Debbie Black
Encyclopedia
Debbie Black is an assistant coach for the Ohio State University
's women's basketball
team and a former professional basketball
player. During her professional career, Black played for the Women's National Basketball League
in Australia, the American Basketball League
and the Women's National Basketball Association
. She retired from the Connecticut Sun
of the WNBA in 2005.
championships and an Atlantic 10 Conference title. A multi-sport athlete, Black earned 12 varsity letter
s in basketball, field hockey
, and softball
.
. She helped the team win national titles in 1991 and 1995
in 2nd round of the 1999 WNBA Draft
. She then played for the Miami Sol
from 2000 to 2002. While playing for the Sol, she earned the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
at the age of 35. In 2003, Black was acquired by the Connecticut Sun
during the dispersal draft. She played for the Sun until her retirement in 2005.
Throughout Black's basketball career, her energy, intensity, and toughness were well-known among her teammates and opponents alike. Her relentless defense earned her the nickname "The Pest."
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
's women's basketball
Women's basketball
Women's basketball is one of the few women's sports that developed in tandem with its men's counterpart. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast , in large part via women's colleges...
team and a former professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. During her professional career, Black played for the Women's National Basketball League
Women's National Basketball League
The Women's National Basketball League is the pre-eminent women's professional basketball league in Australia. It currently is composed of ten teams. The league was founded in 1981 and is the women's counterpart to the National Basketball League...
in Australia, the American Basketball League
American Basketball League (1996-1998)
The American Basketball League, often abbreviated to the ABL of 1996 was an independent professional basketball league for women in the United States. At the same time the ABL was being formed, the National Basketball Association was creating the Women's National Basketball Association...
and the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
. She retired from the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
of the WNBA in 2005.
College years
Black played for St. Joseph's University and graduated in 1988. She is a 1984 graduate of Archbishop Wood High School. While there she helped lead the Hawks to two Philadelphia Big 5Philadelphia Big 5
The Philadelphia Big 5 is an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It is not a conference; indeed the five schools that are members of the Big 5 are members of three separate conferences: the Atlantic 10, the Big East, and the Ivy League.The five...
championships and an Atlantic 10 Conference title. A multi-sport athlete, Black earned 12 varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
s in basketball, field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
, and softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
.
WNBL career
Black played eight seasons with the Tasmanian Islanders (1989–96) of the WNBL in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. She helped the team win national titles in 1991 and 1995
ABL career
Black played for the Colorado Xplosion and was also an All-Star selection for the ABL. Black is the only professional female basketball player to have accomplished, and is one of very few basketball players (male or female) ever to accomplish a quadruple double (10 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists, 10 steals); she accomplished this feat against the Atlanta Glory on Dec. 8, 1996. She received Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1997.WNBA career
Black was drafted 15th overall by the Utah StarzzUtah Starzz
The Utah Starzz were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They began play in the 1997 WNBA season as one of the league's eight original teams. The Starzz relocated, in 2003, to San Antonio, Texas where the team became the San Antonio Silver Stars...
in 2nd round of the 1999 WNBA Draft
1999 WNBA Draft
1999 WNBA Draft - 6 April 1999*On September 15, 1998, two more players were assigned prior to the expansion draft.*On April 6, 1999 a WNBA expansion draft took place.*On May 3, 1999 another round of player allocation took place....
. She then played for the Miami Sol
Miami Sol
The Miami Sol was a women's basketball team which joined the Women's National Basketball Association in 2000. They played their games at American Airlines Arena. The team folded after the 2002 season because of financial problems...
from 2000 to 2002. While playing for the Sol, she earned the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
The Women's National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the league's inaugural season, to the top defensive player of the regular season...
at the age of 35. In 2003, Black was acquired by the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
during the dispersal draft. She played for the Sun until her retirement in 2005.
Throughout Black's basketball career, her energy, intensity, and toughness were well-known among her teammates and opponents alike. Her relentless defense earned her the nickname "The Pest."
St. Joseph's University
At graduation:- All-time career leader in assists (718)
- All-time career leader in steals (572)
- All-Atlantic 10 Conference, First Team, 1988
- All-District, First Team, 1988
- All-League, Second-team, 1986
- All-Rookie team, 1985.
- Inducted into the St. Joseph's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000
- Inducted into the Philadelphia Big Five Hall of Fame, 1995
- Inducted into the St. Joseph's Basketball Hall of Fame, 1994
Professional
At retirement:- WNBA - 8th in career steals (315)
- WNBA - 10th in career assists (612)
- WNBA - 1st in career steal-to-turnover ratio
- WNBA - 4th in career steals per game (2.26)
- WNBA - Defensive Player of the Year, 2001
- ABL - All-time leader in steals (330)
- ABL - 2nd all-time in assists (608)
- ABL - Defensive Player of the Year, 1997
Trivia
- At 5' 2.5", she is the shortest player in the WNBA, just half an inch taller than Los Angeles SparksLos Angeles SparksThe 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...
point guard Shannon BobbittShannon BobbittShannon Denise Bobbitt is an American professional basketball player for the WNBA's Indiana Fever. One of eight children and a native of the Bronx, New York Bobbitt honed her basketball skills on the neighborhood project courts of Harlem...
and just edging out Temeka JohnsonTemeka JohnsonTemeka Rochelle Johnson is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. Her primary position is point guard.-College years:... - She is a half inch shorter than the shortest NBA player in history, Muggsy BoguesMuggsy BoguesTyrone Curtis "Muggsy" Bogues is a retired American professional basketball player and former head coach of the now-defunct Charlotte Sting of the Women's National Basketball Association . The shortest player ever to play in the NBA, the Bogues played point guard for four teams during his...
. - During 1999 she played in Utah StarzzUtah StarzzThe Utah Starzz were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They began play in the 1997 WNBA season as one of the league's eight original teams. The Starzz relocated, in 2003, to San Antonio, Texas where the team became the San Antonio Silver Stars...
with tallest WNBA player 7'2" Małgorzata DydekMargo DydekMałgorzata Dydek , known as Margo Dydek in the United States, was a Polish international professional basketball player. Standing tall, she was famous for being the tallest active professional female basketball player in the world...
.