Tangela Smith

Tangela Nicole Smith (born April 1, 1977 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American basketball player in the WNBA currently playing for the Phoenix Mercury.

Highschool years

Smith attended George Washington High School in Chicago, where she was named a 1994 Kodak High School All-American.

College years

Smith graduated from the University Of Iowa in 1998. She won the 1998 Big Ten Player of the Year award. She was also a 1998 Kodak/WBCA All-America honorable mention and earned 1996 and 1998 All-Big Ten first team and 1997 All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades.

WNBA career

Smith was selected 12th overall in the 1998 WNBA Draft by the Sacramento Monarchs. She played 6 seasons for the Monarchs, helping them reach the playoffs on 5 times. In 2005 she was traded to the Sting in exchange for Nicole Powell. Charlotte folded following the 2006 season and Smith's rights were acquired by the Minnesota Lynx in the dispersal draft.

On Draft Day in April 2007, she was dealt to the Phoenix Mercury for #1 overall pick Lindsey Harding.

International career

In the WNBA offseason in 1998-99, Smith was a professional basketball player in Italy, Israel, South Korea and Turkey. In 2001 she helped the Botasspor squad win the Turkish league crown. In 2002 she helped the Shinsegae Coolcats win the Korean league championship.

Vital statistics

*Position: Forward, Center
*Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
*College: University of Iowa
*Team(s): Sacramento Monarchs, Charlotte Sting, Phoenix Mercury

External links

* [http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/tangela_smith/index.html?nav=page WNBA Player Profile]
* [http://usabasketball.com/bioswomen/tangela_smith_bio.html U.S Basketball Bio]
* [http://www.tangelasmith.com Official Tangela Smith Website]