Anitra Necole "Nikki" Blue (born March 29, 1984) is an American professional basketball assistant coach for the Phoenix Mercury.

High school

Born and raised in Bakersfield, California, Blue played her high school career at West High School. Blue set the CIF Central Section record for points scored in a single season (913 in the 2000–01 season) and career (2,934 points). Blue averaged 29 points per game her senior year at West and lead Kern County in assist per game as well. Blue is regarded as the best player to ever come out of the CIF Central Section. However, due to the lack of talent around her, West High never won a section championship during Blue's career. The closest West came was in 2002 when West lost to crosstown rival Stockdale 82–55 in the CIF Central Section Division II championship game. Blue was named a WBCA All-American. She participated in the 2001 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored two points.

College

Blue was regarded as one of the best point guards in the country, and was offered a full-ride scholarship to the

University of Connecticut The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university in Storrs, Connecticut, a village in the town of Mansfield. The primary 4,400-acre (17.8 km2) campus is in Storrs, approximately a half hour's drive from H ...

, the nations top ranked team in 2002. However, Blue turned the offer down and instead opted to go to

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California ...

, which went 10–20 during the 2002 season. Blue stated that UCLA was closer to home and she liked the idea of rebuilding a program. At UCLA, Blue was a four-year starting point guard. She was named first-team All- Pacific-10 Conference and to the All-Freshmen team. She averaged 16.6 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, 3.6 assist per game, and 2.7 steals per game her freshman year. As a sophomore, she was named first-team All- Pac-10 for the second straight year. As a junior, she joined

Ann Meyers Ann Meyers Drysdale (born Ann Elizabeth Meyers; March 26, 1955) is an American former basketball player and sportscaster. She was a standout player in high school, college, the Olympic Games, international tournaments, and the professional level ...

as the second Bruin to record over 1,300 points and 400 assists. She was one of the finalists for the

Nancy Lieberman Award The Nancy Lieberman Award, named for Basketball Hall of Fame legend Nancy Lieberman, was given annually by the Rotary Club of Detroit in the Award's first 14 years to the nation's top collegiate point guard in women's Division I basketball. Sue Bi ...

her senior year. Her career averages at UCLA were 15.2 points per game, 5.1 assist per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, and 2.8 steals per game.

UCLA statistics

Source

Professional

After her college career, Blue was selected in the second round of the

2006 WNBA Draft On November 16, 2005, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) held an expansion draft for the Chicago Sky. It was the first expansion draft since the 2000 season, when the WNBA welcomed the Miami Sol, Portland Fire, Indiana Fever, an ...

by the

Washington Mystics The Washington Mystics are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Mystics compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member club of the league's Eastern Conference (WNBA), Eastern Conference ...

. She played 4 seasons with the Mystics before being traded on May 13, 2010 to the New York Liberty in exchange for rookie

Ashley Houts Ashley Houts (born December 31, 1987) is an American professional basketball player most recently with the Washington Mystics of the WNBA. High school career Ashley Houts attended Dade County High School where she played basketball. During h ...

Career Totals

Personal

Her full name is Anitra Necole Blue. She is the daughter to Sabrina Hunter and has one brother, Andre. She has served as an assistant coach in the UNLV women's basketball program for the past two years during her off-season from the WNBA. Her biggest thrill to date was being selected to play in the first McDonald's All-Star game in New York. She also lettered in volleyball (three years), softball (one year) and track and field (one year). She majored in history at UCLA.

Notes

External links

Cal State Bakersfield coaching bio

WNBA.com
UCLA bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blue, Nikki 1984 births Living people American expatriate basketball people in Greece American expatriate basketball people in Turkey American women's basketball players American women's basketball coaches Basketball players from Bakersfield, California Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners women's basketball coaches McDonald's High School All-Americans New York Liberty players Parade High School All-Americans (girls' basketball) Phoenix Mercury coaches Point guards UCLA Bruins women's basketball players UNLV Lady Rebels basketball coaches Washington Mystics draft picks Washington Mystics players