Leilani Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Leilani Mitchell is an American
basketball
player in the WNBA
for the New York Liberty
.
Mitchell was born to an American father, Dennis Mitchell, and an Australian mother of Asian descent (specifically Filipino, Malaysian, Singaporean, Indian, and others), Eleanor Majid. Mitchell played high school basketball at Kennewick High School
, where the team won a state 4A title.
. Mitchell then transferred to the University of Utah
. She sat out the 2006-07 season under NCAA rules, and then played the 2007-08 season for Utah.
twenty-fifth overall in the second round of 2008 WNBA Draft
. Mitchell was then traded to the Phoenix Mercury
. When the New York Liberty
learned during the 2008 pre-season that the Mercury planned to cut Mitchell, the Liberty acquired Mitchell in a trade in exchange for a 2009 third round draft pick.
Initially a bench player, Mitchell made her first professional start on June 6, 2008 in place of the injured Loree Moore
. During the 2008 season she developed a strong fan following and a reputation for fearlessness in grabbing loose balls and occasionally driving to the basket.
Mitchell scored 14 points in the Liberty's narrow loss to the Detroit Shock
in Game 3 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals.
Mitchell became the regular starting point guard in the 2010 season, after the Liberty released Moore in the offseason. Mitchell led the WNBA in 3-point percentage at 48%, scored 9.3 points per game, and had 3.8 assists per game en route to winning the 2010 WNBA Most Improved Player Award.
On September 2, 2011, Mitchell scored a career high 24 points in a win against the Minnesota Lynx
.
in the Ligue Féminine de Basketball
(LFB), a French professional league, during the WNBA off-season. For the 2009-10 season, Mitchell won the Import Player of the Year Award and was named to the LFB 1st Team.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 in 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...
for the New York Liberty
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
.
Mitchell was born to an American father, Dennis Mitchell, and an Australian mother of Asian descent (specifically Filipino, Malaysian, Singaporean, Indian, and others), Eleanor Majid. Mitchell played high school basketball at Kennewick High School
Kennewick High School
Kennewick High School is a public high school located in eastern Kennewick, Washington. It was founded in 1904 to serve the educational needs of the new city of Kennewick. It is one of only a few schools to have its music department honored with the title of "Grammy Signature School".The current...
, where the team won a state 4A title.
College years
Mitchell played her first three years of college basketball at the University of IdahoUniversity of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
. Mitchell then transferred to the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. She sat out the 2006-07 season under NCAA rules, and then played the 2007-08 season for Utah.
WNBA career
Mitchell was drafted by the San Antonio Silver StarsSan 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...
twenty-fifth overall in the second round of 2008 WNBA Draft
2008 WNBA Draft
The 2008 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, 2008....
. Mitchell was then traded to the Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
. When the New York Liberty
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
learned during the 2008 pre-season that the Mercury planned to cut Mitchell, the Liberty acquired Mitchell in a trade in exchange for a 2009 third round draft pick.
Initially a bench player, Mitchell made her first professional start on June 6, 2008 in place of the injured Loree Moore
Loree Moore
-External links:**...
. During the 2008 season she developed a strong fan following and a reputation for fearlessness in grabbing loose balls and occasionally driving to the basket.
Mitchell scored 14 points in the Liberty's narrow loss 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 Game 3 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals.
Mitchell became the regular starting point guard in the 2010 season, after the Liberty released Moore in the offseason. Mitchell led the WNBA in 3-point percentage at 48%, scored 9.3 points per game, and had 3.8 assists per game en route to winning the 2010 WNBA Most Improved Player Award.
On September 2, 2011, Mitchell scored a career high 24 points in a win against the Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season...
.
European career
Mitchell has played for ASPTT ArrasASPTT Arras
ASPTT Arras is a women's basketball team from France. The team is based in the city of Arras.- Staff :2010-2011 roster...
in the Ligue Féminine de Basketball
Ligue Féminine de Basketball
The LFB is the top women’s French professional basketball league.- Champions :* precedes the score of the team playing at home.- Season 2006-2007 :* CJM Bourges Basket...
(LFB), a French professional league, during the WNBA off-season. For the 2009-10 season, Mitchell won the Import Player of the Year Award and was named to the LFB 1st Team.