Monique Billings

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Monique Billings

| image = Monique Billings 2024 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Billings with the Dallas Wings in 2024

| league = WNBA

| team = Golden State Valkyries

| number = 25

| position = Power forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lbs = 192

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|05|02}}

| birth_place = Riverside, California, U.S.

| high_school = Santiago (Corona, California)

| college = UCLA (2014–2018)

| draft_league = WNBA

| draft_year = 2018

| draft_round = 2

| draft_pick = 15

| draft_team = Atlanta Dream

| career_start = 2018

| career_end =

| years1 = {{WNBA Year|2018}}–{{WNBA Year|2023}}

| team1 = Atlanta Dream

| years2 = 2018–2019

| team2 = Heilongjiang Dragons

| years3 = 2019

| team3 = Asan Woori Bank Wibee

| years4 = 2019–2020

| team4 = Elitzur Ramla

| years5 = 2020

| team5 = Hatay BB

| years6 = 2020–2021

| team6 = Nadezhda Orenburg

| years7 = 2021–2022

| team7 = Townsville Fire

| years8 = 2022–2023

| team8 = Besiktas

| years9 = 2023–2024

| team9 = Dynamo Kursk

| years10 = {{WNBA Year|2024}}

| team10 = Dallas Wings

| years11 = {{WNBA Year|2024}}

| team11 = Phoenix Mercury

| years12 = 2024

| team12 = Guangdong Vermilion Birds

| years13 = {{WNBA Year|2025}}–present

| team13 = Golden State Valkyries

| highlights =

2x Pac-12 All-Defensive Team (2017, 2018)
2x All-Pac-12 (2017, 2018)

}}

Monique Charice Billings (born May 2, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Valkyries of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball with the UCLA Bruins. Billings was selected 15th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2018 WNBA draft. As a child in elementary school, she attended Saint Edward Catholic School in Corona, California.{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B5_tG7kls1U/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== | title=Instagram }}

College career

=UCLA=

Billings played basketball at Santiago High School in Corona, California. She was a 4-year letterman there and also participated in the high jump on the track and field team. Billings was ranked in the top 30 by many recruiting services coming out of high school. She also received an invite to the United States National Team Under-18 trials in 2014.{{cite web|url=https://uclabruins.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5614|title=Monique Billings Bio|website=uclabruins.com|publisher=UCLA|accessdate=August 7, 2018}}

While at UCLA, Billings contributed from the start. In her freshman season; she played in 37 games for the Bruins and was named to the Pac-12 all-freshman team. During her sophomore season, she started all 35 games. She led the team to the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament (the "Sweet 16"), where they lost to Texas. Billings also led the team in rebounds that year and was named an honorable mention to the all Pac-12 team. Billings again started all 34 games for the Bruins in her junior year, again leading the team to the NCAA tournament. The Bruins again fell in the Sweet 16. Billings led the team in scoring that year and was named to the All Pac-12 team. During her senior season, Billings led the Pac-12 in rebounds, double-doubles, and offensive rebounds. She started 34 of 35 games for the Bruins, who reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999.

Professional career

=WNBA=

==Atlanta Dream (2018–2023)==

Billings was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Dream in the 2018 WNBA draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.wnba.com/2018-wnba-draft/#/panel2-2|title=WNBA Draft Board, Round 2|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|accessdate=August 7, 2018}}

==Dallas Wings (2024)==

Billings signed with the Los Angeles Sparks in February 2024, but she ultimately didn't make the Sparks roster for the season and was waived during training camp.{{cite web |title=Sparks Sign Forward Monique Billings |url=https://sparks.wnba.com/news/sparks-sign-forward-monique-billings/ |website=sparks.wnba.com |publisher=WNBA |access-date=18 August 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Alford |first1=Jovan |title=Sparks Continue Roster Shakeup With Shocking Cut Prior to Season Opener |url=https://lasportshub.com/posts/sparks-continue-roster-shakeup-with-shocking-cut-prior-to-season-opener-01hxsr6bm759 |website=lasportshub.com |date=13 May 2024 |publisher=Minute Media |access-date=18 August 2024}}

With not making the Sparks roster, Billings was signed by the Dallas Wings to a hardship contract following their season opening, as Natasha Howard sustained an injury.{{cite web |title=Dallas Wings' Natasha Howard will miss up to 6 weeks after breaking foot in season opener |url=https://www.kplctv.com/2024/05/18/dallas-wings-natasha-howard-will-miss-up-6-weeks-after-breaking-foot-season-opener/ |website=kplctv.com |date=18 May 2024 |publisher=KPLCTV |access-date=18 August 2024}} Billings quickly was inserted into the Wings's starting lineup and became a force. In her second game with Dallas, against the Atlanta Dream on May 21, she scored 20 points and 10 rebounds.{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=Arie |title=Monique Billings is putting up career numbers with the Dallas Wings |url=https://www.thenexthoops.com/wnba/dallas-wings/monique-billings-putting-up-career-numbers-dallas-wings/ |website=thenexthoops.com |date=June 2024 |publisher=The Next Hoops |access-date=18 August 2024}} Natasha Howard returned from injury, but the Wings were dealt more injuries to Maddy Siegrist, Jaelyn Brown, and Satou Sabally, which allowed Billings to continue to stay in Dallas. Following the Olympic break, the Wings's players became healthy, which forced the Wings to have to release Billings from her hardship contract.{{cite web |title=Sabally, Siegrist and Brown Scheduled To Return To Dallas Wings Lineup |url=https://wings.wnba.com/news/sabally-siegrist-and-brown-scheduled-to-return-to-dallas-wings-lineup |website=wings.wnba.com |publisher=WNBA |access-date=18 August 2024}}

