Elaine Powell (born August 9, 1975) is an American assistant coach for the

Minnesota Lynx The Minnesota Lynx are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team won the WNBA title in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Founded pr ...

and former professional basketball player. A

point guard The point guard (PG), also called the one or the point, is one of the five Basketball positions, positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position. Point guards are expected to run t ...

born in

Monroe, Louisiana Monroe (historically french: Poste-du-Ouachita) is the eighth-largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and parish seat of Ouachita Parish. With a 2020 census-tabulated population of 47,702, it is the principal city of the Monroe metropolita ...

, she played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2008.Elaine Powell
basketball-reference.com

College career

In two years at

LSU Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1860 near ...

, Powell averaged 19.1 points per game (fourth in school history). She finished her career as LSU's 11th all-time leading scorer (1,163 points).

ABL career

Powell was drafted 20th overall in the 1997 ABL draft by the Portland Power. Powell was the starting point guard for the team.

WNBA career

After the ABL folded, Powell was drafted 50th overall in the 1999 WNBA draft by the

Orlando Miracle The Orlando Miracle were a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Orlando, Florida. It began play in the 1999 WNBA season. The Miracle relocated, in 2003, to Uncasville, Connecticut, where the team became the Connecticut Su ...

. Half way through the

2002 WNBA season The 2002 WNBA Season was the Women's National Basketball Association's sixth season. The season ended with the Los Angeles Sparks winning their second WNBA championship. Regular season standings Eastern Conference Western Conference Season aw ...

she was traded to the

Detroit Shock The Detroit Shock were a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006, and 2008 WNBA champions. Debuting in 1998, the Shock were one of the league's first expansion franchises. ...

in exchange for

Wendy Palmer Wendy Palmer (born August 12, 1974) is a former professional basketball player in the WNBA, and former head coach of the UNCG women's basketball team. Her primary position was forward. High school Born in Timberlake, North Carolina, Palmer at ...

. In November 2005, Powell was selected by the

Chicago Sky The Chicago Sky are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Sky compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member club of the league's Eastern Conference. The franchise was founded prior to the 20 ...

in the expansion draft. During the

2006 WNBA season The 2006 WNBA Season was the Women's National Basketball Association's tenth season. The league added one team the Chicago Sky. The Sky was the first expansion team since 2000 when the Indiana Fever, Miami Sol, Portland Fire, and the Seattle Stor ...

, she was waived by the Sky. Four days later, the

signed her as a free agent. During the

2008 WNBA season The 2008 WNBA season was the 12th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It was the first WNBA season with a franchise in Atlanta as the Dream were announced in late 2007. No WNBA All-Star Game was held due to the 2008 Summer Oly ...

(when not injured), Powell started all 16 of the games she played. She shot 49% from the field (second best in career).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, Elaine 1975 births Living people American women's basketball players Basketball players from Louisiana Chicago Sky players Detroit Shock players Junior college women's basketball players in the United States LGBT basketball players LGBT people from Louisiana Lesbian sportswomen LSU Tigers women's basketball players Orlando Miracle players Point guards Portland Power players Sportspeople from Monroe, Louisiana