Riquna Williams facts for kids
Williams with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2017
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| Point guard / shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 28, 1990 Pahokee, Florida, U.S. |
| High school | Pahokee (Pahokee, Florida) |
| Listed height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Listed weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Miami (Florida) (2008–2012) |
| NBA Draft | 2012 / Round: 2 / Pick: 17th overall |
| Selected by the Tulsa Shock | |
| Pro career | 2012–present |
| Career history | |
| 2012–2015 | Tulsa Shock |
| 2012–2013 | Good Angels Košice |
| 2013–2014 | Hapoel Rishon Lezion |
| 2014 | Virtus Eirene Ragusa |
| 2015 | Adana ASKİ SK |
| 2015–2016 | Al Nasr Sports Club |
| 2016–2017 | Osmaniye GSK |
| 2017–2020 | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2017–2018 | Reyer Venezia |
| 2019 | Hatay Büyükşehir Belediyespor |
| 2019–2020 | Elazığ İl Özel İdarespor |
| 2020–2021 | OGM Ormanspor |
| 2021–2023 | Las Vegas Aces |
| 2021–2022 | Galatasaray |
| 2022–2023 | OGM Ormanspor |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Riquna "Bay Bay" Williams, born on May 28, 1990, is an American basketball player. She is currently a free agent. Riquna played college basketball for the Miami Hurricanes at the University of Miami. There, she studied sports administration.
Riquna is the youngest of five children. Her nickname is Bay Bay. In high school, she was a star player. During her senior year at Pahokee High School, she scored an average of 32.5 points per game. She was noticed by scouts while playing for Team Breakdown.
When she started at the University of Miami, she continued to shine. As a freshman, she averaged 8.7 points per game. She even scored 23 points in one game against Clemson. By her sophomore year, Riquna was one of the best scorers in college basketball. She averaged 19.6 points per game. She was also named to the All-ACC Second Team.
Riquna Williams was considered for the John R. Wooden Award. This award goes to the best college basketball player each year.
College Basketball Journey
Riquna Williams played for the Miami Hurricanes during her college career. She showed great skill and improved each year. Her statistics highlight her growth as a player.
College Statistics Overview
Source
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | Points | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | Miami (Florida) | 26 | 227 | 29.9 | 21.6 | 77.0 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 8.7 |
| 2009–10 | Miami (Florida) | 36 | 707 | 40.3 | 36.1 | 73.6 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 19.6 |
| 2010–11 | Miami (Florida) | 33 | 717 | 39.7 | 29.8 | 77.3 | 5.3 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 21.7° |
| 2011–12 | Miami (Florida) | 30 | 497 | 39.7 | 36.8 | 80.4 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 16.6 |
| Career | Miami (Florida) | 125 | 2148 | 38.6 | 32.4 | 76.9 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 17.2 |
WNBA Professional Career
Riquna Williams was drafted into the WNBA in 2012. She was the 17th pick overall. The Tulsa Shock selected her in the second round.
Early Years with Tulsa Shock
In her first WNBA season, Riquna played as a backup point guard. She averaged 10.5 points per game. She was recognized for her strong start. By the end of the season, she was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team.
The 2013 season was a breakout year for Williams. She averaged a career-high 15.6 points per game. She achieved this even though she started only 6 of 27 games. On September 8, 2013, Riquna had an amazing game. She scored 51 points against the San Antonio Silver Stars. This set a new WNBA record for most points in a single game at the time. She also tied the record for most three-pointers in a game with 8. After this incredible performance, she won the 2013 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award. This award goes to the best player who usually comes off the bench.
Riquna faced an injury in 2014. She played only 11 games before a knee injury sidelined her. She had surgery and missed the rest of the season.
In 2015, Williams returned healthy. She continued to play well, matching her career-high scoring average. For the first time, she was voted a WNBA All-Star. When teammate Skylar Diggins was injured, Riquna stepped up. She became the starting point guard. She helped the Shock reach the playoffs. They finished with an 18–16 record. The Shock were eliminated by the Phoenix Mercury in the first round.
Time with Los Angeles Sparks
Before the 2016 season, Riquna was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks. However, she suffered a serious injury. She tore her left achilles tendon while playing overseas. This injury required surgery. It kept her from playing the entire 2016 WNBA season. Even without Williams, the Sparks won the 2016 WNBA Finals. They defeated the Minnesota Lynx to become champions.
