Helen Darling
Encyclopedia
Helen Marie Darling is an American professional basketball player, who played most recently for the San Antonio Silver Stars
of the Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA); as of May 15, 2011 Darling was an unsigned free agent.
In her WNBA career, Darling has more than 1,000 career points, 650 assists and 250 career steals and has appeared in 19 career WNBA playoff games.
Darling attended Brookhaven High School (Columbus, Ohio)
where she was named a High School All-American by the WBCA
. She participated in the WBCA High School All-America Game in 1995, scoring six points.
Over the course of her college career at Penn State, Darling averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.49 steals in 126 games and is the only player in Penn State history to amass 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 600 assists for her career. Darling is also the only player in Penn State history to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors. A four-year starting point guard, she helped lead the Penn State Lady Lions to their first and only Final Four
appearance in 2000. Darling earned her degree in education from Penn State in December 2001. She received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association
as the best senior player under 5 ft 8 in (1.7 m) in 2000.
in the second round (No. 17 overall) of the 2000 WNBA Draft
. In her rookie season, Darling played in all 32 regular season games recording 4.8 points, 2.0 assists and 1.15 steals. For the playoffs she averaged 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in six Rockers playoff games.
During the 2001 WNBA season, Darling was one of only two Rockers players to start all 32 regular season games helping the Rockers earn the No.1 seed in the Eastern conference. Darling finished the season averaging 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals. In the three games against Charlotte during the playoffs, Darling averaged 6.0 points, 6.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals.
During the 2002 WNBA season, Darling did not play due to pregnancy.
During the 2003 WNBA season, Darling started all 34 games for Cleveland finishing the season with 128 assists, the second-highest single season total in Rockers history and averaging 4.1 points, 3.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds in 24.5 minutes.
During the 2004 WNBA season, Darling played in 33 games and started in the last 22 games of the regular season for the Lynx averaging 4.2 points, 3.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 21.4 minutes. Helping Minnesota tie the Seattle Storm for 3rd seed in the Western Conference.
in exchange for the Sting's second-round pick (17th overall) in the 2005 WNBA Draft.
During the 2005 WNBA season, Darling played 31 games for Charlotte, starting the last 11, as a starter Darling, averaged 7.0 points and 4.5 assists in 31.0 minutes, compared to 1.5 points and 1.3 assists in 17.6 minutes off the bench. Missed only one game due to a left hamstring strain.
During the 2006 WNBA season, Darling started all 29 regular season games averaging 4.7 points, 3.0 assists and 1.13 steals per game.
During the 2007 WNBA season, Darling started 19 regular season games and appeared in 33 recording 103 assists and 45 steals. On August 7 Darling earned her 1,000th career point in a game against the Washington Mystics
.
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
of 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...
(WNBA); as of May 15, 2011 Darling was an unsigned free agent.
In her WNBA career, Darling has more than 1,000 career points, 650 assists and 250 career steals and has appeared in 19 career WNBA playoff games.
Early life
Darling is the daughter of Patricia Smith and Donald Darling, and has three brothers Donald, Ronald and Dewand Darling and one sister Alicia Smith. She is also the mother of triplets two boys Ja-Juan, Jalen and a girl Nevaeh, born on April 13, 2002.Darling attended Brookhaven High School (Columbus, Ohio)
Brookhaven High School (Columbus, Ohio)
Brookhaven High School is a public high school located on the northeast side of Columbus, Ohio. The school is a part of the Columbus City Schools system and opened in 1963. The list of notable alumni includes baseball player Paul O'Neill, football player Terry Glenn and basketball player Helen...
where she was named a High School All-American by the 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:...
. She participated in the WBCA High School All-America Game in 1995, scoring six points.
Over the course of her college career at Penn State, Darling averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.49 steals in 126 games and is the only player in Penn State history to amass 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 600 assists for her career. Darling is also the only player in Penn State history to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors. A four-year starting point guard, she helped lead the Penn State Lady Lions to their first and only Final Four
2000 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
-Midwest Regional - Portland, OR:-Mideast Regional - Memphis, TN:-West Regional - Kansas City, MO:-Final Four - Philadelphia, PA :-See also:* 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament* 2000 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament- Notes :...
appearance in 2000. Darling earned her degree in education from Penn State in December 2001. She received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award is an annual college basketball award in the United States intended to honor shorter–than–average players who excel on the court despite their size. The award, named in honor of James Naismith's daughter–in–law, was established for men in 1969 and for women in 1984...
from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association
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:...
as the best senior player under 5 ft 8 in (1.7 m) in 2000.
Cleveland Rockers
On April 25, 2000, Darling was drafted by the Cleveland RockersCleveland Rockers
This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which...
in the second round (No. 17 overall) of the 2000 WNBA Draft
2000 WNBA Draft
2000 WNBA Draft - 25 April 2000*On December 15, 1999, a WNBA expansion draft took place.*On April 25, 2000 the regular WNBA draft took place.-Expansion Draft:-College draft:-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:...
