Ivory Latta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ivory Latta

No. 12
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1984-09-25) September 25, 1984 (age 40) McConnells, South Carolina, U.S.
High school	York Comprehensive (York, South Carolina)
Listed height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Listed weight	138 lb (63 kg)
Career information
College	North Carolina (2003–2007)
NBA Draft	2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11th overall
Selected by the Detroit Shock
Pro career	2007–2017
Career history
As player:
2007	Detroit Shock
2007–2008	Elitzur Holon
2008–2009	Atlanta Dream
2008–2009	Ceyhan Belediyesi
2009–2010	Mersin BŞB
2010–2012	Tulsa Shock
2011–2012	Tarsus Belediye
2013	Maccabi Ramat Hen
2013–2017	Washington Mystics
2015–2016	Edirne Belediyesi Edirnespor
As coach:
2013–2015	North Carolina (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
2× WNBA All-Star (2013, 2014) Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award (2017) USBWA National Player of the Year (2006) Nancy Lieberman Award (2006) 2x All-American – Kodak, USBWA (2006, 2007) 2x First-team All-American – AP (2006, 2007) Third-team All-American – AP (2005) ACC Player of the Year (2006) 3x ACC Tournament MVP (2005–2007) 3x First-team All-ACC (2005–2007) ACC All-Freshman Team (2004) McDonald's All-American (2003) No. 12 retired by North Carolina Tar Heels

Ivory Latta (born September 25, 1984) is a former professional basketball player from the United States. She was chosen 11th overall in the 2007 WNBA Draft by the Detroit Shock. Ivory is known for her amazing three-point shots and her lively energy on the court. She played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels. She holds the record for the most points scored in South Carolina high school basketball history, with 4,319 points.

Early Life and High School Success

Ivory Latta was born in McConnells, South Carolina. She played basketball at York Comprehensive High School in York, South Carolina. During her time there, she was named a WBCA All-American. This means she was recognized as one of the best high school players in the country.

In 2003, she played in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association#WBCA High School All-America Game. She scored seventeen points in that game and was even named the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

College Basketball Journey

Ivory Latta played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels from 2003 to 2007. She quickly became a star player. In 2006, she was named Player of the Year by several groups, including ESPN.com. She also won the Nancy Lieberman Award as the best point guard in 2006.

Ivory was a Consensus All-American in 2006, meaning she was recognized by many different groups as one of the top players. She was also named the ACC Player of the Year in 2006. She was the MVP of the ACC Tournament three times, from 2005 to 2007. Throughout her college career, she averaged 16.6 points per game.

Professional WNBA Career

In 2007, Ivory Latta was drafted by the Detroit Shock as the 11th pick in the 2007 WNBA draft. As a rookie, she showed off her excellent three-point shooting skills. She had the second-best three-point percentage in the WNBA that year. In her first season, she played in the WNBA Finals with the Shock, but they lost to the Phoenix Mercury.

In 2008, Ivory was traded to the Atlanta Dream. She later played for the Tulsa Shock from 2010 to 2012. In 2013, she joined the Washington Mystics. While playing for the Mystics, she was chosen for the WNBA All-Star Game twice, in 2013 and 2014. This is a huge honor for a basketball player.

In July 2016, Ivory suffered a knee injury during practice. This injury kept her from playing for the rest of that season. However, she recovered and played all 34 games in 2017. That year, the Mystics made it further in the playoffs than ever before, reaching the semi-finals.

WNBA Game Statistics

Here are Ivory Latta's statistics from her WNBA career.

Regular season

Playoffs

Playing in Europe

Besides playing in the WNBA, Ivory Latta also played basketball in other countries. She played for teams in Israel and Turkey during the WNBA off-season.

• 2007–2008: Elitzur Holon
• 2008–2009: Ceyhan Belediyesi
• 2009–2010: Mersin BŞB
• 2010–2011: Maccabi Ramat Hen
• 2011–2012: Tarsus Belediye
• 2013: Maccabi Ramat Hen
• 2015–2016: Edirne Belediyesi Edirnespor

Beyond the Court

Ivory Latta is not just a basketball star; she's also a community leader. On January 9, 2003, the U.S. House of Representatives honored her with a special resolution. The city of York, South Carolina, where she went to high school, even gave her the key to the city. They celebrated "Ivory Latta Day" on January 10, 2003.

Ivory's father and grandmother both have Parkinson's disease. This is a condition that affects movement. Because of this, Ivory has become an ambassador for the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF). She helps raise money and awareness about Parkinson's disease. She also encourages other athletes to support the cause.

Ivory Latta is also known for her friendships with famous people. She is friends with NBA superstar LeBron James and actor/rapper Chris "Ludacris" Bridges.

Awards and Special Honors

• 2006 – Nancy Lieberman Award
• 2006 – USBWA National Player of the Year
• 2006 – ACC Player of the Year
• 2005, 2006, 2007 – ACC Tournament MVP
• 2013, 2014 – WNBA All-Star
• 2017 – Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award