Seimone Augustus

{{short description|American basketball coach and player (born 1984)}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Seimone Augustus

| image = Seimone Augustus in 2019 (cropped).jpg

| position = Assistant coach

| league = Southeastern Conference

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 174

| team = LSU Tigers

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|4|30}}

| birth_place = Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.

| high_school = Capitol (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

| college = LSU (2002–2006)

| draft_league = WNBA

| draft_year = 2006

| draft_round = 1

| draft_pick = 1

| draft_team = Minnesota Lynx

| career_start = 2006

| career_end = 2020

| coach_start = 2021

| years1 = {{WNBA Year|2006}}–{{WNBA Year|2019}}

| team1 = Minnesota Lynx

| years2 = 2006–2008

| team2 = Dynamo Moscow

| years3 = 2008–2009,
2010–2011

| team3 = Galatasaray

| years4 = 2011–2012

| team4 = WBC Spartak Moscow Region

| years5 = 2013–2016

| team5 = Dynamo Kursk

| years6 = {{WNBA Year|2020}}

| team6 = Los Angeles Sparks

| cyears1 = 2021–2022

| cteam1 = Los Angeles Sparks (assistant)

| cyears2 = 2024–present

| cteam2 = LSU (assistant)

| highlights = * 4× WNBA champion (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)

WNBA Finals MVP (2011)
8× WNBA All-Star (2006, 2007, 2011, 2013–2015, 2017, 2018)
All-WNBA First Team ({{WNBA Year|2012}})
5× All-WNBA Second Team ({{WNBA Year|2006}}, {{WNBA Year|2007}}, {{WNBA Year|2011}}, {{WNBA Year|2013}}, {{WNBA Year|2014}})
WNBA Rookie of the Year ({{WNBA Year|2006}})
WNBA All-Rookie Team ({{WNBA Year|2006}})
WNBA 20th Anniversary Team ({{WNBA Year|2016}})
WNBA 25th Anniversary Team ({{WNBA Year|2021}})
WNBA Skills Challenge Champion ({{WNBA Year|2006}})
2× EuroCup winner (2008, 2009)
EuroCup MVP (2009)
Turkish Cup winner (2009)
Senior CLASS Award (2006)
2× Wade Trophy (2005, 2006)
2× Naismith College Player of the Year (2005, 2006)
2× Wooden Award (2005, 2006)
2x Honda Sports Award for basketball (2005, 2006)
2× SEC Player of the Year (2005, 2006)
2x AP Player of the Year (2005, 2006)
USBWA National Player of the Year (2005)
2x All-American – USBWA (2005, 2006)
2x First-team All-American – AP (2005, 2006)
2x Third-team All-American – AP (2003, 2004)
3x Kodak All-American (2004–2006)
SEC Female Athlete of the Year (2006)
3x First-team All-SEC (2004–2006)
USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year (2003)
USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2003)
SEC Freshman of the Year (2003)
SEC All-Freshman Team (2003)
NCAA season scoring leader (2006)
McDonald's All-American (2002)
No. 33 retired by Minnesota Lynx
No. 33 retired by LSU Lady Tigers

| wnba_profile = seimone_augustus

| bbr_wnba = augusse01w

| letter = a

| HOF_player = seimone-augustus

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's basketball}}

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

}}

Seimone Delicia Augustus (born April 30, 1984){{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/a/augusse01w.html|title=Seimone Augustus WNBA Stats {{!}} Basketball-Reference.com|website=Basketball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=June 2, 2018}} is an American basketball coach and former professional player. She is currently an assistant coach for the Louisiana State University women's basketball team.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-20 |title=Seimone Augustus To Join LSU Women's Basketball Staff |url=https://lsusports.net/news/2024/05/20/seimone-augustus-to-join-lsu-womens-basketball-staff/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=LSU |language=en-US}} She was drafted first overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2006 WNBA draft{{Cite web|title=20th Season Memories: Lynx Draft Seimone Augustus|url=https://lynx.wnba.com/news/20th-season-memories-lynx-draft-seimone-augustus/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Minnesota Lynx|language=en}} and played for the Lynx for most of her Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) career except for her final season in with the Los Angeles Sparks. An eight-time All-Star and the 2011 finals MVP, