The San Antonio Silver Stars boast a roster with a pantheon of excellent players.
However, point guard Becky Hammon takes the cake when it comes to her skills on the court. She has led her team to many victories, and such a player deserves more than just recognition as a great basketball player. She deserves to be seen as a dynamic individual, whose skills and passions go far beyond the basketball court.
Early Basketball
She was born Rebecca Lynn Hammon, the youngest of three children growing up in Rapid City, South Dakota. Growing up, she always showed athletic prowess.
However, her basketball career began at Stevens High School in her home town. In her junior year, due to her immense efforts and skill in leading her team, she was named South Dakota Miss Basketball, and in her senior year was named South Dakota Player of the Year. That year, she averaged 26 points per game, as well as 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
College – On the Road to the WNBA
Luckily for modern basketball fans, Hammon’s career did not end in high school. She went on to play at Colorado State University, where she led her team to an amazing year with 33 wins and only 3 losses in the 1998-99 season. This ultimately led the team to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, an honor that many college basketball teams can only dream about.
As a result of her incredible skill and team leadership, Hammon was awarded many honors in college. She was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year for three years (1996-99) and made the All-WAC First Team all four years of her college career.
Not only that, but she was also named the 1996 Freshman of the Year, and in 1998 was named the Women’s Basketball News Service All-American. Further, she completed her college career as the WAC’s leading scorer in both men’s and women’s basketball with 2,740 points.
Professional Play
After college, Hammon immediately began her WNBA career with the New York Liberty in 1999. For four years, she served as a solid backup for the Liberty’s Teresa Weatherspoon. In the 2003 season, Hammon took over guard leadership for Weatherspoon.
In 2003, Hammon also signed with a National Women’s Basketball League team, the Tennessee Fury. She lead the WNBL in scoring at 20.6 points per game. In 2004, she transferred to the Colorado Chill, another WNBL team, but could only play in two games due to a knee injury that she got while playing for the New York Liberty.
The Silver Stars
During the 2007 WNBA draft, the San Antonio Silver Stars were lucky enough to get their hands on Hammon. She was traded to the Silver Stars in the second round, in exchange for Jessica Davenport, who was the second overall pick of the draft.
Hammon had an immediate effect on the Silver Stars. In her first season alone she managed to average 18.8 points per game, and five assists per game, making her first for both in the WNBA that year.
Personal Life
Becky Hammon tends to keep to herself when she is off the basketball court. However, there are a few things that she likes people to know about her. First, her parents names are Martin and Bev Hammon. She also has an older brother and sister named Matt and Gina.