Kia Vaughn
| No. 15 – New York Liberty | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | WNBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | January 24, 1987 Bronx, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 208 lb (94 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Rutgers |
| NBA draft | 2009: 8th overall |
| Selected by the New York Liberty | |
| Playing career | 2009–present |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Kia Vaughn (born January 24, 1987 in the Bronx, New York) is a professional women's basketball player for the WNBA's New York Liberty.[1] She attended high school at St. Michael's All Girls High School in New York, and later went on to star at Rutgers University[2]
High school
Vaughn played for St. Michael Academy in New York, New York, where she was named a WBCA All-American.[3] She participated in the 2005 WBCA High School All-America Game where she scored two points[4]
College
Vaughn attended Rutgers University from 2006-2009, playing under legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer. She helped Rutgers to a perfect 16-0 record in the Big East conference her freshman year, averaging 6.3 points per game and 7 rebounds a game. During her sophomore season, she was named the All-Met Division I Women's College Basketball Player of the Year. She averaged 12.8 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game, and 2.5 blocks per game.[5] That year, she helped lead the Rutgers women's basketball team to a Big East Conference championship. The Lady Scarlet Knights lost to the Tennessee Lady Vols in the NCAA championship game.[6]
Vaughn continued to excel in her junior season, garnering Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association All-Met First Team honors along with being named to the All Big-East second team. She averaged 10 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game on the season. Her senior campaign was solid, but a little underwhelming as she averaged only 9.7 points per game 6.7 rebounds per game.[5] Nevertheless, she was named All-Big East Honorable Mention at the season's conclusion.[7]
USA Basketball
Vaughn was also a member of the Championship winning 2006 USA National Team FIBA Americas U20 Championship for Women in Mexico City, Mexico. Kia averaged 12 points and 3 rebounds in 5 games.
Controversy
She and the other 9 players were called "nappy-headed hoes" on the Don Imus radio show, for which he was subsequently released from the station.
Notes
- ^ "Kia Vaughn Playerfile". WNBA. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
- ^ Ackert, Kristie "Liberty's Kia Vaughn is feeling right at home in Madison Square Garden", Daily News (New York), May 18, 2009. Accessed August 7, 2009.
- ^ "2005 WBCA High School All-Americans". WBCA. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
- ^ "2005 WBCA High School All-America Game". WBCA. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
- ^ a b "Prospect: Kia Vaughn". WNBA. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
- ^ "Prospect: Rutgers Women's Basketball History". Rutgers University. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
- ^ "Women's Basketball Regular Season Awards Announced". Big East Conference. Retrieved August 1, 2009.