Sugar Rodgers

Sugar Rodgers
No. 14 – New York Liberty
Position Guard
League WNBA
Personal information
Born (1989-12-08) December 8, 1989
Suffolk, Virginia
Nationality American
Listed height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Listed weight 160 lb (73 kg)
Career information
High school King's Fork (Suffolk, Virginia)
College Georgetown (2009–2013)
WNBA draft 2013 / Round: 2 / Pick: 14th overall
Selected by the Minnesota Lynx
Playing career 2013–present
Career history
2013 Minnesota Lynx
2014–present New York Liberty
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com

Ta'Shauna "Sugar" Rodgers (born December 8, 1989) is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for the New York Liberty of the WNBA.[1] Rodgers is a guard, and played her college ball for the Georgetown Hoyas. A prolific three-point shooter, Rodgers was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in part to fill the void created by the trade of Candice Wiggins.[2]

Rodgers (left) with Georgetown

At Georgetown, she was the school's all-time scoring leader, with 2,518 points, and the team's all-time steals leader, with 326, as well as holding the team record for 3-point field goals made.[3] She was a four-time All Big East First Team pick, and was drafted by the Lynx in the second round as the 14th overall pick.[4]

Early life

Rodgers was born in Suffolk, Virginia to Barbara Mae Rodgers and Oscar Allen Saunders, Jr. in 1989. Rodgers played basketball for her high school team at King's Fork High School, where she became the school's MVP all four years, conference Player of the Year three times, as well as a McDonald's All-American. She graduated with her school's records in career points, assists, rebounds and blocks. At the 2007 AAU Nike Nationals, Sugar didn't start, but played in every game as for the Suffolk Blazers, and was named the tournament's MVP.[5] Sugar's mother, who had played basketball herself at Booker T. Washington High School, died in 2005 from lupus, and her father died in July 2012.[5]

College career

Rodgers was recruited to the Georgetown Hoyas in part through her play on the AAU Suffolk Blazers, who were coached by Boo Williams, the brother of Georgetown head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy.[5] Rodgers excelled early at Georgetown, and was named 2010 Big East Rookie of the Year,[6] as well as First Team All-Big East, a feat she repeated all four years.[7] That year she led the team to new heights, propelling them into the national rankings for the first time in fifteen years,[8] and helping the team to just its second NCAA Tournament invitation. In her sophomore year, she led the team to the NCAA's Sweet Sixteen with an upset win over rival Maryland,[9] before losing to UConn.[10]

In her four years, she amassed 2,518 points to become the leading scorer all-time at Georgetown on either the men's or women's team.[3][7] The leading scorer on the men's team, Sleepy Floyd had only 2,304 points, while Patrick Ewing had 2,184.[11] She was a three-time AP Honorable Mention All-American, and majored in English.[7]

Professional

Rodgers was selected 2nd in the 2nd round of the 2013 WNBA Draft as the 14th overall pick by the Minnesota Lynx.[12] She made the team out of training camp, and made her professional debut on June 1, 2013, in a victory over the Connecticut Sun.[13] Rodgers has logged the most minutes of the three rookies on the team, earning playing time thanks to aggressive defense and hustle.[14]

During the WNBA off season, Rodgers joined the Arras team in France. She was traded to the New York Liberty prior to the 2014 season.

References

  1. ↑ Parham, Nate (April 15, 2013). "2013 WNBA Draft: Minnesota Lynx select Sugar Rodgers with the 14th pick in the draft". Swish Appeal. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  2. ↑ Youngblood, Kent (April 16, 2013). "Lynx add depth at guard in draft". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Wagner, Laura (April 16, 2013). "Rodgers Taken 14th in Draft". The Hoya. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Minnesota takes Suffolk's Rodgers in WNBA draft". The Virginian-Pilot. April 16, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 Schad, Tom (December 24, 2012). "Sugar Rodgers emerges from toilsome roots to lead Hoyas". The Washington Times. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  6. ↑ Hays, Graham (December 5, 2010). "No sugarcoating for Sugar Rodgers". ESPN. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 "Rodgers Selected 14th Overall in WNBA Draft". Georgetown Hoyas. April 15, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  8. ↑ Orton, Kathy (March 7, 2010). "Freshman Sugar Rodgers has led Georgetown women to new heights". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  9. ↑ Gerstner, Joanne C. (March 23, 2011). "Georgetown's Sweet Trip to the Final 16". The New York Times. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Huskies continue march toward 3rd straight title with rally past Georgetown". ESPN. Associated Press. March 27, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Pitt Women's Basketball to Host Sixth Annual Pink the Petersen Game on Feb. 23". Pittsburgh Panthers. February 23, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  12. ↑ "WNBA Draft Board". WNBA. April 15, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Lynx vs. Sun, 1 June 2013". WNBA. June 1, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  14. ↑ Minnesota Lynx 2013 Statistics, wnba.com. http://www.wnba.com/lynx/stats/

External links

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