Gillom, who was one of the first players signed by the WNBA, played seven seasons in the league, including six with the Phoenix Mercury. She led the Mercury to three playoff berths (1997, 1998, 2000), where they advanced to the 1998 WNBA Finals, losing to the Houston Comets. After playing her final season with the Los Angeles Sparks, Gillom retired from the WNBA in 2003 with career averages of 13.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Her best season in the WNBA came with the Mercury in 1998, where she closed out the season with career-high averages of 20.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

With the Lynx, Gillom will be responsible for assisting with the team’s scouting efforts, talent evaluation, and player development with a focus on the forwards and centers.

Following her retirement from the WNBA, Gillom began her coaching career with the girls basketball team at Xavier College Preparatory, a private high school in Phoenix, Ariz. She is currently in her fourth season with the Gators, where she has compiled an 88-24 record (.786 winning percentage) through Feb. 5. She will remain with Xavier and continue to coach during the WNBA offseason.

The WNBA’s 2002 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award recipient, Gillom was selected to the 1999 All-Star team and was also named to the 1997 All-WNBA first team and 1998 All-WNBA second team. She was named the 1985 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. She collected a total of six gold medals, including the gold at the 1988 Olympics, and one silver medal as a member of USA Basketball.

Gillom played for former Houston Comets coach Van Chancellor at Ole Miss, where she was the 1986 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Female Athlete of the Year. A 1986 Kodak All-American, Gillom earned 1986 NCAA Midwest Regional MVP and 1985 NCAA All-Mideast Regional honors and was a four-time All-SEC first team selection. She led the Lady Rebels in scoring her final three seasons and finished, behind her sister Peggie, as Ole Miss’ all-time second leading scorer (2,186 points). During her four-year career, Gillom helped her teams to a 103-23 record with four NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Sweet Sixteens (1983, 1984) and two trips to the Elite Eight (1985, 1986), and three SEC West titles.

Gillom was named one of Arizona’s top athletes of the 20th century (No. 74). She and her sister Peggie have a sports complex named after them at the University of Mississippi. The Gillom Sports Center is home to women’s athletics at Ole Miss.

Gillom also enjoyed a lengthy professional career overseas prior to joining the WNBA, playing for teams in Italy, Greece, Spain and Turkey. Spending most of her time in Italy, Gillom played in Ansona, Messina, Milan and Taranto and was selected to several Italian League All-Star teams.