Katie Benzan

Katie Benzan is an American professional basketball player known for her elite three-point shooting. She played college basketball for the Harvard Crimson and the Maryland Terrapins, where she set numerous records from beyond the arc. Benzan has played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for the Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics.

Early life and education

Katie Benzan was born in Arlington, Massachusetts, to parents of Dominican descent. She attended the Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts, where she was a standout basketball player. Benzan was named the Gatorade Massachusetts Player of the Year and a McDonald's All-American following her senior season. She also played for the Bay State Jaguars on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit, competing in national tournaments.

College career

Benzan began her collegiate career at Harvard University, playing for the Harvard Crimson from 2016 to 2020. As a freshman, she was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year and earned First Team All-Ivy League honors. She became the program's all-time leader in three-pointers made and set the single-season record for assists. Following the 2019–20 season, Benzan transferred to the University of Maryland, College Park as a graduate student. Playing for the Maryland Terrapins, she led NCAA Division I in three-point field goal percentage during the 2020–21 season, shooting over 50 percent from deep. She helped lead Maryland to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight run in 2021. Benzan finished her career as one of the most accurate three-point shooters in NCAA history.

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2022 WNBA draft, Benzan signed a training camp contract with the Connecticut Sun in April 2022. She earned a spot on the regular-season roster and made her WNBA debut that May. Benzan appeared in 26 games for the Connecticut Sun during her rookie season, contributing as a reserve guard. In February 2023, she was traded to the Washington Mystics in exchange for a future draft pick. She competed for the Washington Mystics during the 2023 WNBA season before being waived. Benzan has also played internationally, joining CB Avenida in Spain's Liga Femenina de Baloncesto for the 2023–24 offseason.

National team career

Benzan has represented the United States in international competition at the youth level. She was selected to the USA Basketball U18 National Team that competed at the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Valdivia, Chile. Benzan helped the team win a gold medal at the tournament, averaging significant minutes off the bench. Her performance contributed to the United States' qualification for the 2017 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup.

Career statistics

In her WNBA career through the 2023 season, Benzan has appeared in over 40 regular-season games. Her collegiate statistics at Harvard University include over 1,500 points and more than 300 three-pointers made. During her tenure with the Maryland Terrapins, she set a program record for three-point percentage in a single season. Her combined college three-point shooting percentage ranks among the top five in NCAA Division I women's basketball history. Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:American women's basketball players Category:Harvard Crimson women's basketball players Category:Maryland Terrapins women's basketball players Category:Connecticut Sun players Category:Washington Mystics players