Tari Phillips
Encyclopedia
Tari L. Phillips is a professional basketball
player. She currently plays with Acer ERG Priolo, an Italian A1 team based in Priolo Gargallo
, Sicily. Her cousin Tayyiba Haneef-Park
plays for USA Volleyball.
Phillips attended the University of Georgia
during her first three college years, and helped its Lady Bulldogs team to the NCAA
Regional Finals in 1987 and 1988. She transferred during her senior year to the University of Central Florida
, where she graduated in 1991.
She played for the Seattle Reign
and the Colorado Xplosion
in the American Basketball League (1996-1998)
. She made the ABL's Western Conference All-Star team in both 1997 and 1998, and was named the MVP of the 1997 All-Star Game.
After the ABL abruptly folded, Phillip was selected by her hometown team, the Orlando Miracle
in the first round (eighth overall) of the WNBA Draft
on May 4, 1999.
After her WNBA rookie season in 1999, she was selected by the Portland Fire
in the WNBA's Expansion Draft in December 1999, but she was later traded to the New York Liberty
just prior to the start of the WNBA's 2000 season. She played with the Liberty from 2000 to 2004. After the 2004 season ended, she became an unrestricted free agent
and signed with the Houston Comets
for the 2005 WNBA season. The Comets waived Phillips July 2, 2007.
Phillips won a Gold Medal
with USA Basketball
during the Basketball World Championship in 2002. She was named to the team as a replacement for the injured Tina Thompson
.
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. She currently plays with Acer ERG Priolo, an Italian A1 team based in Priolo Gargallo
Priolo Gargallo
Priolo Gargallo is a comune in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily . It's located about 190 km southeast of Palermo and about 13 km northwest of Syracuse...
, Sicily. Her cousin Tayyiba Haneef-Park
Tayyiba Haneef-Park
Tayyiba Mumtaz Haneef-Park is an American indoor volleyball player. She currently plays professionally for Igtisadchi Baku in Azerbaijan. She played at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, where the team finished in 5th place...
plays for USA Volleyball.
Phillips attended the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
during her first three college years, and helped its Lady Bulldogs team to the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Regional Finals in 1987 and 1988. She transferred during her senior year to the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
, where she graduated in 1991.
She played for the Seattle Reign
Seattle Reign
The Seattle Reign was the first women's professional basketball franchise in Seattle, Washington. The Reign was a charter member of the American Basketball League . The team played from 1996 through 1998...
and the Colorado Xplosion
Colorado Xplosion
The Colorado Xplosion was the first women's professional basketball franchise in Colorado, an American Basketball League team based in Denver. Playing from 1996 through 1998, the team produced many memorable moments for Colorado sports fans and followers of women's professional basketball in...
in the American Basketball League (1996-1998)
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...
. She made the ABL's Western Conference All-Star team in both 1997 and 1998, and was named the MVP of the 1997 All-Star Game.
After the ABL abruptly folded, Phillip was selected by her hometown team, the Orlando Miracle
Orlando Miracle
The Orlando Miracle was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Orlando, Florida. They began play in the 1999 WNBA season. The Miracle relocated, in 2003,to Uncasville, Connecticut where the team became the Connecticut Sun...
in the first round (eighth overall) of the WNBA Draft
WNBA Draft
The WNBA Draft is an annual draft held by the WNBA through which WNBA teams can select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. The first WNBA draft was held in 1997...
on May 4, 1999.
After her WNBA rookie season in 1999, she was selected by the Portland Fire
Portland Fire
The Portland Fire joined the Women's National Basketball Association in 2000 as the counterpart to the NBA team the Portland Trail Blazers. They played their games at Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. The team folded after the 2002 season, after just three seasons in the league...
in the WNBA's Expansion Draft in December 1999, but she was later traded to 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...
just prior to the start of the WNBA's 2000 season. She played with the Liberty from 2000 to 2004. After the 2004 season ended, she became an unrestricted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
and signed with the Houston Comets
Houston Comets
The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
for the 2005 WNBA season. The Comets waived Phillips July 2, 2007.
Phillips won a Gold Medal
Gold Medal
Gold Medal is the sixth studio album by the American hard rock band The Donnas, released in 2004 on Atlantic Records. It was one of the first albums released in the DualDisc format, but was recalled due to a mastering error which resulted in the final track being partially omitted from the CD...
with USA Basketball
USA Basketball
USA Basketball is a non-profit organization and the governing body for basketball in the United States. The organization represents the United States in FIBA and the men's and women's national basketball teams in the United States Olympic Committee...
during the Basketball World Championship in 2002. She was named to the team as a replacement for the injured Tina Thompson
Tina Thompson
Tina Marie Thompson is a professional basketball player in the WNBA for the Los Angeles Sparks. The first draft pick in WNBA history, Thompson was selected first by the Houston Comets. She helped lead the Comets to four WNBA Championships...
.