by Okay it is the nearing the end of 2014 and we are putting together some of the best moments for our Native American athletes this year and you can bet Shoni Schimmel would be on the list but we know how important to Shoni is to Indian Country and so we decided to make a top 10 list of moments just for Shoni.
Shoni, and her sister Jude, have been two of the most notable Native American athletes in recent times ever since their improbable run to the final four back in 2013. Shoni finished her career with the Louisville Cardinals as the number two scorer in women’s school history and now plays in the WNBA with the Atlanta Dream.
Here are the top 10 moments for Shoni we decided were worth mentioning for the year:
10. Despite not making it back to the Final Four in her senior season, Shoni still had an amazing career with the Louisville Cardinal. Scoring over 2,000 points in her career, 4-time all-conference selection, and has the school record for most 3-points in a game at (9) to name a few awards. Watch her senior goodbye below:
9. Kind of going with Shoni’s senior game, Bryant Gumbel’s HBO Real Sports (Thanks to NDNSPORTS!!) followed Shoni and Jude before and after this game to show the impact the young ladies from the Umatilla Indian Reservation have all across the country. Watch the HBO Real Sports Promo of Shoni:
8. Not done with her college career just yet, Shoni went head-to-head with the best senior shooters in college basketball and ended up winning the contest against the women and then the men. Watch the shootout below:
7. Shoni Schimmel became the highest drafted Native American women in the WNBA by being selected as the 8th overall pick in the 2014 Draft by the Atlanta Dream. Watch the draft below:
6. In her WNBA Debut for the Atlanta Dream Shoni had a franchise matching record of 11 assist in the game. #ShowtimeShoni is born. Watch the highlights below:
5. Shoni Schimmel matches her career high in the WNBA with 17 points after getting her FIRST START of her WNBA Career. Watch the highlights below:
4. Most people don’t know that Shoni Schimmel isn’t the first Native American to play in the WNBA. Ryneldi Becenti (Navajo) was the first and the second is Angel Goodrich (Cherokee/Pawnee) who currently plays with the Tulsa Shock. Shoni and Angel played against each other in Tulsa and it became the first time in WNBA history that two Native athletes played against each other. Watch the highlights and post-game interviews below:
3. Showtime Shoni comes home to Seattle for the largest, and if not loudest crowd of the season during her rookie season. Watch the love below from Shoni fans:
2. Okay, here are the top 10 plays for Shoni Schimmel, which is your favorite? Watch the video below and you decide:
1. As if you didn’t know what the #1 Shoni moment would be for the year 2014. Well here you go, watch it again. “So with a record..a record 29 points in a WNBA All-Star game..The MVP Shoni Schimmel…….” Congrats on an amazing year Shoni Schimmel:
Great inspiration for all NATIVE ATHLETES….. Loulouloulou