Courtney Paris
Encyclopedia
Courtney Paris most recently played for the Atlanta Dream
of the WNBA, she was the senior starting center for the University of Oklahoma
women's basketball team. Her twin sister, player Ashley Paris
, was also a Sooner
.
, Paris has four brothers: Wayne, David, Austin and Brandon. She has two half-brothers (Bubba's sons) William III and Christian. Her parents are Lynne Gray and former NFL
player William "Bubba" Paris
.
Paris transferred from Modesto Christian High School to Millennium High School in Piedmont, California
, at the start of the 2002–2003 year. Paris was named a WBCA
All-American. She participated in the 2005 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored three points. Paris chose Oklahoma over UConn, California, Texas, UCLA, and Syracuse.
in a single season, with 539. She holds the NCAA record for most consecutive double-doubles at 112 games, a streak which ended on February 2, 2009 against Pat Summitt and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers; however, Oklahoma won the game, denying Summitt her 1000th career victory. On February 8, 2009, Paris broke the record for most career NCAA Division I rebounds, formerly held by Wanda Ford of Drake
. In the Sooners' victory in the semifinals of the Oklahoma City Regional in the 2009 NCAA Tournament
against Pitt
on March 29, she became the first player in U.S. college basketball history—regardless of sex, governing body, or division—with 2,500 points and 2,000 rebounds in her career.
Paris also became the first freshman named to the Associated Press
All-American team in 2006, and again made the team in 2007. In April 2007, Paris was named the 2007 Associated Press Women's basketball player of the year. She is the first sophomore ever to win the AP Player of the year award. She won All-American honors again her junior year, and as a senior she became the first four-time first-team All-American in women's basketball history. She also won the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
, recognizing her as the nation's top senior women's basketball player.
At Oklahoma, Paris majored in journalism.
Paris had announced that if Oklahoma did not win the NCAA championship in 2009, her final year, she would repay her scholarship—worth about $64,000 in out-of-state tuition—to the university. She said that without a championship, "I don’t feel like I’ve earned it.”
On Sunday April 5, 2009, Oklahoma lost to the Louisville Cardinals 61–59. In a post-game interview with ESPN, Paris was asked if she would make do on her promise to repay her $64,000 basketball scholarship. She replied that she would but that it would take her some time. A week later, the university said that she did not have to repay her scholarship.
at No. 7 in the 2009 WNBA Draft
and her sister was drafted to the Los Angeles Sparks
.
On December 14, 2009 the WNBA held a dispersal draft for the Monarchs' players. Courtney was taken with the fourth pick by the Chicago Sky
. On May 12, 2010, Paris was waived by the Sky.
On February 8, 2011 she signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Sparks
and on June 2, she was waived.
Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream is a professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2008 WNBA season began. The team is owned by Dream Too LLC, which is composed of two Atlanta...
of the WNBA, she was the senior starting center for the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
women's basketball team. Her twin sister, player Ashley Paris
Ashley Paris
Ashley Paris is a WNBA player for the Atlanta Dream. She is the twin sister of Courtney Paris, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA. She has been nationally recognized for her basketball achievements at the University of Oklahoma...
, was also a Sooner
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
.
Early life
In addition to being a twinParis twins
The Paris twins are Courtney and Ashley Paris, known for their achievements in basketball. They were born September 21, 1987. Their father is former San Francisco 49ers lineman William "Bubba" Paris...
, Paris has four brothers: Wayne, David, Austin and Brandon. She has two half-brothers (Bubba's sons) William III and Christian. Her parents are Lynne Gray and former NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player William "Bubba" Paris
Bubba Paris
William "Bubba" Paris is a former professional American football offensive lineman who played for the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL from 1983 to 1990. He was a member of three 49er teams that won the Super Bowl...
.
Paris transferred from Modesto Christian High School to Millennium High School in Piedmont, California
Piedmont, California
Piedmont is a small, affluent city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is surrounded by the city of Oakland. The population was 10,667 at the 2010 census. Piedmont was incorporated in 1907 and was developed significantly in the 1920s and 1930s...
, at the start of the 2002–2003 year. Paris was named a WBCA
Women's Basketball Coaches Association
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is an association of coaches of women's basketball teams at all levels.The organization was formed in 1981, with the goal of addressing the needs of women's basketball coaches.The mission of the WBCA is:...
All-American. She participated in the 2005 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored three points. Paris chose Oklahoma over UConn, California, Texas, UCLA, and Syracuse.
College career
Paris is the only player in NCAA history, male or female, to have 700 points, 500 rebounds, and 100 blocks in a season. In 2005–06, Paris set the women's NCAA record for reboundsRebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
in a single season, with 539. She holds the NCAA record for most consecutive double-doubles at 112 games, a streak which ended on February 2, 2009 against Pat Summitt and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers; however, Oklahoma won the game, denying Summitt her 1000th career victory. On February 8, 2009, Paris broke the record for most career NCAA Division I rebounds, formerly held by Wanda Ford of Drake
Drake Bulldogs
The Drake Bulldogs are the athletic teams of Drake University. Athletic scholarships are offered in basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, track and field, tennis, and volleyball. However, all football players are walk-ons as Drake does not offer athletic scholarships in that sport...
. In the Sooners' victory in the semifinals of the Oklahoma City Regional in the 2009 NCAA Tournament
2009 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The regionals, held in the city rather than the geographic area as a practice that has been used since 2005, were held there from March 28 to 31 at these sites:...
against Pitt
Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball
Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate women's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt women's basketball team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their home games...
on March 29, she became the first player in U.S. college basketball history—regardless of sex, governing body, or division—with 2,500 points and 2,000 rebounds in her career.
Paris also became the first freshman named to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
All-American team in 2006, and again made the team in 2007. In April 2007, Paris was named the 2007 Associated Press Women's basketball player of the year. She is the first sophomore ever to win the AP Player of the year award. She won All-American honors again her junior year, and as a senior she became the first four-time first-team All-American in women's basketball history. She also won the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award is an annual college athletic award in the NCAA Division I. Qualified competitors must be seniors who have remained within their NCAA Division I college for a four-year commitment and achieved excellence in one of nine sports.....
, recognizing her as the nation's top senior women's basketball player.
At Oklahoma, Paris majored in journalism.
Paris had announced that if Oklahoma did not win the NCAA championship in 2009, her final year, she would repay her scholarship—worth about $64,000 in out-of-state tuition—to the university. She said that without a championship, "I don’t feel like I’ve earned it.”
On Sunday April 5, 2009, Oklahoma lost to the Louisville Cardinals 61–59. In a post-game interview with ESPN, Paris was asked if she would make do on her promise to repay her $64,000 basketball scholarship. She replied that she would but that it would take her some time. A week later, the university said that she did not have to repay her scholarship.
Pro career
Paris was selected by the Sacramento MonarchsSacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
at No. 7 in the 2009 WNBA Draft
2009 WNBA Draft
The 2009 WNBA Draft is the league's annual process for determining which teams receive the rights to negotiate with players entering the league. The draft was held on April 9, 2009. The first round was shown on ESPN2 at 3:00pm ET, while the second and third rounds were shown on ESPNU and NBA TV at...
and her sister was drafted to the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
.
On December 14, 2009 the WNBA held a dispersal draft for the Monarchs' players. Courtney was taken with the fourth pick by the Chicago Sky
Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky is a professional basketball team based in Rosemont, Illinois, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2006 WNBA season began. The team is owned by Michael J. Alter and Margaret Stender...
. On May 12, 2010, Paris was waived by the Sky.
On February 8, 2011 she signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
and on June 2, she was waived.