Tamara James facts for kids
| Small forward | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 13, 1984 Dania, Florida |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | South Broward (Hollywood, Florida) |
| Listed height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Listed weight | 160 lb (73 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Miami (Florida) (2002–2006) |
| NBA Draft | 2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall |
| Selected by the Washington Mystics | |
| Pro career | 2006–2007 |
| Career history | |
| 2006–2007 | Washington Mystics |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Tamara James (born June 13, 1984) is an amazing American athlete who used to play professional basketball. She was a player for the WNBA's Washington Mystics. Tamara went to the University of Miami, where she studied liberal arts and theater. She was chosen by the Mystics in the first round of the 2006 WNBA draft, which means she was one of the top players picked that year!
Tamara played professional basketball for nine years. Most of her career was spent playing in other countries, especially in Israel. While playing in Israel, she helped her team, Maccabi Bnot Ashdod, win two Cup Championships and one League Championship. She became a mom in 2011. In 2014, she played for Elitzur Ramla and won more championships.
After her basketball career, Tamara took on a new leadership role. On November 8, 2016, she was elected Mayor of Dania Beach, Florida. Dania Beach is the oldest community in Broward County, Florida.
Contents
Tamara James: A Basketball Star
Tamara James was a fantastic basketball player from a young age. She showed great talent in high school and then went on to play for the University of Miami.
College Basketball Journey
At the University of Miami, Tamara was a standout player. She played for the Miami Hurricanes from 2002 to 2006. During her college years, she earned many awards. She was named to the First-team All-ACC twice, in 2005 and 2006. Before that, she was on the First-team All-Big East in 2004. She even made the Big East All-Freshman Team in 2003, showing her skill right from the start!
Playing in the WNBA
In 2006, Tamara's dream of playing professional basketball came true. She was picked eighth overall in the 2006 WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics. The WNBA is the top women's professional basketball league in the United States. She played for the Mystics for two seasons, in 2006 and 2007.
Success Playing Overseas
After her time in the WNBA, Tamara continued her professional career by playing basketball in other countries. She spent nine years playing overseas, mostly in Israel. Playing internationally allowed her to experience different cultures and continue her passion for basketball. She had great success, winning multiple championships with her teams, like Maccabi Bnot Ashdod and Elitzur Ramla.
Becoming a Leader: Mayor of Dania Beach
After a successful career in basketball, Tamara James decided to serve her community in a different way. She entered politics and became a mayor!
What Does a Mayor Do?
A mayor is the head of a city or town's government. They are elected by the people who live there. The mayor's job is to lead the city, make important decisions, and work to improve the lives of everyone in the community. This can include things like managing city services, planning for the future, and representing the city to others.
Tamara James was elected Mayor of Dania Beach, Florida, in November 2016. This was a big step from the basketball court to leading a city! Dania Beach is a historic place, known as the oldest community in Broward County, Florida. As mayor, Tamara helps make sure Dania Beach is a great place for its residents.
