EssenceCarson

WNBA CAREER

13-year WNBA veteran, having spent eight seasons in New York (2008-15), three years in Los Angeles (2016-18) and one season in Phoenix (2019) and one with Connecticut/Washington (2020)

Selected 7th overall by the New York Liberty in the 2008 WNBA Draft

Signed with the Mercury as a free agent on February 6, 2019

2016 WNBA Champion with the Los Angeles Sparks

2011 WNBA All-Star while with the New York Liberty

Has two appearances in the WNBA Finals (2016, 2017)

Career averages of 7.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 346 games entering 2020…has started in 195 games

Scored a career-high 28 points on September 10, 2009 against Detroit

Grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds on July 6, 2012 against Chicago

Knocked down a career-best 39 three-pointers in 2018, while also attempting a career-high 108 on the season

Ranked third in the WNBA in free throw percentage in 2009, shooting 91.7 percent from the line (44-of-48)

Averaged 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in four games during the 2013 season before tearing her ACL

Has appeared in the playoffs in 10 of her 13 WNBA seasons, including five straight (2015-19)

Has played in 42 career postseason games and holds averages of 6.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in the playoffs…17 postseason starts, nine of which came in 2016

CAREER CAPSULE:

2022 SEASON

• Played in 21 games and five playoff games during 2020.
• Recorded 78 points, 35 rebounds, 12 assists and nine steals. Ended the season averaging 3.7 points and 1.7 rebounds.
• Scored 13 points during the playoffs and went 6-of-13 from the field.
• Scored a season high eight points on two occasions.

Connecticut

• Appeared in 11 games for Connecticut including five of the team’s seven playoff contests.
• Scored 35 points while with the Sun.

 Washington

• Appeared in 10 games with two starts for the Washington Mystics before being waived and picked up by the Sun on Monday, Aug. 17.
• Scored 45 points on 17-of-59 shooting while with the Mystics and tallied a season high eight points against Seattle (7/30).

2019 SEASON (Phoenix)

Appeared in 23 games for Phoenix in 2019, earning the start in 13 of them…missed 11 games with a calf injury that she sustained on July 20 at Dallas

Averaged 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists on the season

Scored a season-high 20 points in the Mercury’s home opener on May 31 against Las Vegas…made the go-ahead three-pointer with 45.8 second remaining in the game…most points she’s scored since 2013 season

Scored in double figures five times on the season

Appeared in her 9th career postseason, making an appearance in Phoenix’s lone playoff game in Chicago on September 11

2018 SEASON (Los Angeles)

Appeared in 34 games for Los Angeles, earning the start in 15 of them

Averaged 7.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game on the season

Knocked down a career-best 39 three-pointers on the season, while attempting a career-high 108

Shot 36.1 percent from three-point range, the second highest percentage from beyond the arc in her career (38.7 percent in 2011)

Had five games in which she made a season-best three three-pointers

Missed only one free throw on the season, shooting 93.8 percent from the line (15-of-16)

Grabbed 90 total rebounds on the year, the most she’s pulled down since 2012 when she recorded 117 on the season…matched her 2011 rebound total for the second most she’s had in a season

Scored a season-high 18 points on July 10 at Seattle in 31 minutes of play

Scored in double figures nine times on the season, including four games of 15+ points

Appeared in her 8th career postseason, making appearances in both of LA’s two playoff games

2017 (Los Angeles): Played 24 games and started in 14 of those games… Averaged 19.3 mpg, 4.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.2 apg and 0.63 spg… Had three games in which she scored 10 points+… Essence Carson had a season high 33 minutes, 15 points and 5 rebounds @ Indiana on 5/24… Missed seven games with right elbow strain and two games with groin pull.

2016 (Los Angeles): Played and started in all 34 games for the Sparks… Averaged 8.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1.0 spg in her first season with Los Angeles… Led the team in free throw percentage (.891), but didn’t have enough attempts to qualify for the WNBA leader board…

2015 (New York): Won the WNBA Community Assist Award presented by State Farm for the month of June; second time in her career she has earned the Community Assist award…  Appeared in 33 games and started 28…Averaged 7.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.2 assist and 19.9 minutes per game…Playoff averages of 4.2 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game… Season high of 16 points against San Antonio off the bench, 7-12 FG in 18 minutes (7/15) … Scored 14 points against Indiana (6/19) and went 3-for-3 from 3-point range… Career high of 7 assists against Chicago (6/30)…Played a season-high 32 minutes, finishing with 9 points and 4 assist in a win over Los Angeles (6/28) … Season-best 3 steals in a win over Seattle (7/21)… Came off the bench to score 9 points in a win at Washington in the Eastern Conference Semifinals (9/20)… Came off the bench to hit a three and finish with 7 points in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals at Indiana (9/27)… Had 6 games scoring in double figures.

