Jennifer Gillom facts for kids
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| Born | June 13, 1964 Abbeville, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| High school | Lafayette (Oxford, Mississippi) |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Ole Miss (1982–1986) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1997 / Round: Allocated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Phoenix Mercury | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1997–2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 2004–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As player: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2002 | Phoenix Mercury | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Los Angeles Sparks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As coach: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2010, 2017-current | Xavier College Preparatory | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Minnesota Lynx (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Minnesota Lynx | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Los Angeles Sparks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Washington Mystics (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2015 | Connecticut Sun (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a famous American basketball player and coach, born on June 13, 1964. She played as a forward and center in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for the Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks. Jennifer also won a gold medal with the United States Olympic team! After her playing career, she became a successful coach, even leading teams to championships.
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Who is Jennifer Gillom?
Jennifer Gillom, nicknamed "Grandmama," is a well-known figure in women's basketball. She was born in Abbeville, Mississippi, and grew up loving the sport. Her journey took her from college stardom to Olympic gold and a successful professional career in the WNBA. Later, she became a respected coach, sharing her knowledge and passion for basketball with new generations of players.
Early Life and College Basketball
Jennifer Gillom played college basketball at the University of Mississippi, where she was an amazing player for the Ole Miss team from 1982 to 1986. She was so good that she was named a Kodak All-American in 1986 and the SEC Female Athlete of the Year in the same year. Her talent was clear from a young age, setting the stage for her future success. The Gillom Athletics Performance Center on the Ole Miss campus is named in honor of Jennifer and her sister, Peggie Gillom-Granderson, who was also a fantastic player.
Representing Team USA
Jennifer Gillom proudly represented the United States in several international basketball competitions, bringing home multiple gold medals.
Playing for Gold
In 1985, Jennifer played for the USA team at the World University Games in Kobe, Japan, where they earned a silver medal. The next year, in 1986, she helped the USA team win a gold medal at the FIBA World Championship for Women in Moscow.
She continued her success with Team USA at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis. The team won all their games and secured another gold medal. Her biggest achievement as a player came at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. There, Jennifer and her teammates won all five of their games, earning the prestigious Olympic gold medal in women's basketball!
Coaching for Gold
Jennifer Gillom's dedication to USA Basketball didn't end with her playing career. She later became an assistant coach for the USA National team. In 2010, she helped coach the team to a gold medal at the FIBA World Championship for Women in Brazil.
Her coaching success continued at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. As an assistant coach, she once again helped the United States women's basketball team win an Olympic gold medal. This showed her talent both on and off the court.
A Star in the WNBA
Jennifer Gillom was one of the first players in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) when the league started in 1997. She was assigned to the Phoenix Mercury and quickly became a key player.
She played for the Mercury for six seasons, from 1997 to 2002, starting in every game she played for them. During her time with Phoenix, she was known for her strong scoring and rebounding. She was even selected as a WNBA All-Star in 1999, helping the Western Conference win the All-Star Game.
Jennifer led the Mercury to the playoffs three times. In 1998, her team reached the WNBA Finals, but they lost a close series to the Houston Comets. She was recognized for her excellent play, being named to the All-WNBA First Team in 1998 and the All-WNBA Second Team in 1997.
In 2003, Jennifer joined the Los Angeles Sparks for her final season. With the Sparks, she reached the WNBA Finals again, but her team narrowly lost to the Detroit Shock. After this season, Jennifer retired from playing professional basketball, leaving behind an impressive legacy. The Phoenix Mercury honored her by retiring her jersey number, 22, a special tribute to her impact on the team. She also received the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award in her final season, recognizing her fair play and respect for the game.
Coaching Career and Hall of Fame
After retiring as a player, Jennifer Gillom transitioned into coaching. In 2004, she became the head coach for the Xavier College Preparatory High School basketball team in Phoenix, Arizona. She also served as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA, and later became their head coach in 2009. She stayed as head coach until the end of 2009 when she was succeeded by Cheryl Reeve, who continues to coach the team. Jennifer also coached for the Los Angeles Sparks and was an assistant coach for the Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun.
In March 2024, Jennifer led her high school team, the Xavier College Preparatory Gators, to win their first-ever WBB championship! This was a huge achievement for the team and for Jennifer as a coach.
In 2009, Jennifer Gillom was honored for her incredible career by being inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee. This is one of the highest honors a basketball player can receive, celebrating her lasting impact on the sport.
See also
In Spanish: Jennifer Gillom para niños
