Women's Basketball Hall Of Fame Announces Class Of 2010

-- Three Olympian And Two Past USA Basketball Coaches Earn Induction --

July 25, 2009

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Teresa Edwards is a five-time Olympian and was among six inductees into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2009.	.

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 12th group of inductees, the Class of 2010, on July 25, and the six members of the Class of 2010 included former WNBA standouts and Olympians Rebecca Lobo, Teresa Edwards and Teresa Weatherspoon, former Maryland and USA Basketball coach Chris Weller, longtime high school girls' basketball coach Leta Andrews and Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation President and CEO Gloria Ray. Five of the six Class of 2010 inductees have experience playing or coaching USA Basketball teams.

The six individuals in the Class of 2010 will be formally inducted as members of the Hall of Fame on June 12, 2010, in Knoxville, Tennessee. They will alos be introduced to the world at the 2009 State Farm Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 15 at the University of Tennessee.

With the addition of the Class of 2010, the list of individuals who have been recognized as Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductees will increase to 115.

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame's Board of Directors serves as the selection committee in determining which individuals will be inducted each year. Voting is based on various factors, which may include moral character, integrity, sportsmanship, record of performance, ability, national or international recognition, and contributions to the game of women's basketball.

In order to be considered for selection for induction, an individual must meet the following prerequisites:

• Player: Must be retired from the highest level of play for at least five years
• Coach: Must have coached the women's game at least 20 years
• Referee: Must have officiated the women's game at least 10 years
• Contributor: Must have significantly impacted the game of women's basketball

The mission of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, which opened in June 1999, is to -honor the past, celebrate the present, and promote the future" of women's basketball.

LETA ANDREWS
Andrews is the winningest high school girls' basketball coach in the country with a 1,312-282 career record. In her 47 seasons at Granbury High School, she has taken her team to 16 State Final Four appearances, winning the state title in 1990. She is a member of the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and coached the 2004 McDonald's All-America Game. In 1993 Andrews was named the Outstanding American Coach/Teacher of the Year by the Walt Disney Company. Will be entering her 48th season as head coach at Granbury. In 1991 Andrews served as an assistant coach for the NorethTeam at the U.S. Olympic Festival and helped the team earn a silver medal.

TERESA EDWARDS
Edwards is the most decorated Olympic basketball player on the planet, men or women, owning four gold medals and one bronze medal in five Olympics. She is the youngest (1984) and the oldest (2000) U.S. Olympic basketball player to ever win a gold medal. Edwards is a member of the historic 1996 USA Olympic and 1995-96 USA Basketball Women's National teams that compiled a combined 60-0 record. She played 4 seasons in the ABL, three of those with the Atlanta Glory. Named the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year a record four times.

REBECCA LOBO
Lobo attended the University of Connecticut and helped lead the Huskies to the program's first National Championship with an undefeated 35-0 record in 1995. She was a two-time Kodak All-American, 1995 Wade Trophy Winner and 1995 Naismith Player of the Year. A member of the historic 1995-96 USA National Team that compiled an amazing 52-0 record, the team went on to capyutre gold at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Lobo was also a member of three other USA Basketball Team, including the 1992 U18 National Team and 1993 U19 World Championship squad. Lobo joined the WNBA for its inaugural season and spent the first five years of her career with the New York Liberty. In 1996, Lobo and her mother wrote a book, The Home Team, which dealt with her mom's battle with breast cancer. Lobo is currently a sideline reporter and color analyst for ESPN.

GLORIA RAY
She led the drive to plan and construct the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, which opened in June 1999. As a woman of many firsts, Ray was the first women's Athletic Director at the University of Tennessee. The University of Tennessee Lady Vol Leadership Award is named in her honor and she was recognized by Business Tennessee as one of the most powerful people in Tennessee. A former teacher and coach, Ray is currently the President and CEO of the Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation.

TERESA WEATHERSPOON
One of the original players of the WNBA, Weatherspoon started 220 straight games for the New York Liberty while leading the Liberty to three WNBA Championship appearances. She was a four-time WNBA All-Star and a two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. In April, Weatherspoon was named head coach at Louisiana Tech, where she was a two-time Kodak All American and led the Lady Techsters to the 1988 National Championship. She was the 1988 Wade Trophy winner. Weatherspoon was a two-time Olympian who won gold in 1988 and bronze in 1992. She was also a member of numerous other USA teams, including the 1986 gold medalist USA World Championship and Goodwill Games teams.

CHRIS WELLER
Weller is one of a few coaches, men's of women's, to coach 25 seasons at the same institution. She averaged nearly 20 wins per season and completed 26 seasons as head coach of her alma mater, University of Maryland. She guided Maryland to three Final Fours, eight Elite Eights, 10 Sweet Sixteen appearances and eight ACC Championships. Was named ACC Coach of the Year twice and was the 1992 Naismith Coach of the Year. Served as chair of the WBCA Legislative Committee and was a member of the USA Women's Basketball Olympic Committee. Weller was head coach of four USA teams and an assistant for another. She led the USA to gold at the 1992 R. William Jones Cup, directed the USA East team to gold at the 1978 U.S. Olympic Fesitval, and coached two other USA Select teams.