STORM: Tina Thompson: A WNBA Original

17 Remarkable Years

April 28, 1997 Drafted #1 Overall in the inaugural draft
June 21, 1997 First game in a WNBA uniform against the Cleveland Rockers
August 30, 1997 Helped lead the Houston Comets to win the league's inaugural championship
Postseason 1997 Named to the All-WNBA First Team
September 1, 1998 Helped lead the Houston Comets to win a second consecutive WNBA Championship
Postseason 1998 Named to the All-WNBA First Team
July 14, 1999 Western Conference starter in the inaugural All-Star game
August 2, 1999 Became the 7th player to reach 1,000 career points
September 5, 1999 Helped lead the Houston Comets to win a third consecutive WNBA Championship
Postseason 1999 Named to the All-WNBA Second Team
July 17, 2000 Selected as the MVP of the All-Star game
August 26, 2000 Helped lead the Houston Comets to win a fourth consecutive WNBA Championship
Postseason 2000 Named to the All-WNBA Second Team
July 10, 2001 Became the 5th player to reach 2,000 career points
July 16, 2001 Led all Western Conference players in the All-Star voting
July 28, 2001 Became the 2nd player to post 1,000 rebounds
Postseason 2001 Named to the All-WNBA Second Team
July 15, 2002 Western Conference starter in the All-Star game
Postseason 2002 Named to the All-WNBA Second Team
July 12, 2003 Western Conference starter in the All-Star game
August 1, 2003 Became the 2nd player to reach 3,000 career points
August 5, 2004 Competed in The Game at Radio City as part of Team USA
August 13-29, 2004 Earned a gold medal while representing the United States competing at the Summer Olympics in Athens
Postseason 2004 Named to the All-WNBA First Team
June 11, 2006 Became the 2nd player to reach 4,000 career points
June 13, 2006 Named to the WNBA's All-Decade Team
July 12, 2006 Participated in the All-Star game
July 15, 2007 Participated in the All-Star game
August 19, 2007 Became the fourth player to reach 2,000 career rebounds
September 5, 2007 Named to the All-WNBA Second Team
June 6, 2008 Became the 2nd player to reach 5,000 career points
August 8-24, 2008 Earned a gold medal while representing the United States at the Summer Olympics in Beijing
March 12, 2009 Signed with the Los Angeles Sparks
July 5, 2009 Participated in the All-Star game
June 18, 2010 Became the 2nd player to reach 6,000 career points
August 8, 2010 Became the WNBA's All-Time Leading Scorer
July 23, 2011 Named as one of the WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time
February 27, 2012 Signed with the Seattle Storm
September 18, 2012 Became the 1st player to reach 7,000 career points
May 26, 2013 Set the record for the most games started with 437 starts
May 31, 2013 Announced retirement at the end of the season
June 2, 2013 Set the record for the most games played with her 464th game
August 17, 2013 Became the 3rd player to reach 3,000 career rebounds

The first pick in the inaugural WNBA draft in 1997. Nine-time All-Star. The only player to ever score 7,000 points and grab 3,000 rebounds. Four-time WNBA champion. One of the best players to ever play the game. Ambassador. Competitor. Mother. Legend. Tina Thompson.

At the conclusion of the 2013 season, Tina will retire from the WNBA as one of the most prolific players to ever grace a basketball court. The awards and statistics she has accumulated during her 17 seasons speak for themselves, but the countless players she has impacted and the young basketball players she has inspired is a legacy that will remain untouched.

Though Tina has won Olympic golds and has been named to the WNBA All-Decade team, she will be remembered most for the way she has shaped the landscape of women�s basketball. For every point she has scored, and there have been plenty of those, she has shown young basketball players that they can dream big. With every battle for a rebound, she has epitomized what it means to never quit. You cannot talk about basketball without talking about Tina Thompson.

To play professional basketball for 17 years is impressive. To be able to play basketball for 17 years at the highest level, lead your team and be a dominating force every night is remarkable. One of the best players to ever play the game. Tina Thompson.

Tina Thompson Photo Galleries

What they're saying

	�As the first player drafted into the league in 1997 and the only player to play in 17-straight seasons, she is a vibrant example of showing the world what�s possible. The stats tell the story of her impressive on-court performance, but the truest testament on her long-lasting contribution to the WNBA, beyond her red lipstick of course, is the impact she�s had on young players all across the league. So many of them have spoken so eloquently of the time she�s spent with them, helping them learn, develop and adjust to the professional game. This, I believe, will be her greatest legacy.� � Laurel Richie \| WNBA President, 2011-present
	�I respect her professionalism, humility and love for the game. It�s been 17 years since she�s been drafted No. 1 overall, and I�ve enjoyed watching her grow and mature. One of her favorite words is �cool,� and it�s been so cool watching her play.� � Renee Brown \| WNBA Chief of Basketball Operations and Player Relations, 1997-present
	�She�s one of the all time best. She continues to show it at 38. She�ll mix it up. I�ve coached some of the best players and she takes a back seat to no one in regards to competitiveness.� � Brian Agler \| Seattle Storm Head Coach, 2008-present
	�Tina is a winner as an athlete and as a person. Her focus, preparation and competitiveness combined with her physical skills, knowledge of the game and basketball savvy make her the total package. She is a strong leader with a gentle tone. She is an excellent role model and a great teammate. Tina's legacy demonstrates how to be a highly successful professional with class while being respected and respectful. She's done it the right way. She's one of the best. The game will miss her! Thank you, Tina!!� � Nancy Darsch \| Seattle Storm Assistant Coach, 2008-present
	�I feel very fortunate to have been able to call her a teammate for so many years. From USA basketball, to Russia, to the WNBA it�s been awesome, and I wish her the best of luck.� � Sue Bird \| Seattle Storm Guard, 2002-present
	�What ultimately makes Tina Thompson a winner is her work ethic, her competitive spirit, and her toughness. It's on display in the locker room through her leadership. It's on display on the practice court through her focus. It's on display on road trips through her preparation and discipline. I admire her competitive spirit, her professionalism, her humility, and her style. She�s great in so many ways but the biggest thing I admire about her is her passion to help others. She�s helped me so much along the way and she�s had my back no matter what.� � Noelle Quinn \| Seattle Storm Guard, 2013-present
	�She has meant so much to our game. She did it with such class and was a joy for me to coach; what a great career she has had. She is a great scorer, great rebounder and great defensive player, but she�s been an intelligent player too. I am glad I got to be apart of it.� � Van Chancellor \| Former Houston Comets Head Coach, 1997-2006
	�I am so proud of her. What an honor and pleasure it was to play with her and win four WNBA Championships with her and I am incredibly proud and honored to be her teammate.� � Cynthia Cooper \| Former Houston Comets Guard, 1997-2003
	�17 years of unbelievable play in the WNBA. Being the No. 1 draft pick way back when in 1997 with the Houston Comets, four WNBA Championships, two Olympic medals, All-Star games, First-Team All-American � at times I thought she could have been MVP. Yes, she led the league in scoring and is one of the top rebounders � her shooting has been unbelievable. She has been one class person in this league. She definitely will be missed, but she has left her footprints and her mark in this game and forever will be remembered.� � Ann Meyers-Drysdale \| Phoenix Mercury Vice President, 2006-present
	�She�s been a pioneer for this game for the last two decades, through college, WNBA, USA Basketball, overseas. She�s meant so much to the game and to be still playing at this level at that age, it says a lot about her. You watch her play, and you ask �Why are you retiring?�� � Diana Taurasi \| Phoenix Mercury Guard, 2004-present