Pamela McGee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Pamela McGee

Personal information
Born	(1962-12-01) December 1, 1962 (age 62) Flint, Michigan, U.S.
High school	Flint Northern (Flint, Michigan)
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
College	USC (1980–1984)
NBA Draft	1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Pro career	1984–1998
Career history
1984	Dallas Diamonds
1997	Sacramento Monarchs
1998	Los Angeles Sparks
Career highlights and awards
2x NCAA champion (1983, 1984) 2x Kodak All-American (1983, 1984) No. 30 retired by USC Trojans WABA champion (1984)
Medals Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1984 Los Angeles Team Pan American Games Gold 1983 Caracas Team FIBA World Championship for Women Silver 1983 Rio de Janeiro Team Jones Cup Gold 1984 Taipei Team

Pamela Denise McGee (born December 1, 1962) is an American former professional women's basketball player. She won an Olympic gold medal and is a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Pamela is also famous for being the mother of two professional basketball players: NBA star JaVale McGee and WNBL player Imani McGee-Stafford.

Pamela McGee's Early Life and High School Success

Pamela McGee grew up in Flint, Michigan. She went to Flint Northern High School. There, she was an amazing student and athlete. She was an Academic All-American. This means she was excellent in both her studies and sports.

Pamela won two state championships in basketball. She also won two state championships in track and field. In track, she set a state record in the shotput event. She was even named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the Parade All-American game. This game featured the best young players in the country.

College Basketball Champion

After high school, Pamela McGee went to the University of Southern California (USC). She continued her basketball success there. She was an All-American player.

Pamela helped her team win two NCAA Championships in a row. Her twin sister, Paula, was also on the team. Other famous teammates included Cynthia Cooper and Cheryl Miller.

Playing for Team USA

Pamela McGee played for the United States national basketball team. She represented her country in several big international competitions.

Winning Gold at the Pan American Games

In 1983, Pamela was chosen for the US team. They played in the Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela. The team won all five of their games. This earned them the gold medal. Pamela scored about 3.4 points per game during this event.

Earning Silver at the World Championships

Pamela also played in the 1983 World Championships. These games were held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The US team won six games. However, they lost two close games to the Soviet Union.

In one game, the US team was ahead at halftime. But the Soviets came back to win by just one point. The final game for the gold medal was also very close. It was tied with only seconds left. The Soviet team scored at the last moment to win the gold. The US team proudly took home the silver medal. Pamela averaged 4.2 points per game in this tournament.

Pre-Olympic Practice and Another Gold

In 1984, the US national team went to Taipei, Taiwan. They played in the William Jones Cup competition. This was practice for the upcoming Olympics. The team easily won all eight of their games. They won by almost 50 points per game on average. Pamela scored about 6.5 points per game.

Olympic Gold Medalist

Pamela then joined the national team for the 1984 Olympics. The Olympics were held in Los Angeles that year. The team played six games and won every single one. This amazing performance earned them the gold medal! Pamela averaged 6.2 points per game during the Olympics.

Pamela McGee's Professional Basketball Career

After her college and Olympic success, Pamela McGee became a professional basketball player.

Playing in the WABA and Overseas

Pamela started her pro career with the Dallas Diamonds. This was in the Women's American Basketball Association (WABA). Her sister Paula also played on this team.

Later, Pamela played basketball in other countries. She played in Brazil, Spain, and Italy. She was a four-time All-Star in the Italian League. She also won championships in all three countries where she played.

Joining the WNBA

On April 28, 1997, Pamela McGee was a top pick in the first-ever 1997 WNBA Draft. The Sacramento Monarchs chose her as the second overall pick. Her first WNBA game was on June 21, 1997. The Monarchs won against the Utah Starzz. Pamela scored 6 points and grabbed 3 rebounds in that game.

She played her rookie season with the Monarchs. She averaged 10.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. On April 9, 1998, she was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks. Her first game with the Sparks was on June 11, 1998. The Sparks won against the Utah Starzz. Pamela scored 4 points and had 3 rebounds.

Pamela played her second and final WNBA season with the Sparks. She averaged 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds. Her last WNBA game was on August 19, 1998. The Sparks lost to the Houston Comets.

Hall of Fame Recognition

For all her amazing achievements in college, professional basketball, and the Olympics, Pamela McGee was honored. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

Pamela McGee's Statistics

Here are some of Pamela McGee's basketball statistics from her college and WNBA careers.

College Statistics

WNBA Statistics

Pamela McGee's Family and Life After Basketball

Pamela McGee lives in Annandale, Virginia. She has two children who are also professional basketball players. Her daughter, Imani McGee-Stafford, played in the WNBA and now plays for the Perth Lynx in Australia. Her son, JaVale McGee, is an NBA player and a champion.

Pamela McGee made history as the first WNBA player to have a child play in both the NBA and WNBA. JaVale McGee is also the first son of a WNBA player to play in the NBA. Interestingly, both Pamela and JaVale played professionally for teams in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. They both also won Olympic gold medals for the United States.

Pamela McGee's husband, "Big" George Montgomery, also played basketball. He played at the University of Illinois in the early 1980s. He was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1985, but he did not play in the NBA.

While playing basketball at USC, Pamela earned a degree in economics. She managed her international basketball career while raising her children. She even homeschooled them, coached, and taught school during her off-seasons.

In 2014, Pamela and JaVale starred in a reality TV show called Mom's Got Game. In 2021, JaVale won an Olympic gold medal for USA Basketball. This made Pamela and JaVale the first mother-and-son duo to both win Olympic gold medals.

See also

In Spanish: Pamela McGee para niños