Sheri Sam
Encyclopedia
Sheri Lynette Sam is an American professional basketball player currently playing in the WNBA
. She was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana
on May 5, 1974 as the youngest of eight siblings, and where she was a standout at Acadiana High School. She graduated from Vanderbilt University
in 1996. She competed with USA Basketball
as a member of the 1995 Jones Cup Team that won the Bronze in Taipei
.
in the now-defunct American Basketball League (ABL), a professional women's league.
in the WNBA Draft
and became one of the Miracle's most productive players that year. Sam was waived by the Miracle just before the 2000 season began, but was signed as a free agent
by the Miami Sol
. She played three seasons (2000, 2001, and 2002) with the Sol until the team folded due to financial difficulties. After the Sol ceased operations, the 2003 Dispersal Draft was held, and the Minnesota Lynx
selected Sam, and she played for the Lynx that season.
During the annual WNBA Draft
on April 15, 2004, Sam and Lynx teammate Janell Burse
were traded to the Seattle Storm
in exchange for Amanda Lassiter
and a first-round draft pick. The trade was engineered as part of the Lynx' plan to draft the highly-touted (and local favorite) Lindsay Whalen
. Unfortunately for the Lynx, the Connecticut Sun
had already selected Whalen. Sam spent the 2004 season with the Seattle Storm
, as the team won the WNBA Finals
by defeating, ironically, the Connecticut Sun
, two games to one. After the 2004 season ended, Sam became an unrestricted free agent
. On February 14, 2005, Sam signed with the Charlotte Sting
. She would be involved in yet another dispersal draft in 2007 after the demise of the Sting. This time, she was selected by the Indiana Fever
. On May 7, 2008 Sheri signed with the Detroit Shock
.
During the 2007-08 WNBA offseason, she played for Ashdod in Israel. She is currently playing for Panionios in Greece during the 2008-09 WNBA off-season.
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...
. She was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
on May 5, 1974 as the youngest of eight siblings, and where she was a standout at Acadiana High School. She graduated from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in 1996. She competed with USA Basketball
USA Basketball
USA Basketball is a non-profit organization and the governing body for basketball in the United States. The organization represents the United States in FIBA and the men's and women's national basketball teams in the United States Olympic Committee...
as a member of the 1995 Jones Cup Team that won the Bronze in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
.
ABL
After her college graduation, Sam played three years for the San Jose LasersSan Jose Lasers
The San Jose Lasers were a women's professional basketball team in San Jose, California. It was a member of the American Basketball League.The team folded along with the rest of the league during the third ABL season in 1998....
in the now-defunct American Basketball League (ABL), a professional women's league.
WNBA
Shortly after the ABL ceased operations in 1999, Sam was selected by the Orlando MiracleOrlando Miracle
The Orlando Miracle was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Orlando, Florida. They began play in the 1999 WNBA season. The Miracle relocated, in 2003,to Uncasville, Connecticut where the team became the Connecticut Sun...
in the WNBA Draft
WNBA Draft
The WNBA Draft is an annual draft held by the WNBA through which WNBA teams can select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. The first WNBA draft was held in 1997...
and became one of the Miracle's most productive players that year. Sam was waived by the Miracle just before the 2000 season began, but was signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Miami Sol
Miami Sol
The Miami Sol was a women's basketball team which joined the Women's National Basketball Association in 2000. They played their games at American Airlines Arena. The team folded after the 2002 season because of financial problems...
. She played three seasons (2000, 2001, and 2002) with the Sol until the team folded due to financial difficulties. After the Sol ceased operations, the 2003 Dispersal Draft was held, and the Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season...
selected Sam, and she played for the Lynx that season.
During the annual WNBA Draft
WNBA Draft
The WNBA Draft is an annual draft held by the WNBA through which WNBA teams can select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. The first WNBA draft was held in 1997...
on April 15, 2004, Sam and Lynx teammate Janell Burse
Janell Burse
Janell Burse is a 6'5" women's basketball player who recently played center for the Seattle Storm of the WNBA....
were traded to the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
in exchange for Amanda Lassiter
Amanda Lassiter
Amanda Lassiter is a professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association , currently with the Chicago Sky....
and a first-round draft pick. The trade was engineered as part of the Lynx' plan to draft the highly-touted (and local favorite) Lindsay Whalen
Lindsay Whalen
Lindsay Marie Whalen is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA. She began her pro career as a point guard for the Connecticut Sun...
. Unfortunately for the Lynx, 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...
had already selected Whalen. Sam spent the 2004 season with the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, as the team won the WNBA Finals
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
by defeating, ironically, 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...
, two games to one. After the 2004 season ended, Sam became an unrestricted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. On February 14, 2005, Sam signed with the Charlotte Sting
Charlotte Sting
The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007....
. She would be involved in yet another dispersal draft in 2007 after the demise of the Sting. This time, she was selected by the Indiana Fever
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
. On May 7, 2008 Sheri signed with the Detroit Shock
Detroit Shock
The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
.
During the 2007-08 WNBA offseason, she played for Ashdod in Israel. She is currently playing for Panionios in Greece during the 2008-09 WNBA off-season.