Riquna returned from her injury in the 2017 season. She played off the bench. In her first game with the Sparks on May 13, 2017, she had 1 rebound and 1 assist. On June 18, 2017, she scored a season-high 15 points. This helped the Sparks win against the Mercury. On August 6, 2017, she strained her left knee. She missed a few games but returned for the playoffs. The Sparks finished second in the league. They reached the Finals again, playing the Lynx. However, the Sparks lost in five games.
On June 24, 2018, Williams scored 25 points off the bench. She made 7 three-pointers in a win against the New York Liberty. Towards the end of the 2018 season, she became the starting point guard for the playoffs. The Sparks finished as the sixth seed. They beat the Minnesota Lynx in the first round. But they lost to the Washington Mystics in the second round.
Riquna re-signed with the Sparks on May 15, 2019. She played 23 games that season, starting 14 of them. The Sparks finished as the third seed. They beat the Seattle Storm in the second round. However, they were defeated by the Connecticut Sun in the semi-finals.
The 2020 WNBA season was different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season was shorter and played in a "bubble" at IMG Academy. Williams played 21 games, starting 4. She achieved career-high percentages for field goals and three-pointers. The Sparks finished as the third seed. They lost to the Connecticut Sun again in the second round.
Joining Las Vegas Aces
In February 2021, Riquna Williams signed a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Aces. She continued her career with the Aces, contributing to their success. She helped the team win two WNBA championships.
WNBA Statistics Overview
| Legend | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | RPG | Rebounds per game |
| APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
| TO | Turnovers per game | FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| Bold | Career high | ° | League leader | ||||
| † | Denotes seasons in which Williams won a WNBA championship |
Regular Season Performance
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Tulsa | 33 | 3 | 20.3 | .344 | .325 | .824 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 10.5 |
| 2013 | Tulsa | 27 | 6 | 22.7 | .397 | .381 | .900 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 15.6 |
| 2014 | Tulsa | 11 | 2 | 15.8 | .406 | .222 | .933 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 6.9 |
| 2015 | Tulsa | 29 | 20 | 28.0 | .352 | .346 | .850 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 15.6 |
| 2017 | Los Angeles | 23 | 6 | 17.7 | .321 | .270 | .864 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 6.4 |
| 2018 | Los Angeles | 33 | 3 | 16.5 | .407 | .375 | .800 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 7.1 |
| 2019 | Los Angeles | 23 | 14 | 25.8 | .384 | .391 | .880 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 12.5 |
| 2020 | Los Angeles | 21 | 4 | 21.1 | .435 | .422 | .889 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 10.5 |
| 2021 | Las Vegas | 32 | 32 | 26.0 | .444 | .417 | .920 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 10.5 |
| 2022† | Las Vegas | 21 | 0 | 18.0 | .381 | .366 | .762 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 6.7 |
| Career | 10 years, 3 teams | 253 | 90 | 21.6 | .385 | .367 | .862 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 10.5 |
Playoffs Performance
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Tulsa | 1 | 0 | 15.6 | .167 | .000 | .000 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| 2017 | Los Angeles | 7 | 0 | 5.2 | .267 | .375 | .667 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.9 |
| 2018 | Los Angeles | 2 | 2 | 24.9 | .381 | .250 | 1.000 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 10.5 |
| 2019 | Los Angeles | 4 | 4 | 23.9 | .282 | .227 | .250 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 7.0 |
| 2020 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0 | 10.0 | .250 | .000 | .000 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| 2021 | Las Vegas | 5 | 5 | 27.4 | .551 | .345 | 1.000 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 14.4 |
| 2022† | Las Vegas | 10 | 0 | 20.3 | .348 | .358 | 1.000 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 6.9 |
| Career | 7 years, 3 teams | 30 | 11 | 18.2 | .374 | .313 | .789 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 6.9 |
Playing Basketball Overseas
Riquna Williams also played basketball in other countries during the WNBA off-season. This allowed her to keep her skills sharp.
European and Middle Eastern Teams
In the 2012-13 off-season, Williams played for Good Angels Košice in Slovakia. She also played for Hapoel Rishon Lezion in Israel. The next off-season (2013-14), she played for Virtus Eirene Ragusa in Italy. In the 2015-16 off-season, she played in Dubai for the Al Nasr Sports Club. It was there that she suffered her achilles injury. In July 2017, Williams signed with Reyer Venezia for the 2017-18 off-season.
Playing in Turkey
In 2019, Williams joined Elazığ İl Özel İdarespor in the Turkish league. This was for the 2019-20 off-season. In July 2020, she signed with OGM Ormanspor, another Turkish team. On May 21, 2021, she signed a one-year contract with Galatasaray.
See also
In Spanish: Riquna Williams para niños
