Yelena Baranova

Yelena Viktorovna Baranova ( _ru. Елена Викторовна Баранова; born January 28, 1972) is a Russian professional basketball player. She is a former Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) player and played for the New York Liberty until the 2005 season.

Personal

Baranova was born in Frunze, Kyrgyz SSR, Soviet Union (present-day Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan). She started playing professional basketball at age 16, made USSR national team at the age of 17, won European Championship at the age of 19 in 1991 and became the Olympic champion at the age of 20 in 1992, quickly proved herself as one of the best basketball players in the World.

WNBA career

Baranova was assigned to the Utah Starzz on January 22, 1997. And was later traded with Utah's second-round pick in the 2000 WNBA Draft to the Miami Sol in exchange for Kate Starbird and the 8th pick in the 2000 WNBA Draft (December 15th, 1999). She was taken in the 2003 WNBA Dispersal draft by the New York Liberty.

In January 1997 she was selected among 16 World top players to be sewed for 8 inaugural Women NBA teams to perform in the 1st and Inaugural WNBA championship. So the league was created and Elena Baranova became the first player from Russia and even from Europe to play in the World's top women's basketball league.

Also known as 'Russian Queen' and 'SuperNova', Elena shined in 7 WNBA seasons during 1997-2005: 3 for Utah Starzz, 1 for Miami Sol and 3 for New York Liberty. She took part in 220 games where she scored 2,215 points, leading her teams to the Conference Semifinals (2001, 2005) and Conference Final (2004) and proved her name and reputation in American Pro Basketball.

In her first WNBA season she led the League in blocked shots (2,25 blocks per game) and set the League's single-game record for three-point field goals with 7 of 9 recorded July 22, 1997 at Madison Square Garden, New York. In 2001 WNBA season she got Bud Light Shooting Champion award as the League's top free-throw shooter (with 93,1%). The same 2001 season she was selected to play in WNBA All-Star Game in Orlando to become the first and only player from Russia to represent her country at the All-Star Weekend, where she set WNBA All-Star Game record for blocked shots (4).

As one of the League's most versatile weapons, Elena is one of just 2 players in WNBA All-Time History to record over 200 three-point field goals (with 236) and 300 blocks (with 320). Although she performed just in 7 of WNBA's 12 seasons, Elena is still in the list of the League's best: 7th in blocks (320), 7th in blocks per game (1.53), 12th in 3-point field goal percentage (.391), 14th in rebounds per game (6.4), 17th in free-throw percentage (.845).

International career

*Baranova's scoring and rebounding ability helped the women's Soviet National Basketball Team to win the gold in the European Championship in 1991 as well as the 1992 Summer Olympics. Elena has played in 106 games for her National team (which is Russia all-time record for men and women), in which she scored over 1300 points representing her country at three Olympic Games ("1992, 1996, 2004"), two World championships ("1998, 2002") and seven European Championships ("1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003"). At last 3 events she appeared as the captain of Russian national team (2002 World championship, 2003 European championship, 2004 Olympic Games). At 1998 World championship where she led Russia to silver medals she was awarded by MVP (Most Valuable Player) prize and in 2002 World championship (where Russians also became vice-champions) she was selected to the World's Top 5 Team. 1991 European Champion as a member of USSR team (the last competition where USSR team took part) Elena led Russia to its first Gold medals in basketball at 2003 European Championship, where she also was selected to Europe Top 5 Team.PRO CAREER (18 seasons, over 800 games, over 13,000 points, over 6,000 rebounds):
Stroitel Frounze ("USSR, 1988-1989"), Dynamo Moscow ("USSR, 1989-1992"), Elitzur Holon ("Israel, 1992-1994"), CSKA Moscow ("Russia, 1994-1999"), Bison Mytischi ("Russia, 1999"), Fenerbahche Istanbul ("Turkey, 1999-2000"), Villa Pini Chieti ("Italy, 2000-2001"), UMMC Ekaterinburg ("Russia, 2001-2003"), Dynamo Moscow ("Russia, 2004-2005"), Chevakata Vologda ("Russia, 2006-2007"), Ros Casares Valencia ("Spain, 2007-2008"), UMMC Ekaterinburg ("Russia, 2008-2009").

WNBA: Utah Starzz ("1997, 1998, 1999"), Miami Sol ("2001"), New York Liberty ("2003, 2004, 2005").

2003 Euroleague Champion (with UMMC Ekaterinburg) and Final Four MVP.
1997 Ronchetti Cup Champion (with CSKA Moscow).
5-times Champion of Russia, Champion of Israel and Israel Cup winner, Vice-Champion of Turkey and Turkish Cup winner, Champion of Spain and Spanish Cup and SuperCup winner.
1998 European Player of The Year.

In 1999 tried herself in men's basketball - successfully played 4 official games for Bison Mytischi in Moscow region championship where she averaged 6.3 points, 6.25 rebounds and 2.75 blocks. By the end of the same 1997 year was selected as the best Russian basketball player of XXth Century voted by the most popular Russian newspaper 'Sport-Express' readers.

Vital statistics

*Position: Forward/Center
*Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.92 m)
*Weight: 182 lb (83 kg)
*College: Moscow Academy of Sport '95
*Team(s): Utah Starzz, Miami Sol, New York Liberty (WNBA)

External links

* [http://www.elenabaranova.ru/ Official website]
* [http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8jInH7Qj1EsyH5rjn2.teamID_1494.compID_jr6ZiXqeGhMBtfq1yxqV83.season_2008.roundID_5787.playerID_6784.html FIBA Playerfile]
* [http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/elena_baranova/ WNBA Player Profile]
* [http://www.wnba.com/features/timeout_baranova.html Timeout with Elena Baranova]
* [http://www.interbasket.net/players/baranova.htm Interbasket: Elena Baranova Bio]
* [http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%2C_%D0%95%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%92%D0%B8%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B0 Wikipedia in Russian]