Yolanda Moore facts for kids

Yolanda Moore (born July 1, 1974) is an American former professional basketball player. She played as a guard. After her playing career, she worked as a radio analyst for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2007.

College Basketball Star

Yolanda Moore played college basketball at the University of Mississippi. She was a standout player, earning All-Southeastern Conference honors three times. This means she was one of the best players in her college league. In 2010, her amazing skills were recognized when she was added to the Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame.

Yolanda finished her studies in 1997. She earned a bachelor's degree with two main subjects: English and radio and television.

Playing in the WNBA

Yolanda Moore started her professional basketball career in the WNBA. She played for two different teams during her time in the league.

Houston Comets: Winning Championships

Yolanda began her WNBA journey with the Houston Comets. Her first game was on July 9, 1997. Even though the Comets lost that game, it was the start of something big.

In her first season, she played in 13 games. The Comets had a great record of 18 wins and 10 losses. They made it all the way to the WNBA Finals! Yolanda played in the championship game against the New York Liberty. The Comets won, and Yolanda earned her first WNBA championship ring.

The 1998 season was even better for Yolanda and the Comets. Yolanda played more minutes and scored more points. The Comets were incredibly strong, finishing with an amazing record of 27 wins and only 3 losses. They won the WNBA Finals again, beating the Phoenix Mercury. This gave Yolanda her second WNBA championship ring!

Orlando Miracle: A New Team

On April 6, 1999, Yolanda was chosen by the Orlando Miracle in a special "Expansion Draft." This draft happens when new teams join the league. In her first game with the Miracle, she played against her old team, the Houston Comets. The Miracle lost that game.

The Orlando Miracle finished the season with 15 wins and 17 losses. For the first time in her WNBA career, Yolanda's team did not make it to the playoffs.

After the 1999 season, Yolanda was drafted by another new team, the Miami Sol. However, she never played a game for the Sol. Her last WNBA game was with the Orlando Miracle on August 18, 1999. In that game, the Miracle beat the Detroit Shock.

Yolanda Moore finished her WNBA career as a two-time champion. She played a total of 66 games. She averaged about 2.1 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.

Coaching Basketball

After her playing career, Yolanda Moore became a basketball coach. She has coached at different levels, from high school to college.

High School Coaching

In 2007, Yolanda became an assistant coach for the boys' basketball team at DeSoto Central High School. This school is in Southaven, Mississippi. She also taught English there. In 2011, she coached the girls' basketball team at Heritage Academy in Columbus, Mississippi.

College Coaching Success

Yolanda also coached college basketball teams.

LSU Eunice Lady Bengals

From 2013 to 2014, Yolanda coached the Lady Bengals at LSU Eunice. She led the team to an impressive 26 wins and only 3 losses. Her team was known for its strong defense, ranking sixth nationally in how few points they allowed.

Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions

In April 2014, Yolanda became the head coach for the Southeastern Louisiana University women's basketball team. She coached there for two seasons.

Yolanda's Personal Life

Yolanda Moore is a mother of four children. She had her first child while she was still attending the University of Mississippi.

Besides her bachelor's degree from Mississippi, Yolanda also earned a master's degree. She studied workforce educational leadership at Alcorn State University. Later, she went on to pursue a Ph.D. at Mississippi State University. Her Ph.D. studies focused on instructional systems and workforce development.