Natalie Williams
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| Natalie Williams | |
|---|---|
| Name | Natalie Williams |
| Birth date | 30 November 1970 |
| Birth place | Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Weight lb | 210 |
| High school | Taylorsville High School (Taylorsville, Utah) |
| College | UCLA (1989–1993) |
| Draft year | 1999 |
| Draft team | Utah Starzz |
| Career start | 1999 |
| Career end | 2005 |
| Career position | Forward |
| Career number | 32, 8 |
| Years1 | 1999–2002 |
| Team1 | Utah Starzz |
| Years2 | 2003 |
| Team2 | Indiana Fever |
| Years3 | 2004–2005 |
| Team3 | Sacramento Monarchs |
| Highlights | * WNBA All-Star (2000, 2001) * All-WNBA First Team (2000) * WNBA rebounding champion (2000) * Naismith College Player of the Year (1990) * Honda Sports Award (1990) * NCAA champion (1990) * USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year (1993) |
| Medaltemplates | Women's basketball the United States Gold, 2000 Sydney, Team |
Natalie Williams is a retired American professional basketball player and Olympic gold medalist, recognized as one of the most dominant collegiate and professional athletes of her era. A two-sport star at UCLA, she achieved Naismith College Player of the Year honors in volleyball before focusing on basketball, where she became a WNBA All-Star and key member of the U.S. national team. Her powerful inside play and rebounding prowess defined a career that spanned the ABL and WNBA, culminating in a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
Early life and education
Born in Long Beach, California, Williams moved to Utah during her youth, attending Taylorsville High School where she excelled in multiple sports. She accepted an athletic scholarship to UCLA, embarking on a remarkable dual-sport collegiate career. In volleyball, she led the Bruins to an NCAA championship in 1990 and was named the national Honda Sports Award winner. Simultaneously, she played for the UCLA Bruins women's basketball team, contributing to their 1990 NCAA title under coach Kathy Olivier. Her unparalleled athleticism earned her the Honda-Broderick Cup in 1991 as the nation's top collegiate woman athlete.
Basketball career
Williams began her professional basketball career with the Portland Power of the ABL, earning All-ABL First Team honors. Following the ABL's dissolution, she was selected third overall by the Utah Starzz in the 1999 WNBA draft. She quickly became a league force, leading the WNBA in rebounding in 2000 and earning consecutive All-Star selections in 2000 and 2001 while being named to the All-WNBA First Team in 2000. After the Utah Starzz relocated to become the San Antonio Silver Stars, she was traded to the Indiana Fever and finished her WNBA tenure with the Sacramento Monarchs. Internationally, Williams was a cornerstone of the United States women's national basketball team, winning gold at the 1998 FIBA World Championship and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
Post-playing career
Following her retirement in 2005, Williams transitioned into coaching and sports administration. She served as an assistant coach for the Brigham Young University women's basketball team under coach Jeff Judkins. She has also been actively involved with USA Basketball in various developmental and committee roles. Williams has worked as a basketball analyst and commentator for networks like ESPN and BYUtv, providing insight during NCAA Tournament broadcasts. Her commitment to youth sports is evident through her work with clinics and her involvement with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's outreach programs.
Personal life
Williams is the daughter of former NFL defensive lineman Jerry Williams, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has been open about the role of her faith in her life and career. Residing in Utah, she is married and has children, maintaining strong ties to the state's basketball community. She has participated in numerous charitable endeavors, supporting organizations such as the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Awards and honors
Williams's trophy case includes the prestigious Naismith College Player of the Year award for volleyball and the Honda-Broderick Cup. In basketball, she was named the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year in 1993. Her professional accolades include two WNBA All-Star selections, an All-WNBA First Team nod, and the WNBA rebounding champion title. Her international success is highlighted by an Olympic gold medal from Sydney 2000 and a gold from the 1998 FIBA World Championship. She has been inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame and the State of Utah Sports Hall of Fame.
Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:American women's basketball players Category:UCLA Bruins women's basketball players Category:Utah Starzz players Category:Indiana Fever players Category:Sacramento Monarchs players Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball Category:Naismith College Player of the Year winners