Courtney Paris

Courtney Paris

WNBA's Atlanta Dream  – No. 3
Center
Born	September 21, 1987 (1987-09-21) (age 24) San Jose, California
Nationality	American
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	250 lb (113 kg)
College	Oklahoma
Draft	7th overall, 2009 Sacramento Monarchs
Profile	WNBA Info Page
WNBA Teams
Sacramento Monarchs (2009) Atlanta Dream (2011–present)

Courtney Paris (born September 21, 1987 in San Jose, California) most recently played for the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA, she was the senior starting center for the University of Oklahoma women's basketball team. Her twin sister, player Ashley Paris, was also a Sooner.

Early life

In addition to being a twin, Paris has four brothers: Wayne, David, Austin and Brandon. She has two half-brothers (Bubba's sons) William III and Christian. Her parents are Lynne Gray and former NFL player William "Bubba" Paris.

Paris transferred from Modesto Christian High School to Millennium High School in Piedmont, California, at the start of the 2002–2003 year. Paris was named a WBCA All-American.^[1] She participated in the 2005 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored three points.^[2] Paris chose Oklahoma over UConn, California, Texas, UCLA, and Syracuse.

College career

Paris is the only player in NCAA history, male or female, to have 700 points, 500 rebounds, and 100 blocks in a season. In 2005–06, Paris set the women's NCAA record for rebounds in a single season, with 539. She holds the NCAA record for most consecutive double-doubles at 112 games, a streak which ended on February 2, 2009 against Pat Summitt and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers; however, Oklahoma won the game, denying Summitt her 1000th career victory.^[3] On February 8, 2009, Paris broke the record for most career NCAA Division I rebounds, formerly held by Wanda Ford of Drake.^[4] In the Sooners' victory in the semifinals of the Oklahoma City Regional in the 2009 NCAA Tournament against Pitt on March 29, she became the first player in U.S. college basketball history—regardless of sex, governing body, or division—with 2,500 points and 2,000 rebounds in her career.^[5]

Paris also became the first freshman named to the Associated Press All-American team in 2006, and again made the team in 2007.^[6] In April 2007, Paris was named the 2007 Associated Press Women's basketball player of the year. She is the first sophomore ever to win the AP Player of the year award.^[7] She won All-American honors again her junior year, and as a senior she became the first four-time first-team All-American in women's basketball history.^[8] She also won the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, recognizing her as the nation's top senior women's basketball player.

At Oklahoma, Paris majored in journalism.

Paris had announced that if Oklahoma did not win the NCAA championship in 2009, her final year, she would repay her scholarship—worth about $64,000 in out-of-state tuition—to the university. She said that without a championship, "I don’t feel like I’ve earned it.”^[9]

On Sunday April 5, 2009, Oklahoma lost to the Louisville Cardinals 61–59. In a post-game interview with ESPN, Paris was asked if she would make do on her promise to repay her $64,000 basketball scholarship. She replied that she would but that it would take her some time. A week later, the university said that she did not have to repay her scholarship.

Pro career

Paris was selected by the Sacramento Monarchs at No. 7 in the 2009 WNBA Draft and her sister was drafted to the Los Angeles Sparks.

On December 14, 2009 the WNBA held a dispersal draft for the Monarchs' players. Courtney was taken with the fourth pick by the Chicago Sky. On May 12, 2010, Paris was waived by the Sky.^[10]

On February 8, 2011 she signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Sparks and on June 2, she was waived^[11].

Notes

1. ^ "2005 WBCA High School All-Americans". WBCA. http://www.wbca.org/education/wbca-events/wbca-high-school-all-america-game/past-hsaa/. Retrieved 2009-11-01. 
2. ^ "2005 WBCA High School All-America Game". WBCA. http://www.wbca.org/education/wbca-events/wbca-high-school-all-america-game/box-scores/. Retrieved 2009-11-01. 
3. ^ "Oklahoma Sooners Official Athletic Site – Women's Basketball". CBS Interactive. 2009-01-04. http://www.soonersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/010409aaa.html. Retrieved 2009-01-06. 
4. ^ "CBS Sports". CBS Interactive. 2009-02-08. http://www.cbssports.com/ncaawbasketball/gamecenter/recap/NCAAW_20090208_OK@OKST. Retrieved 2009-02-08. 
5. ^ Associated Press (2009-03-29). "Hand, Sooners overcome Paris' foul trouble to reach Elite Eight". ESPN. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/recap?gameId=294000038. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
6. ^ "Oklahoma's Courtney Paris Is An All-American Again". kotv.com. KOTV. 2007-03-29. http://www.kotv.com/sports/local/story/?id=123735. Retrieved 2007-08-22. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ Jacobsen, Lynn (2007-04-01). "Paris named Player of Year". Tulsa World. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070401_238_B1_hShei00833. Retrieved 2007-08-22. 
8. ^ Courtney Paris Becomes Only 4-Time All-American ESPN, March 31, 2009
9. ^ Star's Vow to Win or Pay Stirs Women's Basketball NY Times, March 23, 2009
10. ^ 2010 WNBA Transactions 2010 WNBA Transaction Page
11. ^ 2011 WNBA Transactions 2011 WNBA Transaction Page

External links

• USA Basketball Bio: Courtney Paris
• Courtney Paris official bio at SoonerSports.com
• San Francisco Chronicle: Girls Player of the Year: Courtney Paris

Persondata
Name	Paris, Courtney
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 21, 1987
Place of birth	San Jose, California
Date of death
Place of death