Honors
- 1997 SEC Player of the Year
- 1997 State Farm Wade Trophy
- 1997 First-team All-American
- 1996 & 1997 First-team All-Southeastern Conference
- 1994 Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team
See also
- List of Florida Gators in the WNBA
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
- List of Olympic medalists in basketball
- List of University of Florida alumni
- List of University of Florida Olympians
- List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members
