Appearances: Chicago

Sacramento Monarchs Forward/Center

Tangela Smith was selected by the Sacramento Monarchs in the second round (12th overall) of the 1998 WNBA draft and has since become a mainstay on the team’s roster.  In seven seasons with the league, Smith helped lead the Monarchs to five playoff berths, including three trips to the Western Conference Championships, and has scored more than 2,000 career-points along the way.  Smith is also the league’s fourth all-time leader in total blocks.

In 2004, Smith helped lead the Monarchs to the Western Conference Finals, averaging 15.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg during the post season.  Shefinished the regular season ranked 8th in the WNBA in field goals per 40 minutes (7.27).    

In international competition, Smith was a member of the silver medal-winning 1997 USA R. Williams Jones Cup Team, as well as the bronze medal-winning 1995 U.S. Olympic Festival North Team.  Since finishing college in 1998, she has played overseas in a number of countries including Italy, Israel, South Korea and Turkey.  She helped her Shinsegae Coolcats capture the 2002 WKBL Championship, and was a key force on her Botasspor team which won the 2001 Turkish League Crown.

Smith finished her collegiate career at the University of Iowa ranked third all-time in rebounds (859) and fifth in scoring (1,598 points) and still holds the school record for blocks in a game (7), season (73), and career (235).  During her senior year, she was named Big Ten Player of the Year, and collected additional honors including Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America and First-Team All-Big Ten. 

Tangela Smith earned a degree in cultural studies and sports and leisure with a minor in business administration from the University of Iowa.

Appearances: Chicago