- Dena Head
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Dena Head (born August 16, 1970) is a former Women's National Basketball Association player. She is best remembered as the first player ever drafted in the WNBA.
Contents
High school years
In high school, Head was named Miss Basketball of Michigan. She won two National Championships and was an All-American.
College years
Head attended the University of Tennessee with a degree in sports management. She played four years of basketball, while winning NCAA women's college basketball championship in 1989 and 1991. Head was named to the 1992 Kodak All-America Team. She was the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year as a senior, and was the 1989 SEC Freshman of the Year. As a senior, she was named to the Naismith All America Team, and in 1990 she was named to the NCAA All Regional Tournament Team East.
She later attended Baker College.
WNBA career
Head was the first player ever drafted in the WNBA. As part of the WNBA Elite draft in 1997, she was selected 1st overall. She joined the WNBA for two seasons with the Utah Starzz and one with the Phoenix Mercury.
WNBA teams
1997–1998: Utah Starzz
2000: Phoenix MercuryInternational career
Before the WNBA, Head played seven seasons of professional basketball in Brazil and in Europe for France, Spain, Italy, and Hungary.
Post WNBA career
Head currently serves as women's basketball team assistant coach for the Central Connecticut State University.
External links
WNBA first overall picks 1997 WNBA Draft Elite Draft Round 1Dena Head • Isabelle Fijalkowski • Rhonda Mapp • Kym Hampton • Wanda Guyton • Judy Mosley-McAfee • Bridget Pettis • Daedra Charles
Round 2Wendy Palmer • Lynette Woodard • Michi Atkins • Vickie Johnson • Janeth Arcain • Mikiko Hagiwara • Nancy Lieberman-Cline • Zheng Haixia
WNBA Draft Round 1Tina Thompson • Pamela McGee • Jamila Wideman • Eva Němcová • Tammi Reiss • Sue Wicks • Tora Suber • Toni Foster
Round 2Tia Jackson • Sharon Manning • Sophia Witherspoon • Jessie Hicks • Merlakia Jones • Tamecka Dixon • Denique Graves • Tammy Jackson
Round 3Racquel Spurlock • Chantel Tremitiere • Katrina Colleton • Tina Nicholson • Raegan Scott • Trena Tice • Debra Williams • Umeki Webb
Round 4Monique Ambers • Andrea Congreaves • Kisha Ford • Kim Williams • Anita Maxwell • Travesa Gant • Tajama Abraham • Catarina Pollini
Tennessee Lady Volunteers Basketball 1988–89 NCAA Champions 5 Regina Clark | 11 Dena Head | 12 Sheila Frost | 24 Carla McGhee | 30 Bridgette Gordon (MOP) | 32 Daedra Charles | 33 Tonya Edwards | 34 Kelli Casteel | 35 Melissa McCray | 50 Debbie Scott | 52 Debbie Hawhee
Coach Pat SummittTennessee Lady Volunteers Basketball 1990–91 NCAA Champions 3 Jody Adams | 5 Regina Clark | 11 Dena Head | 15 Marlene Jeter | 20 Peggy Evans | 21 Lisa Harrison | 32 Daedra Charles | 33 Nikki Caldwell | 34 Kelli Casteel | 50 Tamara Carver | 52 Debbie Hawhee
Coach Pat SummittCategories:- Women's National Basketball Association first overall draft picks
- 1970 births
- Living people
- American basketball players
- Parade High School All-Americans (girls' basketball)
- Point guards
- Tennessee Lady Vols basketball players
- Utah Starzz players
- Phoenix Mercury players
- College women's basketball coaches in the United States
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