Adrienne Goodson

Adrienne Goodson also known as “Goodie” or “Goody” (born October 19, 1966 in Bayonne, New Jersey) is a former basketball player, a 6-foot forward noted for her exceptional rebounding ability, especially on the offensive glass. Her professional career in Brazil, the ABL, and the WNBA spanned 14 years.

Amateur basketball career

Goodson became interested in basketball at the age of seven. She played for Bayonne High School [Goodson, Adrienne. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/wnba/news/2000/05/18/goodson_two/ "The rest is history"] , "CNN Sports Illustrated", May 18, 2000. Accessed April 24, 2008. "My name is Adrienne Goodson, and I was born and raised in Bayonne, New Jersey where I graduated from Bayonne High School."] , where she was a consensus high school All-American, named as such by "Parade Magazine", Adidas, Coach, Converse, the Amateur Athletic Union and "USA Today".

She went on to attend Old Dominion University, where she graduated in 1988 with a degree in secondary education. In her freshman season there, Goodson averaged 9.5 points per game, and the team won first the Sun Belt Conference title, and then the 1985 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament. In the NCAA title game, Goodson scored nine points and hauled in six rebounds to help the Lady Monarchs defeat Georgia 70-65, as Old Dominion rolled to a 31-3 record.

During her college career, Goodson was a two-time second team All-Star performer. In 1987, she was named the Sun Belt Conference tournament's Most Valuable Player, as the Lady Monarchs won the Sun Belt Conference title again. As a Senior in 1988, she was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year.

In all, Goodson helped lead Old Dominion to three NCAA tournaments. She finished her college career with 1,574 points and 863 rebounds. She ranks 11th all-time in scoring at Old Dominion. She was inducted into the Old Dominion University Hall of Fame in 1999.

Following her graduation in 1988, Goodson captained the 1993 USA National Basketball Team.

Professional basketball career

In Brazil

No American professional women's league existed when Goodson graduated in 1988, so she played professionally in Brazil for five years. Goodson won five championships in the run-and-gun Brazilian league, learned to speak Portuguese, and left many friends behind at the end of her career there, but the lure of playing back home was too good to pass up, even with the pay cut she took.

In the American Basketball League (1996-1998)

In 1996, Goodson left a successful career in Brazil in 1996 to play in the inaugural season of the now-defunct American Basketball League (1996-1998). In the 2-1/2 years that the ABL existed, she played for the Richmond/Philadelphia Rage, and later for the Chicago Condors.

In her first season back on American soil, Goodson continued her winning ways, helping lead the Richmond Rage to the ABL finals, where they lost to the Columbus Quest. She finished her first US pro season with averages of 17.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. In her second year with the Rage, which by then had moved to Philadelphia, she posted averages of 17.4 points and 8.7 rebounds, both tops on the team. The 6-foot forward earned the league's Player of the Week honors several times.

She was an ABL All-Star both years, and is a one of only five players twice named to the All-ABL Team (the others in that select group are Teresa Edwards, Carolyn Jones-Young, Dawn Staley, and Natalie Williams). She ranks fourth with 1,658 career ABL points scored [ [http://www.wnba.com/shock/history/abl_career_points.html SHOCK: ABL Career Records: Points ] ] , and is second only to Williams in ABL career offensive rebounds, with 293. She averaged 17.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in the ABL.

In the WNBA (1999-2005)

Goodson was selected in the third round (27th overall) in the 1999 WNBA consolidation draft. In her seven-year WNBA career, Goodson played with the Utah Starzz (1999-2002), San Antonio Silver Stars (2002-04), and Houston Comets (2005), finishing her career with the Charlotte Sting. She averaged 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in her WNBA career. In 1999, she started in all but one game with Utah and averaged 14.9 points. In 2002, she was selected to the WNBA All-Star Team. She is only the third Woman in the history of the WNBA to score over 4000 points with over 1500 rebounds.

She has been named the best six foot and under rebounder in the world by several basketball experts. Adrienne received the 2003 WNBA Off-Season Community Assist Award, and she continues to give back to her community. Goodson believes the strongest assets she brings to a team are her leadership ability, work ethic and dedication. Adrienne Goodson picks up her second consecutive WNBA Offseason Community Assist Award.Source:Silver Stars Photo

References