Teresa Edwards
From Hoopedia
Teresa Edwards (born July 19, 1964 in Cairo, Georgia) is a retired American basketball player. She is currently an assistant coach for the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx.
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College
Edwards began her career at the University of Georgia where she was a two time All-American. She led the Bulldogs to the Final Four on two occasions and played in her first Olympic Games as a collegian, in 1984. The University of Georgia retired her jersey number (#5), making her one of only three Lady Bulldog players given that honor.
She earned her degree in Leisure Studies in 1989.
International
When Edwards graduated from Georgia, there were no professional basketball opportunities for women in the United States. She played abroad for nine seasons in Italy, Japan, Spain, and France (Tarbes and Valenciennes).
During this time, she also continued to play in international competition for Team USA. She first joined her first national team at age 17, in 1981, and kept on playing through the 2000 Olympics.
After the 1994 season, she stayed in the United States to train for her fourth Olympic appearance at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Edwards was selected to administer the competitors' oath at the Opening Ceremonies in Atlanta.
Edwards is the first basketball player -- male or female -- to have played in five Olympics. She competed for the United States in 19 international competitions. Her teams won 14 gold medals.
She also holds the unique distinction of being in the youngest gold medalist in women's basketball (age 20 in 1984) and the oldest gold medalist in women's basketball (age 36 in 2000). She holds the record for points in a women's basketball game in the United States with 46.
She made a record fifth Olympic basketball team, earning a fourth gold medal to go with her bronze medal. She returned to Europe to play professionally in 2002.
ABL
Edwards was the star player and head coach for the Atlanta Glory of the American Basketball League (ABL). She also played for the ABL Philadelphia Rage.
WNBA
When the ABL folded in 1998 Edwards did not turn to the WNBA. She later claimed that if she had joined, she would have received the minimum salary paid to a WNBA "rookie".
During the 2003 WNBA Draft, at the urging of Minnesota Lynx head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio, the Lynx selected Edwards even though she was 38 years old. Edwards and Serio were teammates on the USA women's basketball team during the Summer Olympics of 1988 and 1992.
Edwards played for the Lynx during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Afterwards, her contract expired and she became a free agent. No other WNBA team offered her a contract for the 2005 season.
In December 2006, Edwards returned to Lynx, as an assistant coach.
