Imani McGee-Stafford facts for kids
| No. 34 – Shaanxi Red Wolves | ||||||||||||||
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| Center | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
| Born | October 11, 1994 Inglewood, California, U.S. |
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| High school | Windward (Los Angeles, California) | |||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | Texas (2012–2016) | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10th overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the Chicago Sky | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2016–present | |||||||||||||
| League | WCBA | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Chicago Sky | |||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Bnot Herziliya | |||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Atlanta Dream | |||||||||||||
| 2017 | Beijing Great Wall | |||||||||||||
| 2018 | Liaoning Flying Eagles | |||||||||||||
| 2019 | Adana Basketbol | |||||||||||||
| 2019 | Dallas Wings | |||||||||||||
| 2019 | Perth Lynx | |||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Shaanxi Red Wolves | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Imani Trishawn McGee-Stafford (born October 11, 1994) is an American professional basketball player. She is known for her skills as a center on the court. Before becoming a pro, she played college basketball for the University of Texas at Austin.
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College Basketball Journey
In 2015, while playing for the Texas Longhorns, Imani received a special honor called the Honda Inspiration Award. This award goes to college athletes who have faced tough times but still managed to play their sport at a high level. Imani grew up in a difficult home situation, but she worked hard to overcome it. She even became a voice for other young people facing similar challenges.
Professional Basketball Career
Playing in the WNBA
Imani McGee-Stafford was chosen 10th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2016 WNBA draft. This means she was one of the top players picked to join the Women's National Basketball Association. In her first year, she was ranked seventh in the league for blocks per game. She was also named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team, which recognizes the best new players.
In her very first playoff game, Imani set a new WNBA playoff record for rookies. She made 6 blocks in that single game! Midway through the 2017 season, Imani was traded to the Atlanta Dream. She played for Atlanta in 2018 before joining the Dallas Wings for the 2019 season.
Playing Overseas
Basketball players often play in other countries during the WNBA off-season. In December 2016, Imani moved to Israel to play for a team called Bnot Hertzeliya. She played 16 games there, averaging great stats like 14.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
Later, in 2017, she played in China for Beijing Great Wall. A year after that, she returned to China to play for the Liaoning Flying Eagles. In February 2019, she had a short time playing in Turkey for Adana Basketbol. On June 13, 2019, Imani signed with the Perth Lynx in Australia for their 2019–20 season.
Personal Life and Family
Imani McGee-Stafford comes from a family of athletes! Her mother, Pamela McGee, was also a professional basketball player in the WNBA. Her older half-brother, JaVale McGee, is a well-known player in the NBA. She also has a cousin, Jarron Gilbert, who played in the NFL.
In 2015, Imani married Paul Boyette Jr., who played football for the Texas Longhorns. They later divorced in 2017. In March 2018, Imani even appeared on the TV show Let's Make a Deal with her grandmother and won some scooters!
In 2020, Imani decided to take a break from the WNBA. She wanted to go to law school and study to become a lawyer. She started working towards her law degree at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. In March 2023, it was announced that Imani became a partner in a company called MOORvision Technologies and Ucam. This company makes special cameras that can show what athletes see during games.
