Katie Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Katie Smith

Smith speaking at a press conference in 2019
Ohio State Buckeyes
Assistant coach
Personal information
Born	(1974-06-04) June 4, 1974 (age 51) Logan, Ohio, U.S.
High school	Logan (Logan, Ohio)
Listed height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
College	Ohio State (1992–1996)
NBA Draft	1999 / Allocated
Selected by the Minnesota Lynx
Pro career	1999–2013
Coaching career	2014–present
League	Big Ten Conference
Career history
As player:
1996–1998	Columbus Quest
1999–2005	Minnesota Lynx
2001–2002	Lotos Gdynia
2006–2009	Detroit Shock
2009	Fenerbahçe Istanbul
2010	Washington Mystics
2011–2013	Seattle Storm
2013	New York Liberty
As coach:
2014–2017	New York Liberty (assistant)
2018–2019	New York Liberty
2020–2024	Minnesota Lynx (associate HC)
2024–present	Ohio State Buckeyes (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As player: 2× ABL champion (1997, 1998) 2× WNBA champion (2006, 2008) WNBA Finals MVP (2008) 2× All-WNBA First Team (2001, 2003) 7× WNBA All-Star (2000–2003, 2005, 2006, 2009) WNBA scoring champion (2001) WNBA 10th Anniversary Team (2006) WNBA 15th Anniversary Team (2011) WNBA 20th Anniversary Team (2016) WNBA 25th Anniversary Team (2021) Second-team All-American – AP (1996) 2x All-American – USBWA (1994, 1996) 2x Kodak All-American (1993, 1996) Big Ten Player of the Year (1996) Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball (1996) 3x First-team All-Big Ten (1994–1996) USBWA Freshman of the Year (1993) Big Ten Freshman of the Year (1993) As assistant coach: WNBA Commissioner's Cup Champion (2024)
Medals Women's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2000 Sydney Team competition Gold 2004 Athens Team competition Gold 2008 Beijing Team competition World Cup Gold 1998 Germany Team competition Gold 2002 China Team competition Bronze 2006 Brazil Team competition Universiade Silver 1995 Fukuoka Team competition Jones Cup Gold 1996 Team competition

Katie Smith (born June 4, 1974) is an American basketball coach and a former player. She is currently an assistant coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball team. Katie used to be the head coach of the New York Liberty.

As a retired professional basketball player, Smith mainly played as a shooting guard. Sometimes she also played as a small forward or point guard. She was once the top scorer in women's professional basketball history. She scored over 7,000 points in her career in both the ABL and WNBA leagues. In 2016, she was chosen as one of the WNBA Top 20@20 best players. Katie Smith was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. She also joined the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in the same year.

Early Life and Family Background

Katie Smith was born in Logan, Ohio. She grew up there and started playing basketball in fifth grade. She even played on a boys' team when she was young.

Her family loved sports. Her father, John Jr., played football at Ohio University. Her younger brother, Tom, also played football and was on the track and field team at Ohio University. Her older brother, John, played football for the University of Mount Union. He helped his team win a national championship.

High School Basketball Achievements

At Logan High School, Katie was named the national Gatorade National Player of the Year. This was during her senior year. She led her team, the Lady Chieftains, to the state championship game.

The WBCA named Smith a High School All-American. In 1992, she played in the first-ever WBCA High School All-America Game. She scored 14 points and was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the game.

College Career at Ohio State

Katie Smith went to Ohio State University from 1992 to 1996. In her first year, she helped the Buckeyes win a Big Ten championship. They also reached the NCAA title game that year.

During her time at Ohio State, Smith broke a big record. She scored more points than any other player in Big Ten history, both men and women. As a senior, she won two major awards. These included the Big Ten Player of the Year award.

Katie graduated in 1996 with a degree in zoology. On January 21, 2001, Ohio State honored her. She was the first female Buckeye athlete to have her jersey number retired. She was also inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in October 2001.

Professional Basketball Journey

Katie Smith had a long and successful professional basketball career. She played in both the ABL and WNBA leagues.

Playing in the ABL

Smith started her professional career in the ABL. She played for the Columbus Quest. She helped her team win two league championships. These were the only two full seasons the ABL existed.

WNBA Highlights and Records

In 2005, Katie Smith made history. She became the first American female basketball player to score 5,000 points in her professional career. On August 16, 2007, she was the first woman to score 6,000 career points. This included points from both the ABL and WNBA. By the end of her career in 2013, she had scored 7,885 professional points.

From 1999 to 2005, Smith played for the Minnesota Lynx. Her great outside shooting was a key part of the Lynx's offense. In 2005, she was traded to the Detroit Shock.

In 2006, Smith became the first WNBA player to win All-Star games in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. That same year, she also became the only player to win championships in both the ABL and WNBA. The Detroit Shock won the WNBA title, beating the Sacramento Monarchs.

Katie Smith was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the 2008 WNBA Finals. Her team, the Detroit Shock, won the championship 3–0.

After playing for the Shock, Katie signed with the Washington Mystics in 2010. In 2011, she joined the Seattle Storm. During the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game, she was recognized as one of the Top 15 players in the WNBA's 15-year history. On September 11, 2011, she became the third player to score 6,000 points in her WNBA career.

In 2013, Smith joined the New York Liberty. She announced that the 2013 season would be her last as a player.

Playing in Europe

During the 2001–02 season, Katie Smith played for Lotos Gdynia in Poland. Her team reached the final of the EuroLeague Women. In 2009, she played for Fenerbahçe Istanbul in Turkey.

National Team Career

Katie Smith also played for the United States national basketball team.

She was part of the US team at the 1995 World University Games in Japan. The team won five games and lost one, earning a silver medal.

In 1996, Smith played for the US Jones Cup team. She helped the team win all nine of their games and take home the gold medal.

As a member of the USAB women's senior national team, Smith won gold medals at three Olympic Games: 2000 in Sydney, 2004 in Athens, and 2008 in Beijing. She also won gold medals at the World Championships in 1998 and 2002. In the 1998 World Championships in Germany, the US team won a tough gold medal game against Russia.

Coaching Career

Smith coaching the New York Liberty in 2016

After her playing career ended in 2013, Katie Smith became an assistant coach for the New York Liberty. She was promoted to associate head coach for the 2016 season. In October 2017, she became the head coach of the New York Liberty.

She coached the Liberty for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. After that, she became the lead assistant coach for the Minnesota Lynx.

Images for kids

• 

  Smith speaking at a press conference in 2019

• 

  Smith coaching the New York Liberty in 2016

See also

• Basketball in the United States
• List of WNBA players