- Edna Campbell
Edna Campbell (born
November 26 ,1968 inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania , U.S.) is a retired women'sbasketball player who played in theWomen's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The 5' 8" guard was a star player for theSacramento Monarchs and has also played for three other teams, but is best known for continuing to play despite sufferingbreast cancer .College years
Campbell's college career began at the
University of Maryland, College Park , but achieved her most notable success at the University of Texas' women's team, known as the "Lady Longhorns", where she was named theSouthwest Conference 's Newcomer of the Year in 1990. She graduated in 1991 after the Lady Longhorns compiled a 48-14 won/loss record while she was there.ABL career
Campbell played for the Colorado Xplosion in the American Basketball League (ABL).
WNBA career
Campbell was the 10th overall draft pick, selected by the
Phoenix Mercury during the1999 WNBA Draft . She was left unprotected in the expansion draft the following year, and was chosen by theSeattle Storm . She became the new franchise's go-to option, but the team finished with a cellar-dwelling 6-26 record.The next year, the Storm drafted its first superstar,
Lauren Jackson , and Campbell was traded to theSacramento Monarchs forKaty Steding and a draft pick. During the second of her four seasons in Sacramento, Campbell was diagnosed withbreast cancer . She received treatment and was welcomed back before the fans of her two most recent teams in the Monarchs' final game against Seattle during the 2002 season.Campbell continued to play despite the cancer, and has become a symbol to some survivors of the disease. She became the WNBA's national spokesperson for its anti-cancer efforts with the
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation . She received the league'sKim Perrot Sportsmanship Award in 2003.Campbell signed a
free agent contract with theSan Antonio Silver Stars in 2005. She played with the Silver Stars for that one season, before announcing her retirement from the WNBA onFebruary 28 ,2006 .During the 2006 WNBA season, which honored 9 years of existence, Edna Campbell's return from breast cancer was nominated by fans as "most inspirational" and one of the top four WNBA Anniversary decade moments.
Life after basketball
Shortly after retiring, she was hired as a television commentator for the Silver Stars games during the 2006 WNBA season. In addition, Campbell has been working in the
real estate business. During 2006, Edna Campbell moved back to Sacramento, CA where she opened an office as arealtor and loan consultant.Career Statistics
WNBA Career Totals
WNBA Career Playoff Averages
External links
* [http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/edna_campbell/ WNBA player profile]
* [http://www.wnba.com/silverstars/news/campbell_050217.html Silver Stars bio]
* [http://aol.wnba.com/community/komen_partnership_030619.html Story on her bout with cancer]
* [http://www.wnba.com/silverstars/news/edna_campbell_retirement_060228.html Silver Stars' February 28, 2006 press release on her retirement]
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