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Kristine Anigwe

{{Short description|Professional basketball player (born 1997)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Kristine Anigwe

| image = 3 Kristine Anigwe (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Anigwe in 2019

| position = Center / power forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lbs = 200

| league = WNBA

| team = Free Agent

| number =

| nationality = British / American

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|3|31}}

| birth_place = London, England

| high_school = Desert Vista (Phoenix, Arizona)

| college = California (2015–2019)

| draft_league = WNBA

| draft_year = 2019

| draft_round = 1

| draft_pick = 9

| draft_team = Connecticut Sun

| career_start = 2019

| years1 = {{WNBA Year|2019}}

| team1 = Connecticut Sun

| years2 = {{WNBA Year|2019}}

| team2 = Dallas Wings

| years3 = 2019–2020

| team3 = İzmit Belediyespor

| years4 = {{WNBA Year|2020}}

| team4 = Los Angeles Sparks

| years5 = 2020–2022

| team5 = Çukurova Basketbol

| years6 = {{WNBA Year|2021}}

| team6 = Dallas Wings

| years7 = {{WNBA Year|2021}}

| team7 = Los Angeles Sparks

| years8 = {{WNBA Year|2022}}

| team8 = Phoenix Mercury

| years9 = 2022–2023

| team9 = Virtus Eirene Ragusa

| years10 = {{WNBA Year|2023}}

| team10 = Chicago Sky

| years11 = {{WNBA Year|2023}}

| team11 = Connecticut Sun

| years12 = 2023–present

| team12 = SERCO UNI Győr

| highlights =

| medal_templates =

{{MedalSport|Women's basketball}}

{{MedalCountry|the {{bkw|USA}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|FIBA Under-19 World Cup}}

{{MedalGold|2015 Russia|Team}}

{{MedalCompetition|FIBA Under-17 World Cup}}

{{Medal|Gold|2014 Czech Republic|Team}}

{{MedalSport|Women's 3x3 basketball}}

{{MedalCountry|the {{bkw|USA}}}}

{{Medal|Competition|FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Cup}}

{{Medal|Silver|2015 Hungary|Team}}

}}

Kristine Chioma Anigwe (born March 31, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for SERCO UNI Győr in the EuroLeague.{{cite web | url=https://www.fiba.basketball/euroleaguewomen/23-24/player/Krtistine-Chioma-Anigwe | title=Kristine ANIGWE at the EuroLeague Women 2023-24 }}

Early life

Kristine Anigwe was born in London to Nigerian parents.{{cite web|last=Almond|first=Elliott|title=Cal's Kristine Anigwe scoring big in Berkeley|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/01/09/cals-kristine-anigwe-scoring-big-in-berkeley/|website=The Mercury News|date=January 9, 2017|access-date=April 10, 2019}} She and her siblings were raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and attended Desert Vista High School. At age 17, Anigwe became a U.S. citizen in June 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.sikids.com/si-kids/2016/03/15/cal-freshman-sensation-kristine-anigwe-all-around-force|title= Cal Freshman Sensation Kristine Anigwe is an All-Around Force|work=Sports Illustrated for Kids|date=March 15, 2016|access-date=November 25, 2019}}

In her upperclassman years, Anigwe won two consecutive FIBA age group World Championships competing for the United States, first with the under-17s in 2014 and then with the under-19s in 2015. Anigwe scored in double figures in all 27 games for Desert Vista in her senior season, leading the state with 21.1 points and 13.3 rebounds per game and registering 17 double-doubles.{{cite web|last=Killian|first=Tyler|title=Desert Vista's Kristine Anigwe stands above all others this girls hoops season|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/all-usa/2015/03/22/desert-vistas-anigwe-stands-others-girls-hoops-season/25098305/|website=azcentral.com|date=March 22, 2015|access-date=April 10, 2019}}

College career

Before her junior year of high school, Anigwe accepted an offer to play college basketball at the University of California, Berkeley, where she would major in sociology.{{cite web|last=Hickey|first=John|title=Doctor on the court: Kristine Anigwe's surgical brand of basketball|url=https://news.berkeley.edu/2019/03/22/doctor-on-the-court-kristine-anigwes-surgical-brand-of-basketball/|website=Berkeley News|date=March 22, 2019|access-date=April 10, 2019}}

