Tierra Ruffin-Pratt (born April 11, 1991) is a former American professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

player. She played for 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. The team was founded pri ...

and the

Los Angeles Sparks The Los Angeles Sparks (LA Sparks) are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Sparks compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The team was foun ...

in the

Women's National Basketball Association The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is an American professional basketball league. It is composed of twelve teams, all based in the United States. The league was founded on April 22, 1996, as the women's counterpart to the Natio ...

(WNBA). She played college basketball at the

University of North Carolina The University of North Carolina is the multi-campus public university system for the state of North Carolina. Overseeing the state's 16 public universities and the NC School of Science and Mathematics, it is commonly referred to as the UNC Sy ...

and attended T. C. Williams High School in

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Downto ...

College statistics

Source

Professional career

Ruffin-Pratt joined the

training camp roster in May 2013 after going undrafted in the 2013 WNBA Draft. In her rookie season, she played 34 games off the bench and averaged 4.4 ppg That year the Mystics made the playoffs finishing 3rd place in the Eastern Conference with a 17–17 record but were eliminated 2–1 in the first round by the

Atlanta Dream The Atlanta Dream are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was founded for the 2008 WNBA season. The team is owned by real ...

. In her second season, Ruffin-Pratt continued her bench role with her playing time slightly increased. She averaged 4.5 ppg in 34 games and 6 starts. The Mystics were third place in the Eastern Conference yet again with a 16–18 record, but were eliminated in a 2-game sweep by the

Indiana Fever The Indiana Fever are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was founded before the 2000 season began. The team is owned ...

. In the 2015 season, Ruffin-Pratt became the starting shooting guard for the Mystics. She played 32 games with 31 starts and averaged a career-high in scoring. Ruffin-Pratt scored a career-high 20 points in an 84–80 win against the

on June 23, 2015. The Mystics made the playoffs finishing 4th place in the Eastern Conference with an 18–16 record and were a first round exit yet again as they were defeated 2-1 by the

New York Liberty The New York Liberty are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Liberty compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of the league's Eastern Conference. The team was f ...

. In the 2016 season, Ruffin-Pratt moved to small forward in the Mystics starting lineup in order to make room for

Tayler Hill Tayler Hill (born October 23, 1990) is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. Hill previously played for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketbal ...

at shooting guard. Ruffin-Pratt averaged 7.3 ppg in her new role at the wing, but the Mystics finished 13-21 and were eliminated from playoff contention. In 2017, Ruffin-Pratt re-signed with the Mystics once her rookie contract expired. During the 2017 season, Ruffin-Pratt started in all 34 games for the first time in her career. She briefly played the small forward role in the Mystics starting lineup during one of their starters' absence. After Hill tore her ACL, Ruffin-Pratt moved back to shooting guard. She averaged 7.3 ppg and the Mystics made the playoffs with an 18–16 record and the number 6 seed in the league following the league's new playoff format the previous season. The Mystics advanced all the way to the semi-finals after defeating the

Dallas Wings The Dallas Wings are an American basketball team based in Arlington, Texas. The Wings play in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team is owned by a group which is led by chairman Bill Cameron. Greg ...

and

in the first and second round elimination games, marking the first time in franchise history the Mystics advanced past the second round. In the semi-finals, 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 ...

defeated the Mystics in a 3-game sweep. In 2018, Ruffin-Pratt was a role player for the Mystics, occasionally starting and coming off the bench. Her contributions helped the Mystics to a 22–12 record and the number 3 seed in the league. They received a bye to the second round. In the second round elimination game, they defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 96–64 to advance to the semi-finals for the second year in a row. In the semi-finals, the Mystics defeated the Atlanta Dream in five games to advance to the WNBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. In the Finals, the

Seattle Storm The Seattle Storm are an American professional basketball team based in Seattle. The Storm competes in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The team was founded by Ginger Ackerl ...

