Rebekkah Brunson (born December 11, 1981) is a basketball player playing forward for the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. Brunson played for the Georgetown University women's basketball team in college.

Brunson was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Oxon Hill High School in Maryland.

Brunson graduated from Georgetown in 2004 as its women's basketball program's all-time leading rebounder. She also played on the U.S.A.'s 2003 Pan American Games team.

WNBA career[link]

The Sacramento Monarchs chose Brunson in the 1st round of the 2004 WNBA Draft as the tenth overall pick. She played in Sacramento for six seasons and contributed to the Monarchs' 2005 WNBA Championship victory. She led the league in offensive rebounds per game (3.9) and total offensive rebounds (130) for the 2007 regular season.

After the Monarchs suspended operations in the fall of 2009, the Minnesota Lynx acquired Brunson in a dispersal draft.

In 2011, Brunson tied a WNBA record with six consecutive double-doubles, and was named WNBA Player of the Month for June, the first member of the Lynx to be so honored.^[1] She was later named to the 2011 WNBA All-Star game, and started in place of an injured Candace Parker.^[2] Brunson led the Lynx in field goal percentage and rebounds in a year where the team had the best record in the WNBA. She was honored with her first appearance on the WNBA All-Defensive First Team; she had earned second-team honors three previous times.

Overseas career[link]

During WNBA offseasons, Brunson has played for Taranto, an Italian professional basketball team, for the Dynamo team based in Russia, and Dexia Namur, a professional club in Belgium, and for Nadezhda team based in Orenburg, Russia.

USA Basketball[link]

Brunson was one of 21 finalists for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team Roster. The 20 professional women's basketball payers, plus one collegiate player (Brittney Griner), were selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee to compete for the final roster which will represent the USA at the 2012 Olympics in London.^[3]

Personal life[link]

Brunson established and manages the 32 Foundation (named for her jersey number), which sponsors academic and athletic opportunities for youth in the metropolitan DC area.^[4]

External links[link]

• Lynx look to keep ‘Special Season’ going as second half begins

Coach Pokey Chatman
WNBA's Chicago Sky
Born	(1969-06-18) June 18, 1969 (age 43) Ama, Louisiana
Nationality	American
College	LSU
WNBA career	2011–present
Regular season	14–20 (.412)
Profile	WNBA Info Page
WNBA Head Coach of
Chicago Sky (2011–present)

Dana "Pokey" Chatman (born June 18, 1969 in Ama, Louisiana) is the current general manager and head coach of the Chicago Sky of the WNBA. She is the former head coach of the LSU Lady Tigers basketball team and the Spartak Moscow's women's basketball team. After taking over from coach Sue Gunter in 2004, Chatman led the Lady Tigers to three consecutive NCAA Final Fours in 2004 (as acting head coach for the ailing Gunter), 2005, and 2006.

Notably, Chatman resigned from her post at LSU on March 7, 2007 amid allegations of inappropriate relationships with former players that were alleged to have begun when Chatman was coaching the players.^[1] The resignation and ensuing controversy appeared to have little effect on her team's preparation for the NCAA Tournament; as the Tigers made it to the 2007 Final Four.

Biography[link]

High school career[link]

She played point guard in high school and was a 5-time AAU All-American.

LSU playing career[link]

The 1991 Kodak All-American point guard played for Gunter from 1987 to 1991, starting all but one game and setting the all-time steals (346) and assists (570) records at LSU. Her assist record was broken in the 2003–2004 season by Temeka Johnson. Chatman played in the NCAA Tournament four times and posted a record of 82-38 as a player. She was a three-time All-SEC selection and led the Lady Tigers to their first ever SEC Tournament title in 1991, where she was the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

LSU coaching career[link]

Chatman served as a student assistant with the Lady Tigers for one season (1991–1992), before being named assistant coach prior to the 1992–1993 season. During her 13th season as a Lady Tiger coach (five as associate coach) when Gunter took a medical leave of absence due to respiratory problems in the middle of the 2003–2004 season. Chatman was named interim coach and led the TIgers to a 15–5 record and the first Final Four in school history. However, LSU credits the entire season to Gunter. When Gunter announced her retirement on April 27, 2004, Chatman was named only the fourth head coach in school history.

Head coach[link]

In Chatman’s first season as head coach, she led the Lady Tigers to a 33–3 record, an undefeated SEC regular season title (14–0), and the program’s second consecutive Final Four, falling to eventual national champion Baylor in the semifinals. The 2005–2006 season was no different, as the Lady Tigers finished with a 31–4 record, captured its second consecutive SEC regular season title (13–1), and reached their third straight Final Four, this time losing to Duke. Chatman’s 47–3 record is the second best record through 50 games in women’s basketball history. Only Hall of Fame coach Leon Barmore, the former Louisiana Tech head coach, had a better record (48–2).

Chatman Won numerous awards, including the Black Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2005; the 2005 USBWA National Coach of the Year,^[2] the 2005 Russell/WBCA National Coach of the Year; the 2005 Naismith National Coach of the Year; the 2005 Victor Award Female Coach of the Year; the 2005 SEC Coach of the Year; and the 2005 Louisiana Coach of the Year.

In 2005, Chatman served as the assistant coach for the USA Women’s World University Games Team, which won the gold medal. Chatman also won a medal as a player on the 1990 USA Select Team.

Chatman was inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame in 1998.

Resignation as LSU Head Coach[link]

Chatman resigned as the head women's basketball coach at LSU on March 7, 2007 after the university became aware of an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship between Chatman and a former player. Former LSU assistant coach Carla Berry, a college teammate of Chatman's, reported the alleged relationship to the university in February.^[3] Assistant coach Bob Starkey was named interim coach and led the team during the 2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament, in which the Tigers made their fourth consecutive Final Four.

Chatman claimed that after LSU learned about the alleged relationship, it conducted a cursory investigation before giving her an ultimatum--resign within two hours or be fired. She initially demanded to be paid the remaining $900,000 on her contract.^[4] Ultimately, LSU and Chatman settled out of court for $160,000.^[5]

Spartak[link]

In August 2007 she signed as assistant coach of the Moscow's Spartak, winner of the 2007 Euroleague's Final against the Ros Casares from Valencia (Spain). In 2010, as the head coach of Spartak, Chatman led the team to a 16-0 Euroleague record and the 2010 Euroleague Championship. She is currently still seen on the bench, coaching.

Chicago Sky[link]

On October 29, 2010, Chatman was named the general manager and head coach of the Chicago Sky of the WNBA.

Collegiate Head Coaching Record[link]

External links[link]

• Profile at LSU Athletic Site

References[link]