Natalie Williams facts for kids
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | November 30, 1970 (age 54) Long Beach, California, U.S. |
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| High school | Taylorsville (Taylorsville, Utah) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | UCLA (1990–1994) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1999 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Utah Starzz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1996–2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1998 | Portland Power | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2002 | Utah Starzz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2005 | Indiana Fever | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career WNBA statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | 2,894 (13.1 ppg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 1,832 (8.3 rpg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assists | 308 (1.4 apg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Natalie Jean Williams (born November 30, 1970) is an American basketball expert and former player. She played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Natalie Williams was honored in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. She was also a very talented volleyball player at UCLA. From 2022 to 2024, Williams worked as the General Manager for the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Natalie Williams is the daughter of Nate Williams. Her dad was also a professional basketball player. He played for teams like the Cincinnati Royals and Golden State Warriors.
Even though Natalie was born in California, she grew up in Utah. She went to Taylorsville High School there.
Natalie has two half-brothers and one half-sister. Both of her brothers played basketball. Her sister, however, chose to play tennis instead.
College Sports Career
Natalie attended the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). She graduated from UCLA in 1994. She was amazing at both basketball and volleyball during her time there.
She is the first woman ever to be named an All-America in both sports in the same year. This means she was recognized as one of the best college players in the country for both basketball and volleyball. She also helped UCLA win NCAA volleyball championships in 1990 and 1991. She won the Honda Sports Award twice, in 1992 and 1993. This award goes to the nation's best female college volleyball player.
ABL Basketball Career
After college, Natalie Williams played for the Portland Power. This team was part of the American Basketball League (ABL). She played there for three seasons.
In 1998, she was named the ABL's Most Valuable Player (M.V.P.). She was also chosen for the All-ABL first team twice. Natalie was known for being a great rebounder. In her first season, she led the league in rebounds, getting 12.5 rebounds per game. On January 9, 1998, she set a league record by grabbing 22 rebounds in one game!
WNBA Basketball Career
When the ABL league closed, Natalie joined the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Her hometown team, the Utah Starzz, picked her third overall in the 1999 WNBA draft.
She played with the Utah Starzz from 1999 to 2002. Then, in 2003, she was traded to the Indiana Fever. She played for the Fever until 2005.
Before the 2005 season, Natalie announced she would retire from playing. She wanted to focus on raising her adopted twin children. She also planned to become an assistant coach for a high school girls' basketball team. Fans remember her as one of the best rebounding power forwards in the WNBA's early years.
Playing for Team USA
Natalie Williams also played for the United States national basketball team. She helped her country win several gold medals!
- 1996 Jones Cup: She helped the US team win the gold medal with a perfect 9-0 record. She was the team's best rebounder.
- 1998 FIBA World Championship: Natalie was part of the team that won the gold medal in Germany. She was the second-highest scorer and the best rebounder on the team.
- 2000 Sydney Olympics: She won an Olympic Gold Medal as a member of the US women's basketball team in Australia.
- 2002 FIBA World Championship: She helped the US team win another gold medal in China. The team won all nine of their games.
Life After Playing Basketball
In 2002, Natalie opened her own restaurant called Natalie's in Salt Lake City, Utah. She also had the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch in Salt Lake City before the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Natalie looks up to Cheryl Miller as her basketball role model.
Career Statistics Highlights
Natalie Williams had a fantastic career in the WNBA. Here are some of her best numbers:
- Games Played: 221
- Total Points: 2,894 (averaging 13.1 points per game)
- Total Rebounds: 1,832 (averaging 8.3 rebounds per game)
- Total Assists: 308 (averaging 1.4 assists per game)
She was known for her strong rebounding and scoring abilities throughout her career.
See also
In Spanish: Natalie Williams para niños