swept the Mystics. In 2019, Ruffin-Pratt signed with the

. She would immediately enter the Sparks' starting lineup. Ruffin-Pratt started in 33 of the 34 games played during the season, the Sparks finished 22–12 with the number 3 seed, receiving a bye to the second round. In the second round elimination game, the Sparks defeated the defending champion

92–69 to advance to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, the Sparks would lose to the

Connecticut Sun The Connecticut Sun are an American professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut that competes in the Eastern Conference (WNBA), Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was established ...

in a three-game sweep. In 2020, the season was delayed and shortened to 22 games in a bubble due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

. Ruffin-Pratt played 17 games with 10 starts, missing a few games with a shoulder injury. The Sparks were the number 3 seed with a 15–7 record, receiving a bye to the second round elimination game, but were once again eliminated by the Connecticut Sun. On May 22, 2022, Ruffin-Pratt announced her retirement of professional basketball.

WNBA career statistics

WNBA regular season

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Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...

, 34 , , 0 , , 14.8 , , .359 , , .143 , , .783 , , 2.8 , , 0.8 , , 0.7 , , 0.2 , , 4.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 34 , , 6 , , 16.2 , , .383 , , .250 , , .705 , , 2.9 , , 1.3 , , 0.7 , , 0.1 , , 4.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 32 , , 31 , , 23.9 , , .371 , , .326 , , .759 , , 3.0 , , 2.2 , , 0.8 , , 0.3 , , 7.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 32 , , 31 , , 24.4 , , .369 , , .320 , , .747 , , 4.5 , , 2.6 , , 1.0 , , 0.3 , , 7.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 34 , , 34 , , 24.3 , , .337 , , .000 , , .738 , , 5.3 , , 2.3 , , 1.0 , , 0.5 , , 7.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 33 , , 10 , , 18.1 , , .341 , , .314 , , .855 , , 2.0 , , 1.5 , , 0.6 , , 0.2 , , 5.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, 34 , , 33 , , 25.2 , , .367 , , .342 , , .854 , , 2.4 , , 1.7 , , 0.8 , , 0.6 , , 6.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 17 , , 10 , , 14.5 , , .267 , , .462 , , .731 , , 2.1 , , 0.9 , , 0.7 , , 0.2 , , 2.9 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" , Career , 250 , , 155 , , 20.5 , , .357 , , .318 , , .768 , , 3.2 , , 1.7 , , 0.8 , , 0.3 , , 5.8

WNBA postseason

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2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fact ...

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, , 3, , 0, , 15.0, , .385, , .000, , .583, , 2.0, , 0.7, , 1.0, , 0.0, , 5.7 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

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, , 2, , 0, , 10.6, , .000, , .000, , 1.000, , 3.5, , 1.0, , 0.0, , 0.5, , 1.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2015 File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the Apri ...

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, , 3, , 3, , 26.9, , .333, , .333, , 1.000, , 3.7, , 3.7, , 1.6, , 0.0, , 8.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

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, , 5, , 5, , 26.8, , .457, , .000, , .824, , 5.0, , 2.4, , 0.6, , 0.8, , 9.2 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

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, , 9, , 0, , 17.4, , .385, , .235, , 1.000, , 2.2, , 0.8, , 0.7, , 0.3, , 5.2 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, , 4, , 4, , 18.0, , .280 , , .182 , , .857 , , 1.8, , 2.0, , 0.5, , 0.8, , 5.5 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

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, , 1, , 0, , 13.0, , .000 , , .000 , , .000 , , 2.0, , 3.0, , 0.0, , 1.0, , 0.0 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" , Career , 27 , , 12 , , 19.4 , , .358 , , .216 , , .800 , , 2.9 , , 1.7 , , 0.7 , , 0.4 , , 5.9

References

External links

North Carolina Tar Heels bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruffin-Pratt, Tierra 1991 births Living people African-American basketball players American women's basketball players Basketball players from Virginia Guards (basketball) Los Angeles Sparks players North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball players Sportspeople from Alexandria, Virginia Undrafted Women's National Basketball Association players Washington Mystics players T. C. Williams High School alumni 21st-century African-American sportspeople 21st-century African-American women