. In her rookie season, Darling played in all 32 regular season games recording 4.8 points, 2.0 assists and 1.15 steals. For the playoffs she averaged 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in six Rockers playoff games.
During the 2001 WNBA season, Darling was one of only two Rockers players to start all 32 regular season games helping the Rockers earn the No.1 seed in the Eastern conference. Darling finished the season averaging 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals. In the three games against Charlotte during the playoffs, Darling averaged 6.0 points, 6.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals.
During the 2002 WNBA season, Darling did not play due to pregnancy.
During the 2003 WNBA season, Darling started all 34 games for Cleveland finishing the season with 128 assists, the second-highest single season total in Rockers history and averaging 4.1 points, 3.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds in 24.5 minutes.
Minnesota Lynx
After the 2003 WNBA season the Cleveland Rockers decided to fold, a dispersal draft was held. The Minnesota Lynx selected Darling with their seventh pick.During the 2004 WNBA season, Darling played in 33 games and started in the last 22 games of the regular season for the Lynx averaging 4.2 points, 3.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 21.4 minutes. Helping Minnesota tie the Seattle Storm for 3rd seed in the Western Conference.
Charlotte Sting
After only one season with the Lynx, Darling was traded by Minnesota along with the Lynx's second-round pick (24th overall) in the 2005 WNBA Draft to the Charlotte StingCharlotte Sting
The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007....
in exchange for the Sting's second-round pick (17th overall) in the 2005 WNBA Draft.
During the 2005 WNBA season, Darling played 31 games for Charlotte, starting the last 11, as a starter Darling, averaged 7.0 points and 4.5 assists in 31.0 minutes, compared to 1.5 points and 1.3 assists in 17.6 minutes off the bench. Missed only one game due to a left hamstring strain.
During the 2006 WNBA season, Darling started all 29 regular season games averaging 4.7 points, 3.0 assists and 1.13 steals per game.
San Antonio Silver Stars
After a disappointing last place performance and poor attendance for the Sting, the team folded and a dispersal draft was held. The San Antonio Silver Stars selected Darling with their fourth pick. Reuniting Darling with Coach Dan Hughes who drafted her from Penn state for the Cleveland Rockers in 2000.During the 2007 WNBA season, Darling started 19 regular season games and appeared in 33 recording 103 assists and 45 steals. On August 7 Darling earned her 1,000th career point in a game against the Washington Mystics
Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
.
Off the court
Darling has been very active in every community for which she plays so much so that she received the WNBA Community Assistant Award in 2003 for her participation in the community. Darling has also served as a national spokesperson for the March of Dimes. Darling has recently published her first children's book entitled Hide 'n Seek Mondays. The book is the first in a series of seven. Helen is a mother of three, triplets, sons JaJuan and Jalen and daughter Neveah.WNBA career statistics
- Correct as of September 2011
| Regular season | Team | G | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | OFF | DEF | RPG | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 2000 WNBA season -External links:**... |
Cleveland | 32 | 0 | 17.4 | 0.313 | 0.342 | 0.738 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.8 |
| 2001 2001 WNBA season -External links:**... |
Cleveland | 32 | 32 | 24.3 | 0.355 | 0.329 | 0.764 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 6.1 |
| 2003 2003 WNBA season -External links:***... |
Cleveland | 34 | 34 | 24.5 | 0.308 | 0.324 | 0.732 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
| 2004 2004 WNBA season -External links:***... |
Minnesota | 33 | 22 | 21.4 | 0.331 | 0.218 | 0.667 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 4.2 |
| 2005 2005 WNBA season -External links:***... |
Charlotte | 31 | 11 | 19.4 | 0.307 | 0.313 | 0.741 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 3.5 |
| 2006 2006 WNBA season -External links:*******... |
Charlotte | 29 | 29 | 21.2 | 0.370 | 0.383 | 0.691 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 5.4 |
| 2007 2007 WNBA season -External links:* * * * * * * *... |
San Antonio | 33 | 19 | 20.7 | 0.383 | 0.366 | 0.771 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 4.1 |
| 2008 2008 WNBA season -Season Highlights:*Candace Parker becomes the second and third player in WNBA history to dunk in a regular season game.*A fight breaks out between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock resulting in four ejections and ten suspensions.... |
San Antonio | 31 | 14 | 18.7 | 0.268 | 0.200 | 0.789 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 3.5 |
| 2009 2009 WNBA season The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008... |
San Antonio | 34 | 13 | 18.9 | 0.248 | 0.295 | 0.673 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 3.1 |
| 2010 2010 WNBA season The 2010 WNBA season was the 14th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began with a televised meeting between the defending champion Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks in Phoenix, Arizona on May 15. The Connecticut Sun hosted the 10th Annual All-Star... |
San Antonio | 33 | 1 | 11.8 | 0.300 | 0.273 | 0.647 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.9 |
| Career | 322 | 175 | 19.8 | 0.322 | 0.302 | 0.721 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 4.1 |