=Freshman season=

In her first season with California in 2015–16, Anigwe won eight consecutive Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Week honors. She led the Golden Bears in points, rebounds, field goal percentage, field goals made, blocks, free throws made, and free throw attempts.{{cite web|title=Kristine Anigwe|url=https://calbears.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=13679|website=University of California Golden Bears Athletics|access-date=April 10, 2019}} Anigwe was voted to the 2016 Pac-12 Conference women's basketball tournament All-Tournament Team, and she was named the women's USBWA National Freshman of the Year following the season.{{cite web|title=UCONN'S STEWART WINS THIRD ANN MEYERS DRYSDALE AWARD|url=http://www.sportswriters.net/USBWA/news/2016/women160403.html|website=United States Basketball Writers Association|date=April 3, 2016|access-date=March 7, 2017|archive-date=14 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814224425/http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/news/2016/women160403.html|url-status=dead}}

=Sophomore season=

Anigwe's success continued as a sophomore, as she became the first player in California history to average 20 points per game in consecutive seasons. On December 8, 2016, Anigwe recorded the first 50-point game in Golden Bears history, scoring 50 in only 24 minutes against Sacramento State.{{cite web|title=Kristine Anigwe first Cal player ever to score 50 points in game|url=http://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/18240831/kristine-anigwe-cal-posts-first-50-point-game-school-history-win-sacramento-state|website=ESPN|date=December 9, 2016|access-date=April 10, 2019}} A month later, on January 8, she became the fastest player in Pac-12 history to reach 1,000 points, hitting the milestone in a loss to eventual Elite Eight participant Oregon. Anigwe continued to lead the Golden Bears in points and rebounds, also leading in field goal percentage and blocks.

For the second consecutive year, Anigwe was named to the Pac-12 All-Tournament Team. Anigwe saw her first NCAA tournament action, in which the Golden Bears narrowly defeated LSU before falling to No. 1 seed Baylor.

=Junior season=

Anigwe registered 28 points and 25 rebounds in a win against Brown on November 19, 2017, achieving the first 25–25 game in Division I women's basketball in three years.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|title=Anigwe has 28 and 25, No. 20 Cal women hold off Brown 89-79|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaw/2017/11/19/anigwe-has-28-and-25-no-20-cal-women-hold-off-brown-89-79/107852374/|website=USA Today|date=November 19, 2017|access-date=April 10, 2019}}

For the third consecutive season, Anigwe led California in points and rebounds as a junior, and was named to the All-Pac-12 Team. She was also a late season nominee for the 2018 Wade Trophy, John R. Wooden Award, Naismith College Player of the Year, and Katrina McClain Awards. California were upset in the first round of the 2018 NCAA tournament by Virginia.

=Senior season=

As a senior in 2018–19, Anigwe posted career highs in points (22.3) and rebounds per game (16.2), leading the country in rebounds.{{cite web|title=Kristine Anigwe|url=https://stats.pac-12.com/sports/wbkb/2018-19/players/kristineanigweb4y3?view=career&pos=sh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411030651/https://stats.pac-12.com/sports/wbkb/2018-19/players/kristineanigweb4y3?view=career&pos=sh|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 April 2019|website=Pac-12|access-date=April 10, 2019}} She became the third California Golden Bear to score 2,000 career points on December 2, 2018, in a win against Cal State Northridge.{{cite web|title=Bears Roll In Anigwe's Milestone Night|url=https://calbears.com/news/2018/12/2/womens-basketball-cal-stays-undefeated-anigwe-reaches-another-milestone.aspx|website=University of California Golden Bears Athletics|date=December 2, 2018|access-date=April 10, 2019}}

