Monique Billings
No. 25 – Phoenix Mercury | |
---|---|
Position | Power forward |
League | WNBA |
Personal information | |
Born | Riverside, California, U.S. | May 2, 1996
Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Listed weight | 192 lb (87 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Santiago (Corona, California) |
College | UCLA (2014–2018) |
WNBA draft | 2018: 2nd round, 15th overall pick |
Selected by the Atlanta Dream | |
Playing career | 2018–present |
Career history | |
2018–2023 | Atlanta Dream |
2018–2019 | Heilongjiang Dragons |
2019 | Asan Woori Bank Wibee |
2019–2020 | Elitzur Ramla |
2020 | Hatay BB |
2020–2021 | Nadezhda Orenburg |
2021–2022 | Townsville Fire |
2022–2023 | Besiktas |
2023–2024 | Dynamo Kursk |
2024 | Dallas Wings |
2024–present | Phoenix Mercury |
2024–present | Guangdong Vermilion Birds |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at Basketball Reference |
Monique Charice Billings (born May 2, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted into the WNBA in 2018 by the Atlanta Dream, and has played for the Dream and Dallas Wings. As a child in elementary school, she attended Saint Edward Catholic School in Corona, California.[1]
College career
[edit]UCLA
[edit]Billings played basketball at Santiago High School in Corona, California. She was a 4-year letterman there and also participated in the high jump on the track and field team. Billings was ranked in the top 30 by many recruiting services coming out of high school. She also received an invite to the United States National Team Under-18 trials in 2014.[2]
While at UCLA, Billings contributed from the start. In her freshman season; she played in 37 games for the Bruins and was named to the Pac-12 all-freshman team. During her sophomore season, she started all 35 games. She led the team to the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament (the "Sweet 16"), where they lost to Texas. Billings also led the team in rebounds that year and was named an honorable mention to the all Pac-12 team. Billings again started all 34 games for the Bruins in her junior year, again leading the team to the NCAA tournament. The Bruins again fell in the Sweet 16. Billings led the team in scoring that year and was named to the All Pac-12 team. During her senior season, Billings led the Pac-12 in rebounds, double-doubles, and offensive rebounds. She started 34 of 35 games for the Bruins, who reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999.[2]
Professional career
[edit]WNBA
[edit]Atlanta Dream (2018–2023)
[edit]Billings was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Dream in the 2018 WNBA draft.[3]
Dallas Wings (2024)
[edit]Billings signed with the Los Angeles Sparks in February 2024, but she ultimately didn't make the Sparks roster for the season and was waived during training camp.[4][5]
With not making the Sparks roster, Billings was signed by the Dallas Wings to a hardship contract following their season opening, as Natasha Howard sustained an injury.[6] Billings quickly was inserted into the Wings's starting lineup and became a force. In her second game with Dallas, against the Atlanta Dream on May 21, she scored 20 points and 10 rebounds.[7] Natasha Howard returned from injury, but the Wings were dealt more injuries to Maddy Siegrist, Jaelyn Brown, and Satou Sabally, which allowed Billings to continue to stay in Dallas. Following the Olympic break, the Wings's players became healthy, which forced the Wings to have to release Billings from her hardship contract.[8]
Phoenix Mercury (2024–present)
[edit]Billings signed a 7-Day Contract with the Phoenix Mercury on August 18, 2024.[9] On August 25, 2024, Billings signed a rest-of-season contract with the Mercury.[10]
Overseas
[edit]Asan Woori Bank Wibee
[edit]After the 2018 WNBA season, Billings played for the Asan Woori Bank Wibee of the Women's Korean Basketball League.[11]
Career statistics
[edit]GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | RPG | Rebounds per game |
APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
TO | Turnovers per game | FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
Bold | Career best | ° | League leader |
WNBA
[edit]Regular season
[edit]Stats current through end of 2024 season
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Atlanta | 32 | 0 | 11.0 | .441 | — | .750 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 3.3 |
2019 | Atlanta | 29 | 2 | 19.1 | .389 | 1.000 | .783 | 6.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 5.5 |
2020 | Atlanta | 22 | 16 | 27.1 | .400 | — | .761 | 8.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 8.5 |
2021 | Atlanta | 31 | 9 | 23.9 | .495 | .000 | .675 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 8.1 |
2022 | Atlanta | 23 | 8 | 17.4 | .470 | .000 | .765 | 6.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 6.5 |
2023 | Atlanta | 39 | 9 | 16.7 | .407 | .000 | .836 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 4.8 |
2024 | Dallas | 24 | 12 | 25.4 | .475 | .143 | .804 | 6.6 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 8.8 |
Phoenix | 13 | 2 | 18.1 | .434 | .286 | .800 | 4.2 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 4.9 | |
Career | 7 years, 3 teams | 213 | 58 | 19.4 | .441 | .182 | .766 | 5.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 6.2 |
Playoffs
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Atlanta | 5 | 0 | 12.8 | .474 | — | .579 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 5.8 |
2023 | Atlanta | 2 | 2 | 23.5 | .286 | — | .625 | 7.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 4.5 |
2024 | Phoenix | 2 | 0 | 14.0 | .800 | — | .000 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 |
Career | 3 years, 2 teams | 9 | 2 | 15.4 | .484 | — | .571 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 5.1 |
College
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014–15 | UCLA | 37 | 2 | 16.5 | .468 | — | .477 | 5.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 5.8 |
2015–16 | UCLA | 35 | 35 | 28.7 | .492 | — | .679 | 8.1 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 12.7 |
2016–17 | UCLA | 34 | 34 | 31.3 | .472 | — | .636 | 10.5 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 16.7 |
2017–18 | UCLA | 35 | 34 | 31.9 | .472 | .000 | .716 | 9.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 15.3 |
Career | 141 | 105 | 26.9 | .477 | .000 | .643 | 8.2 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 12.5 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Instagram".
- ^ a b "Monique Billings Bio". uclabruins.com. UCLA. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ "WNBA Draft Board, Round 2". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ "Sparks Sign Forward Monique Billings". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Alford, Jovan (13 May 2024). "Sparks Continue Roster Shakeup With Shocking Cut Prior to Season Opener". lasportshub.com. Minute Media. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Dallas Wings' Natasha Howard will miss up to 6 weeks after breaking foot in season opener". kplctv.com. KPLCTV. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Graham, Arie (June 2024). "Monique Billings is putting up career numbers with the Dallas Wings". thenexthoops.com. The Next Hoops. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Sabally, Siegrist and Brown Scheduled To Return To Dallas Wings Lineup". wings.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "PHOENIX MERCURY SIGNS VETERAN FORWARD MONIQUE BILLINGS TO A SEVEN-DAY CONTRACT". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Sports, Arizona (2024-08-25). "Mercury sign forward Monique Billings through rest of season". Arizona Sports. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ "Monique Billings' Asan Woori Bank Wibee Player Profile Page". Retrieved February 21, 2019.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ "Monique Billings WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference.
- ^ "NCAA Statistics". web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information from WNBA.com and Basketball Reference
- UCLA Bruins bio
- 1996 births
- Living people
- American expatriate basketball people in China
- American women's basketball players
- Atlanta Dream draft picks
- Atlanta Dream players
- Basketball players from Riverside, California
- Dallas Wings players
- Heilongjiang Dragons players
- Phoenix Mercury players
- Power forwards
- UCLA Bruins women's basketball players
- 21st-century American sportswomen