Kalana Greene
Encyclopedia
Kalana Lanette Greene is a basketball guard, currently for the Connecticut Sun
of the WNBA, and CCC Polkowice in Poland. She played her college career at the University of Connecticut
, where the Huskies
were the 2009 and 2010 NCAA national Champions.
, as the daughter of Addison and Cynthia Greene.
. She helped her team win twenty or more games for three consecutive seasons, and in her senior year, she led the team to its first ever state championship. She averaged 17 points per game as a freshman; by the time she was a senior, she averaged 28 points, 18 rebounds, nine steals and eight assists per game.
Greene was named a WBCA
All-American. She participated in the 2005 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored four points.
Huskies
.
Greene suffered a major knee injury in a game on 17 December 2007 against South Carolina, an injury that would end her season. It turned out to be a damaged ACL
and torn LCL
. UConn rarely played South Carolina, but set up a two game series, with a game in 2007 against South Carolina in Connecticut, with a return trip to South Carolina in 2008, scheduled so that Greene could play in her home state as a senior. Her coach, Geno Auriemma, worried it might be a career-ending injury.
She worked hard to rehabilitate her knee, including staying on campus over the summer to work out in the gym every day. She played the following season, for a team that won the national championship, although not at the same level as before her injury. During the year, she had to make a decision whether to leave as an academic senior, or return for a fifth year. Players who are injured during a year can get an additional year of eligibility, if they haven't played too many games in the season. Greene's injury occurred in the eighth game of her junior season, so she was eligible to return if she chose. She considered her options,and chose to return for a fifth year.
On 9 March 2010, Greene played in her 151st game as a UConn Husky, more than any other player in UConn Women's basketball history, breaking the mark held by Renee Montgomery
. Greene played in 157 games in her complete college career, an NCAA record.
Greene helped lead UConn to the Championship of the Big East Tournament, and earned Most Outstanding Player of the tournament for her performance.
, selected by the New York Liberty
. After playing one season for the Liberty, she was traded to the Connecticut Sun
for the draft rights of Sydney Colson, the Texas A&M
selected by the Sun in the second round of the 2011 WNBA draft.
2010/2011 season.
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
of the WNBA, and CCC Polkowice in Poland. She played her college career at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, where the Huskies
Connecticut Huskies
The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice...
were the 2009 and 2010 NCAA national Champions.
Early life
Greene grew up in St. Stephen, South CarolinaSt. Stephen, South Carolina
St. Stephen is a town in Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,776 at the 2000 census.As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes only, St. Stephen is included within the Charleston-North...
, as the daughter of Addison and Cynthia Greene.
High school
Greene played basketball for Timberland High School in St. Stephen, South CarolinaSt. Stephen, South Carolina
St. Stephen is a town in Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,776 at the 2000 census.As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes only, St. Stephen is included within the Charleston-North...
. She helped her team win twenty or more games for three consecutive seasons, and in her senior year, she led the team to its first ever state championship. She averaged 17 points per game as a freshman; by the time she was a senior, she averaged 28 points, 18 rebounds, nine steals and eight assists per game.
Greene was named a WBCA
Women's Basketball Coaches Association
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is an association of coaches of women's basketball teams at all levels.The organization was formed in 1981, with the goal of addressing the needs of women's basketball coaches.The mission of the WBCA is:...
All-American. She participated in the 2005 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored four points.
College
Greene's choices came down to Georgia and Connecticut. She liked the Georgia program, but the UConn program, with both a family atmosphere and an expectation you have to work hard for everything you get swayed her to choose to come to join the University of ConnecticutUniversity of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
Huskies
Connecticut Huskies
The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice...
.
Greene suffered a major knee injury in a game on 17 December 2007 against South Carolina, an injury that would end her season. It turned out to be a damaged ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
and torn LCL
Fibular collateral ligament
-External links:*...
. UConn rarely played South Carolina, but set up a two game series, with a game in 2007 against South Carolina in Connecticut, with a return trip to South Carolina in 2008, scheduled so that Greene could play in her home state as a senior. Her coach, Geno Auriemma, worried it might be a career-ending injury.
She worked hard to rehabilitate her knee, including staying on campus over the summer to work out in the gym every day. She played the following season, for a team that won the national championship, although not at the same level as before her injury. During the year, she had to make a decision whether to leave as an academic senior, or return for a fifth year. Players who are injured during a year can get an additional year of eligibility, if they haven't played too many games in the season. Greene's injury occurred in the eighth game of her junior season, so she was eligible to return if she chose. She considered her options,and chose to return for a fifth year.
On 9 March 2010, Greene played in her 151st game as a UConn Husky, more than any other player in UConn Women's basketball history, breaking the mark held by Renee Montgomery
Renee Montgomery
Renee Danielle Montgomery is an American basketball player who won a national championship with the UConn Huskies in 2009. She currently plays for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.-High school:...
. Greene played in 157 games in her complete college career, an NCAA record.
Greene helped lead UConn to the Championship of the Big East Tournament, and earned Most Outstanding Player of the tournament for her performance.
WNBA
Greene was the 13th overall selection in the 2010 WNBA Draft2010 WNBA Draft
The 2010 WNBA Draft is the league's annual process for determining which teams receive the rights to negotiate with players entering the league. The draft was held on April 8, 2010. The first round was shown on ESPN2 , while the second and third rounds were shown on NBA TV and ESPNU.A lottery was...
, selected by the New York Liberty
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
. After playing one season for the Liberty, she was traded to the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
for the draft rights of Sydney Colson, the Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
selected by the Sun in the second round of the 2011 WNBA draft.
Europe
Greene plays for CCC Polkowice in Poland – silver medalist of the PLKKPLKK
PLKK is a Polish female basketball league. The league also uses sponsors' names.- PLKK names in previous seasons :* 2006-still Ford Germaz Ekstraklasa...
2010/2011 season.
Awards and honors
- WBCAWomen's Basketball Coaches AssociationThe Women's Basketball Coaches Association is an association of coaches of women's basketball teams at all levels.The organization was formed in 1981, with the goal of addressing the needs of women's basketball coaches.The mission of the WBCA is:...
All-American. - Kalana Greene All-BIG EAST First Team
- Kalana Greene Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player