Ann Strother
From Hoopedia
Ann Elise Strother (born December 11, 1983) is an American professional basketball player and a member of the WNBA's Indiana Fever.
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High School
Regarded by many as the best girls' high school basketball player ever to come out of the U.S. state of Colorado, Strother led the Highlands Ranch High School Falcons to two consecutive state championships her junior and senior seasons and was named the Naismith High School National Player of the Year in her senior year (2002). In 2001, Strother played for the Junior World Championship Team; only four other high school players were selected for that team.
College
Strother was recruited by national powerhouses such as the University of Connecticut (UConn), the University of Tennessee, the University of Georgia, Stanford University, Notre Dame University, and Purdue University before ultimately committing to Connecticut. At UConn, Strother would play for future Hall of Fame inductee Geno Auriemma and alongside two-time National Player of the Year Diana Taurasi while helping Connecticut to its fourth and fifth national titles. Strother played in all 143 games of her collegiate career and started in 142. She averaged 12.9 points per game in her career and 14.0 in her senior season despite festering foot problems. Strother would eventually finish seventh all-time among UConn scorers with 1699 career points, and second all-time in career three-point field goals with 290. Strother joined some elite company when she became only the second player in UConn history to amass more than 1600 points, 600 rebounds, 400 assists, 100 steals, and 100 blocks- the other being Diana Taurasi. Strother also excelled in the classroom as she was a Dean’s List student all four of her years at UConn.
WNBA
In the 2006 WNBA Draft, Strother was selected by the Houston Comets with the 15th overall pick before being traded to the Phoenix Mercury for Liz Shimek and Mistie Williams. Due to reoccurring foot pain and a Phoenix bench that was well-stocked with guards, Strother saw very little playing time in her rookie season. During the 2006-07 off-season, the Mercury traded Strother to the Indiana Fever in exchange for veteran center Olympia Scott.