==Phoenix Mercury (2024)==

Billings signed a 7-Day Contract with the Phoenix Mercury on August 18, 2024.{{cite web |title=PHOENIX MERCURY SIGNS VETERAN FORWARD MONIQUE BILLINGS TO A SEVEN-DAY CONTRACT |url=https://mercury.wnba.com/news/phoenix-mercury-signs-veteran-forward-monique-billings-to-a-seven-day-contract/ |website=wnba.com |publisher=WNBA |access-date=18 August 2024}} On August 25, 2024, Billings signed a rest-of-season contract with the Mercury.{{Cite web |last=Sports |first=Arizona |date=2024-08-25 |title=Mercury sign forward Monique Billings through rest of season |url=https://arizonasports.com/story/3555804/mercury-sign-monique-billings-through-rest-season/ |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=Arizona Sports |language=en}}

==Golden State Valkyries (2025–present)==

On December 6, 2024, Billings was selected as the Golden State Valkyries' pick from the Phoenix Mercury's 2024 roster in the WNBA's expansion draft.{{cite news |first1=Cydney |last1=Henderson |first2=Ellen J. |last2=Horrow |title=WNBA expansion draft live updates: Golden State Valkyries pick their players for 2025 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2024/12/06/wnba-expansion-draft-golden-state-valkyries-roster-updates/76809659007/ |work=USA Today |date=December 6, 2024 |access-date=December 6, 2024 |language=en}}

=Overseas=

==Asan Woori Bank Wibee==

After the 2018 WNBA season, Billings played for the Asan Woori Bank Wibee of the Women's Korean Basketball League.{{cite web|url=https://wibee.wooribank.com/basketball/player/player_details.php?p_code=095647|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222041912/https://wibee.wooribank.com/basketball/player/player_details.php?p_code=095647|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 22, 2019|title=Monique Billings' Asan Woori Bank Wibee Player Profile Page|accessdate=February 21, 2019}}

Career statistics

=WNBA=

==Regular season==

Stats current through end of 2024 season

{{WNBA player statistics start|caption=WNBA regular season statistics{{cite web |title=Monique Billings WNBA Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/b/billimo01w.html |website=Basketball Reference}}}}

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018

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

| 32 || 0 || 11.0 || .441 ||—|| .750 || 2.8 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 0.0 || 0.4 || 3.3

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

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

| 29 || 2 || 19.1 || .389 || 1.000 || .783 || 6.9 || 0.6 || 0.6 || 0.4 || 1.6 || 5.5

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

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

| 22 || 16 || 27.1 || .400 ||—|| .761 || 8.5 || 1.2 || 1.1 || 0.8 || 1.9 || 8.5

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

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

| 31 || 9 || 23.9 || .495 || .000 || .675 || 6.5 || 1.0 || 1.2 || 1.0 || 1.4 || 8.1

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

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

| 23 || 8 || 17.4 || .470 || .000 || .765 || 6.3 || 1.1 || 0.8 || 0.3 || 1.3 || 6.5

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

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

| 39 || 9 || 16.7 || .407 || .000 || .836 || 5.0 || 0.8 || 0.4 || 0.3 || 0.9 || 4.8

| rowspan=2 style="text-align:left;"| {{wnbay|2024}}

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

| 24 || 12 || 25.4 || .475 || .143 || .804 || 6.6 || 1.9 || 0.6 || 0.5 || 2.1 || 8.8

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

|13||2||18.1||.434||.286||.800||4.2||0.5||0.9||0.5||1.1||4.9

|- class="sortbottom"

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

| style="text-align:left;"| 7 years, 3 teams

| 213 || 58 || 19.4 || .441 || .182 || .766 || 5.8 || 0.9 || 0.7 || 0.5 || 1.3 || 6.2

==Playoffs==

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018

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

| 5 || 0 || 12.8 || .474 ||—|| .579 || 2.6 || 0.8 || 0.0 || 0.6 || 0.4 || 5.8

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

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

| 2 || 2 || 23.5 || .286 ||—|| .625 || 7.0 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 1.5 || 4.5

| style="text-align:left;"| 2024

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

||2||0||14.0||.800||—||.000||3.5||0.5||0.5||0.0||0.0||4.0

|- class="sortbottom"

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

| style="text-align:left;"| 3 years, 2 teams

| 9 || 2 || 15.4|| .484 ||—|| .571 || 3.8 || 0.6 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 0.6 || 5.1

=College=

{{WNBA player statistics start|caption=NCAA statistics{{Cite web|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careerplayer|title=NCAA Statistics|website=web1.ncaa.org|access-date=2017-10-15}}}}

| align="left"| 2014–15

| align="left"| UCLA

|37||2||16.5||.468||—||.477||5.0||0.3||1.0||1.4||1.6||5.8

| align="left"| 2015–16

| align="left"| UCLA

|35||35||28.7||.492||—||.679||8.1||1.0||1.6||1.6||2.0||12.7

| align="left"| 2016–17

| align="left"| UCLA

|34||34||31.3||.472||—||.636||10.5||0.9||1.8||1.9||1.6||16.7

| align="left"| 2017–18

| align="left"| UCLA

|35||34||31.9||.472||.000||.716||9.5||1.2||1.1||1.6||2.2||15.3