Murriel Page
Encyclopedia
LaMurriel "Murriel" Page (born September 18, 1975) is a former American college and professional basketball
player who was a forward and center
in the Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA) for eleven seasons. Page played college basketball
for the University of Florida
, and was drafted in the first round of the 1998 WNBA Draft
. She played professionally for the Washington Mystics
and the Los Angeles Sparks
of the WNBA.
in 1975. She attended Bay Springs High School in Bay Springs, Mississippi
, where she led her Bay Springs high school basketball team to two state championships.
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
, where she played for the Florida Gators women's basketball
team. At the end of her Gators career, Page was ranked second all-time in points (1,915), rebounds (1,251), field goal percentage (.550), and free throws made (334). She graduated from the University of Florida with her bachelor's degree
in 1998, and was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 2009.
by the Washington Mystics, where she played for eight seasons. In March 2006, Page was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks along with Temeka Johnson
in exchange for Nikki Teasley
. During the 2008–2009 WNBA off-season, she played in Spain with Mallorca. During the 2007–08 off-season she played with San Jose, also in Spain.
for the 2010–11 season.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who was a forward and center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
in the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA) for eleven seasons. Page played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and was drafted in the first round of the 1998 WNBA Draft
1998 WNBA Draft
1998 WNBA Draft - 27 January 1998*On January 27, 1998 a total of 4 players were assigned to two teams in no particular order.*On February 18, 1998 a WNBA expansion draft took place*On April 28, 1998 the regular WNBA draft took place....
. She played professionally for the Washington Mystics
Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
and the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
of the WNBA.
Early years
Murriel Page was born in Louin, MississippiLouin, Mississippi
Louin is a town in Jasper County, Mississippi, United States located along route 15. The population was 339 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Louin is located at ....
in 1975. She attended Bay Springs High School in Bay Springs, Mississippi
Bay Springs, Mississippi
Bay Springs is a city in Jasper County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,097 at the 2000 census. It is located at the intersection of state highways 15 and 18. The area was settled in the 1880s by Joe Blankenship, who built the saw mill that became the town's industrial base...
, where she led her Bay Springs high school basketball team to two state championships.
College career
She accepted an athletic scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where she played for the Florida Gators women's basketball
Florida Gators women's basketball
The Florida Gators women's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Southeastern Conference...
team. At the end of her Gators career, Page was ranked second all-time in points (1,915), rebounds (1,251), field goal percentage (.550), and free throws made (334). She graduated from the University of Florida with her bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1998, and was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 2009.
Professional career
Page was selected third overall in the first round of the 1998 WNBA Draft1998 WNBA Draft
1998 WNBA Draft - 27 January 1998*On January 27, 1998 a total of 4 players were assigned to two teams in no particular order.*On February 18, 1998 a WNBA expansion draft took place*On April 28, 1998 the regular WNBA draft took place....
by the Washington Mystics, where she played for eight seasons. In March 2006, Page was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks along with Temeka Johnson
Temeka Johnson
Temeka Rochelle Johnson is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. Her primary position is point guard.-College years:...
in exchange for Nikki Teasley
Nikki Teasley
Nikki Teasley is a basketball player in the WNBA.She played college basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill....
. During the 2008–2009 WNBA off-season, she played in Spain with Mallorca. During the 2007–08 off-season she played with San Jose, also in Spain.
College coach
Following her retirement from professional basketball, Page become an assistant coach for the Florida Gators women's basketball team under head coach Amanda ButlerAmanda Butler
Amanda Butler is an American college basketball coach and former player. Butler is the current head coach of the Florida Gators women's basketball team of the University of Florida.- Career :...
for the 2010–11 season.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- List of Florida Gators basketball players
- List of University of Florida alumni
External links
- Murriel Page – Official WNBA player profile