2014 (New York): Played in 26 games with 11 starts in first season back from torn ACL … Averaged 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds … Scored in double-digits in two games …Had third highest free throw percentage of her career (83.3%).. Had a season-high of 14 points at Minnesota (5/24).

2013 (New York): Appeared in four games with four starts … Averaged 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists through four games … Missed remainder of 2013 season due to torn left anterior cruciate ligament during game at Atlanta (6/7) … Underwent successful surgery on June 26 to repair torn left ACL.

2012 (New York): Appeared in 34 games with 23 starts … Averaged 11.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists … Scored in double figures in 20 games, including three 20-point games … Had one double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Chicago (7/6) … The 11 rebounds established a career high … Set career high with six assists vs. Washington (9/1) … Made her fourth playoff appearance.

2011 (New York): Appeared in 32 games. Averaged 11.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists … Scored in double figures in 19 games, including two 20-point contests … Tied her career-highs for rebounds and assists, registering eight rebounds (ATL, 6/14 and CON, 8/18) and five assists (@CHI, 6/17 and ATL, 7/13) … Selected to represent the Eastern Conference in the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game … Made her third career playoff appearance.

2010 (New York): Appeared in 34 games … Averaged 3.7 points and 1.6 rebounds … Reached double figures in season opener with 11 points against Chicago (5/16) … Registered 5-plus points in 13 games.

2009 (New York): Appeared in 34 games with 34 starts … Scored 10-plus points 17 times and 20-plus points twice … Grabbed five or more rebounds three times … Led the team in scoring six times and rebounds three times.

2008 (New York): Appeared in 34 games with 30 starts … Scored 10-plus points in eight games … Led the team in scoring twice and rebounding once … PLAYOFFS: Appeared in and started all six games, averaging 16.8 mpg and 5.7 ppg across the two series … Scored team and career-high 15 points in decisive Game 3 of Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against Connecticut.

COLLEGE CAREER

Finished her career at Rutgers with averages of 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game

Graduated 17th on Rutgers’ all-time scoring list (1,262 points) and 12th on the all-time rebounding list (707 rebounds)

Named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons

Named to the All-Big East Second Team in 2008

In 2007, was named to the All-Big East First Team, Big East All-Tournament Team, Greensboro Regional All-Tournament Team, Kodak/WBCA Region I All-American and was named to the preseason Wade Watch list

2006 All-Big East Second Team member

INTERNATIONAL/USA BASKETBALL

Has played overseas in Turkey, Spain, France, Hungary and Italy during WNBA off seasons

Played for Yakin Dogu in Turkey in 2017, winning the Turkish Cup, Turkish League Championship and EuroCup

Won the Queen’s Cup in 2013 while playing for Rivas Ecopolis in the Spanish League in 2013

Member of the EuroLeague runner-ups, Bourges Basket, while playing in France in 2012…won the French League Championship that season

French Cup Runner up in 2010 while played for Bourges Basket

Member of USA’s U21 team that won the gold medal at the FIBA U21 World Championship for Women in Moscow

Member of Team USA’s U20 team that won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas U20 Championship for Women in Mexico City

Member of Team USA’s U19 team that won the gold medal at the 2005 U19 World Championships in Tunisia

Member of Team USA’s U18 team that won the gold medal at the 2004 FIBA Americas Championship in Puerto Rico

PERSONAL

Born in Paterson, New Jersey

Nickname is E

Daughter of Stacey Robinson and the late Joseph Carson

Second of three children

Plays the piano, bass guitar, drums and saxophone, and produces music off the court

Favorite singer is Mariah Carey

Majored in psychology and minored in music while at Rutgers

Graduated from Rosa Parks School for Fine and Performing Arts in here hometown, but competed athletically at Paterson Eastside High School

Was an all-state volleyball player and ran track for the first time in the spring of 2004, winning the state 400-meter title

Has a pug named Champ