Athletes

Jennifer Azzi is one of the most versatile and decorated athletes in women's basketball. Azzi retired from the sport at the conclusion of the 2002-2003 Women's National Basketball Association's (WNBA) season after leading the San Antonio Silver Stars charge to the western conference finals. Throughout her professional career with the WNBA she was also a member of the Utah Starzz (2002, 2001, 2000) and Detroit Shock (1999) -- with three years of playoff berths (2002, 2001, 1999). She was a team leader in three-point field goal percentage (2002, 2001, 1999) as well as free throw percentage (2002, 2000). Azzi was selected as an alternate for the 2000 gold-medal-winning U.S. women's Olympic basketball squad, in addition to the U.S. senior women's national team (2000, 1999, 1999, 1998) and the three-time world champion U.S women's national team. She joined the WNBA in 1999 as a first-round draft pick after four-year stint in the American Basketball League (ABL). As a San Jose Laser, she was named to the ABL All-Star team for three consecutive years (1998, 1997, 1996). Azzi captured her first gold medal in 1996 as a member of the U.S. women's basketball team at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. That same year she was selected as the March of Dimes Female Athlete of the Year. At the 1994 USA Goodwill Games she averaged 7.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game, once again helping her team clinch the gold. As a member of the 1991 Pan American Games team, she averaged 6.7 points and 1.7 assists per game on her way to winning the bronze medal. During her collegiate career at Stanford University (1987-1990), Azzi and her team compiled a 101-23 record, made three NCAA tournament appearances and won a national championship title (1990) and captured two Pacific-10 (Pac-10) conference crowns. She was awarded the Naismith Award and Wade Trophy her senior season. The youngest inductee into the Stanford Hall of Fame also received the NCAA west region and NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player honors (1990). Azzi was a two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year (1990, 1989), a two-time Kodak All-America first-team selection and a three-time All- Pac-10 first team selection (1990, 1989, 1988). Since retiring, she has remained active off the court. Most recently Azzi has published two books, Courage to Change and Inner Strength. Her community involvement includes the Read to Succeed program, Breast Cancer Awareness and USA basketball selection committee. Azzi has also lent her voice to numerous television commericials and broadcasting programs over the years from the WNBA playoffs to nutrition and fitness shows and the American Lung Association asthma awarness program. (10/04).