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Rhonda Windham

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Rhonda Windham
Born
The Bronx, New York
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Basketball player for USC
  • First general manager of the LA Sparks WNBA team
Known for
  • Winner of the 1983 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament
  • Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award winner

Rhonda Windham (born 1964 or 1965) is a former WNBA general manager of the Los Angeles Sparks from 1997 to 1999. Before joining the Sparks, Windham played basketball at the University of Southern California between 1983 and 1987. With USC, Windham scored 1,040 points and was the assists leader for each season except for 1984. During her last year in college, Windham played at the 1987 Summer Universiade and received the 1987 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award.

After holding brief positions in the United States and Italy, Windham worked in public relations for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1990 to 1996. Upon the creation of the WNBA in 1997, Windham was the first ever general manager for the Sparks. Outside of professional basketball, Windham created the Say No Classic in 1991 and entered real estate investing in 2000.

Early life and education

In 1964 or 1965, Windham was born in The Bronx, New York.[1] Windham competed in gymnastics and basketball as a child before focusing on basketball in secondary school.[2] After playing in various parts of New York City, Windham went to the University of Southern California in the early 1980s to study communication.[3] While at Southern California, Windham and her team won the 1983 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament.[4] Windham continued to play basketball until she injured her knee at the 1983 U.S. Olympic Festival.[5] Windham took a year off from basketball until she returned in late 1984.[6] In 1986, Windham was part of the USC team that was runnerup at the 1986 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament.[7]

Overall, Windham played in 122 games and scored 1,040 points with the Trojans. She held the record in assists for the Trojans each season between 1983 and 1987 except 1984.[8] In 1987, Windham received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.[9] Outside of the United States, Windham was part of the American team that finished fifth at the 1987 World University Games.[1]

Career

After completing her post-secondary education, Windham briefly worked in marketing before trying out for the 1988 Summer Olympics. After she did not qualify for the American women's basketball team, Windham became a youth basketball coach in Italy that same year.[10] After working in Italy for a year, Windham went back to the United States and worked in public relations.[2] During her public relations career, Windham worked for the Los Angeles Lakers between 1990 and 1996. In January 1997, Windham was named the general manager of a Los Angeles team in the upcoming WNBA.[11]

When the WNBA held their first games from June to July 1997, Windham was the first ever general manager for the Sparks.[12] Windham continued to work as general manager of the Los Angeles Sparks until she was fired in 1999.[13] Apart from professional basketball, Windham created a summer college basketball association called the Say No Classic in 1991.[14] In the early 2000s, Windman expanded her career to real estate investing.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b "Fourteenth World University Games -- 1987". USA Basketball. October 10, 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b Johnson, Adrienne M. (June 15, 1997). "Making Sparks Fly". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  3. ^ Litsky, Frank (April 3, 1983). "U.S.C. Is Sparked By Playground Guard". The New York Times. sec. 5 p. 7. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  4. ^ Worthington, Don (4 April 1983). "Tech Pressed Off NCAA Throne by USC". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. p. B-1.
  5. ^ White, Lonnie (July 10, 1991). "U.S. Olympic Festival: Los Angeles--1991: Memorable Moments". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  6. ^ DiGiovanna, Mike (February 3, 1985). "When Knee Went Out, Heart Kicked In". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  7. ^ Embry, Mike (31 March 1986). "Texas belts USC for women's title". The Central New Jersey Home News. p. D1.
  8. ^ "USC Women's Basketball Record Book Trojans Hoops History (Through 2019-20)" (PDF). University of Southern California Athletics. pp. 29, 39, 55. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Women's Basketball Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA. 2020. p. 17. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  10. ^ White, Lonnie (10 January 1989). "After College, America's Women Stars Can Play Overseas - or Not at All". Los Angeles Times. Part III p. 4. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  11. ^ Gustkey, Earl (January 21, 1997). "New Women's NBA Franchise Has Bosses, Now It Needs Name". Los Angeles Times. p. C3. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  12. ^ Evans, Howie (24 July 1997). "The WNBA's first Black general manager". New York Amsterdam News. Vol. 88, no. 30. p. 49.
  13. ^ "Sparks Fire GM". Orlando Sentinel. June 26, 1999. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  14. ^ Lewis, Pamela (14 July 1998). "Sparks new GM is up to new challenge". Charlotte Observer. p. 6B.
  15. ^ Terry, Mike (December 13, 2002). "This Team Continues to Reach Great Heights". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
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