Anigwe set multiple school and conference records during her senior season. On February 8 and 10, 2019, Anigwe broke California's scoring and rebounding records in consecutive home losses to Oregon State and Oregon.{{cite news|last=Simmons|first=Rusty|title=Another Kristine Anigwe record; another hard-fought Cal loss|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/collegesports/article/Another-Kristine-Anigwe-record-another-Cal-loss-13605644.php|website=San Francisco Chronicle|date=February 10, 2019|access-date=April 10, 2019}}

In her final regular-season college game on March 3, 2019, at Washington State, Anigwe scored 32 points and added 30 rebounds. In doing so, she both set the Pac-12 women's rebounding record, and became the first Division I player since 2002 to record 30 points and rebounds in a single game.{{cite web|title=Anigwe Sets Rebounding Record|url=https://calbears.com/news/2019/3/3/bears-best-cougars-in-regular-season-finale.aspx|website=University of California Golden Bears Athletics|date=March 3, 2019|access-date=April 10, 2019}}

Anigwe and California received an at-large bid to the 2019 NCAA tournament, in which they defeated North Carolina before falling to eventual national champions Baylor.

Following the season, Anigwe was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.{{cite web|last=Maiman|first=Beth|title=Cal's Kristine Anigwe wins Naismith defensive Player of the Year award|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2019-04-06/womens-basketball-cals-kristine-anigwe-wins-naismith|website=NCAA.com|date=April 7, 2019|access-date=April 10, 2019}}

=California statistics=

Source{{Cite web|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careerplayer|title=NCAA Statistics|website=web1.ncaa.org|access-date=2021-05-26}}

{{NBA player statistics legend}}

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Team

!GP

!Points

!FG%

!3P%

!FT%

!RPG

!APG

!SPG

!BPG

!PPG

2015-16

|California

|31

|635

|57.0%

|0.0%

|75.4%

|9.3

|0.6

|1.1

|1.2

|20.5

2016-17

|California

|34

|714

|56.6%

|33.3%

|68.1%

|9.3

|0.9

|0.7

|2.1

|21.0

2017-18

|California

|30

|500

|56.9%

|54.5%

|58.3%

|8.8

|0.9

|1.0

|1.3

|16.7

2018-19

|California

|33

|742

|50.8%

|30.4%

|65.6%

|16.2

|1.0

|1.0

|1.7

|22.5

colspan="2" |Career

|128

|2591

|55.0%

|36.8%

|67.8%

|11.0

|0.9

|0.9

|1.6

|20.2

Professional career

Anigwe was selected ninth overall in the 2019 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun.{{cite web|last=Stacy|first=Kelli|title=Connecticut Sun draft Kristine Anigwe in the 2019 WNBA Draft|url=https://www.courant.com/sports/hc-sp-connecticut-sun-wnba-draft-20191004-20190411-r3m22iogezhehbrnca3cvh4qru-story.html|website=Hartford Courant|date=April 10, 2019|access-date=April 10, 2019}}

On August 6, 2019, Anigwe was traded to the Dallas Wings in exchange for Theresa Plaisance.{{cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/wings-acquire-kristine-anigwe-from-sun-for-theresa-plaisance/|title=Wings Acquire Kristine Anigwe from Sun for Theresa Plaisance|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=August 6, 2019|access-date=August 9, 2019}}

On May 26, 2020, Anigwe was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for a second-round 2021 draft pick.{{cite web|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/los-angeles-sparks-acquire-kristine-anigwe-from-dallas-wings/|title =Los Angeles Sparks Acquire Kristine Anigwe From Dallas Wings|website=wnba.com|publisher= WNBA|date=May 26, 2020|access-date=May 26, 2020}}

After spending time with both the Wings and Sparks in 2021, Anigwe was signed by her hometown Phoenix Mercury ahead of the 2022 WNBA season.{{cite web|url=https://arizonasports.com/story/3131312/phoenix-mercury-reveal-opening-night-roster-for-2022-wnba-season/|title=Phoenix Mercury reveal opening night roster for 2022 WNBA season|last=Anderson|first=Jake|website=KMVP-FMarizonasports.com|publisher=Bonneville International|date=May 5, 2022|access-date=May 8, 2022}}

