Ann Wauters

Ann Hilde Willy Wauters (born October 12, 1980 in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium) is a Women's National Basketball Association player who plays for the San Antonio Silver Stars. Her primary position is center.

Personal

Wauters began playing basketball at age 12. Her international professional basketball career began immediately after high school. She speaks Dutch, French and English. She wears #12 because of her birthdate.

WNBA career

Wauters was drafted #1 overall in 2000 WNBA Draft by the Cleveland Rockers. She was the first Belgian-born player in the WNBA. When the team selected her, she was considered a project and raw talent. Having only played basketball for 7 years prior to the draft, Wauters quickly blended in with the big name centers.

In 2004 she was moved to the New York Liberty. She played two seasons for the Liberty before leaving the WNBA in 2006. On February 6, 2008 Wauters was selected by the Atlanta Dream in the expansion draft.

On April 9, 2008, Wauters, along with Morenike Atunrase and a 2009 second round draft pick, was traded to the San Antonio Silver Stars for Camille Little, Chioma Nnamaka, and the Silver Stars' first round pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft. [cite news|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA.041008.BKW_silver_stars_draft.EN.38a75fc.html|title=WNBA: Silver Stars again make splash with draft-day trade]

International career

*Wauters was named MVP of the National Youth Championship (1995, 1997).
*Member of bronze medal-winning Belgium's Cadettes National Team (1995)
*Member of U.S. Valenciennes (USVO) since 1998, USVO co-champion (1999, 2000)
*European player of year (2001)
*Best foreign player in France (2001), Messina Final Four MVP (2002)
*European player of year (2002)
*European highest scoring player in Final Four, Bourges, co-champion (2003)
*Co-champion of Korean league summer league (2003)
*Best center of European championship in Greece (2003), member of MVP team at FIBA World Cup in Russia (2003).

Vital statistics

*Position: Center
*Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
*Team(s): San Antonio Silver Stars (WNBA)

References

External links

* [http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/ann_wauters/index.html WNBA Player Profile]
* [http://www.wnba.com/silverstars/news/draft_recap_080409.html Wauters traded to Silver Stars]