Katie Feenstra
Encyclopedia
Katharen Ruth Mattera is a female professional basketball
player for the WNBA
.
Mattera is one of the tallest players in WNBA history. At 6 feet 8 inches (2.03m) tall, she is tied with Lindsay Taylor
, Maria Stepanova
, and Liz Cambage
as the fourth tallest player in the WNBA. Only Margo Dydek
, at 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m), Heidi Gillingham at 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m), Allyssa DeHaan
at 6 ft 9 inches (2.06m), and Zheng Haixia (2.04m), are taller than her. http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/katie_feenstra/bio.html?nav=page
, where she majored in physical education
. She was a three-time Big South Conference
Player of the Year, a Wade Trophy, John R. Wooden and Naismith Award
nominee. She also became the Big South Conference
's all-time shot blocker on February 14, 2005. Feenstra was the tallest player in Liberty University and Big South Conference history.
on April 16, 2005, during the 2005 WNBA Draft
, but was quickly traded to the San Antonio Silver Stars
in exchange for the Silver Stars' player Margo Dydek (the tallest player in the WNBA).
On September 14, 2005 she was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team
.
On February 22, 2007, she was traded to the Detroit Shock
in exchange for Ruth Riley
.
On February 6, 2008 she was selected in the expansion draft by the Atlanta Dream
.
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 for the WNBA
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...
.
Mattera is one of the tallest players in WNBA history. At 6 feet 8 inches (2.03m) tall, she is tied with Lindsay Taylor
Lindsay Taylor
Lindsay Corine Taylor is an American professional basketball player and a former college player who has played in the Women's National Basketball Association , Turkish Women's Basketball League, Ligue Féminine de Basketball , the WKBL, Polish Women's League, and the Women's Chinese Basketball...
, Maria Stepanova
Maria Stepanova
Maria Alexandrovna Stepanova is a Russian professional and Olympic basketball player. In the United States, she plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association ....
, and Liz Cambage
Liz Cambage
Elizabeth "Liz" Cambage is an Australian basketball player who plays for the Bulleen Boomers of the Women's National Basketball League and the Tulsa Shock of the Women's National Basketball Association . She is also a member of the Australia women's national basketball team.Cambage was born in...
as the fourth tallest player in the WNBA. Only Margo Dydek
Margo Dydek
Małgorzata 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...
, at 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m), Heidi Gillingham at 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m), Allyssa DeHaan
Allyssa DeHaan
Allyssa DeHaan is an American former collegiate basketball player and currently collegiate volleyball player. She played for Michigan State University from 2006 to 2010....
at 6 ft 9 inches (2.06m), and Zheng Haixia (2.04m), are taller than her. http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/katie_feenstra/bio.html?nav=page
College years
Mattera went on to star on the women's basketball team while attending Liberty UniversityLiberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
, where she majored in physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
. She was a three-time Big South Conference
Big South Conference
The Big South Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. The conference's football teams are part of the Football Championship Subdivision...
Player of the Year, a Wade Trophy, John R. Wooden and Naismith Award
Naismith College Player of the Year
The Naismith College Player of the Year is an annual basketball award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the top men's and women's collegiate basketball players. It is named in honor of the inventor of basketball , Dr. James Naismith....
nominee. She also became the Big South Conference
Big South Conference
The Big South Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. The conference's football teams are part of the Football Championship Subdivision...
's all-time shot blocker on February 14, 2005. Feenstra was the tallest player in Liberty University and Big South Conference history.
WNBA career
Mattera was originally selected by the Connecticut SunConnecticut 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...
on April 16, 2005, during the 2005 WNBA Draft
2005 WNBA Draft
The WNBA Draft is an annual draft held by the Women's National Basketball Association through which WNBA teams can select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players...
, but was quickly traded to the San Antonio Silver Stars
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...
in exchange for the Silver Stars' player Margo Dydek (the tallest player in the WNBA).
On September 14, 2005 she was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team
WNBA All-Rookie Team
The WNBA All-Rookie Team is an annual Women's National Basketball Association honor given since the 2005 WNBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the WNBA head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. Each coach selects five...
.
On February 22, 2007, she was traded to the Detroit Shock
Detroit Shock
The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
in exchange for Ruth Riley
Ruth Riley
Ruth Ellen Riley is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the Women's National Basketball Association . Her Notre Dame team won the NCAA women's championship in 2001, and her Detroit Shock team won the WNBA championship in 2003 and 2006...
.
On February 6, 2008 she was selected in the expansion draft by the Atlanta Dream
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...
.
Vital statistics
- Position: CenterCenter (basketball)The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
- Height: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
- Weight: 240 lbs
- College: Liberty UniversityLiberty UniversityLiberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
, 2005 - Team(s): San Antonio Silver StarsSan Antonio Silver StarsThe 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...
, Detroit ShockDetroit ShockThe Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
, Atlanta DreamAtlanta DreamThe 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...
Trivia and Personal Life
- Feenstra married Todd Mattera on November 8, 2008.
- She wears a men's size 17 (US) / 53 (EU) shoe.
- Her sister, Meribeth Anderson, also played basketball at Liberty from 1999–2003