On July 3, 2023, Anigwe was waived from the Chicago Sky after Ruthy Hebard was activated from the Inactive/Pregnancy List.{{cite tweet|user=chicagosky|date=July 3, 2023|number=1675976287238668291|title=We have activated Ruthy Hebard off of Pregnancy/Childbirth absence, and have released Kristine Anigwe. Thanks for everything, Kristine! 👊🏾}}

Anigwe joined the Connecticut Sun in July 2023 after being waived by the Sky. She signed a 7-Day Contract with the Sun.{{cite web |title=Connecticut Sun Sign Kristine Anigwe |url=https://sun.wnba.com/news/connecticut-sun-sign-kristine-anigwe/ |website=sun.wnba.com |publisher=WNBA |access-date=21 July 2023}} She was brought back on a 2nd 7-Day Contract with the Sun in August 2023.{{cite web |title=Connecticut Sun Sign Kristine Anigwe- 8/18/23 |url=https://sun.wnba.com/news/connecticut-sun-sign-kristine-anigwe-8-18-23/ |website=sun.wnba.com |publisher=WNBA |access-date=21 August 2023}} She signed a second 7-Day Contract with the Sun in August 2023.

WNBA career statistics

{{WNBA player statistics legend}}

=Regular season=

{{WNBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2 | 2019

| style="text-align:left;"| Connecticut

| 17 || 0 || 7.1 || .314 || .000 || .706 || 1.8 || 0.2 || 0.4 || 0.2 || 0.6 || 2.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas

| 10 || 0 || 12.9 || .333 || .000 || .667 || 3.6 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 0.7 || 3.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2020

| style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles

| 17 || 1 || 11.6 || .604 || .000 || .538 || 2.6 || 0.2 || 0.6 || 0.4 || 0.9 || 4.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2 | 2021

| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas

| 3 || 0 || 10.0 || .500 || .000 || .500 || 2.0 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 0.0 || 0.7 || 2.3

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles

| 7 || 1 || 15.1 || .391 || .000 || .563 || 3.9 || 0.7 || 0.6 || 0.1 || 1.4 || 3.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022

| style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix

| 10 || 1 || 6.5 || .500 || .000 || .500 || 1.3 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 0.2 || 0.6 || 1.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2 | 2023

| style="text-align:left;"| Connecticut

| 10 || 0 || 8.3 || .455 || .000 || .625 || 2.1 || 0.4 || 0.3 || 0.5 || 0.6 || 2.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago

| 3 || 0 || 2.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.3 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 0.0

|-

| style='text-align:left;'| Career

| style='text-align:left;'| 5 years, 5 teams

| 77 || 3 || 9.6 || .440 || .000 || .596 || 2.3 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 0.3 || 0.8 || 2.8

{{s-end}}

=Postseason=

{{WNBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style='text-align:left;'|2020

| style='text-align:left;'|Los Angeles

| 1 || 1 || 18.0 || .600 || .000 || 1.000 || 7.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 8.0

|-

| align="left" | Career

| align="left" | 1 year, 1 team

| 1 || 1 || 18.0 || .600 || .000 || 1.000 || 7.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 8.0

|}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.calbears.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7764 Cal Golden Bears bio]

{{USBWA National Freshman of the Year}}

{{2019 WNBA draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anigwe, Kristine}}

Category:1997 births

Category:Living people

Category:All-American college women's basketball players

Category:American basketball players of Nigerian descent

Category:American women's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from Phoenix, Arizona

Category:Basketball players from London

Category:Black British sportswomen

Category:California Golden Bears women's basketball players

Category:Centers (basketball)

Category:Chicago Sky players

Category:Connecticut Sun draft picks

Category:Connecticut Sun players

Category:Dallas Wings players

Category:English emigrants to the United States

Category:English people of Nigerian descent

Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent

Category:English women's basketball players

Category:Los Angeles Sparks players

Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans

Category:Parade High School All-Americans (girls' basketball)

Category:Phoenix Mercury players

Category:Power forwards

Category:Desert Vista High School alumni

Category:21st-century American sportswomen

Category:21st-century English sportswomen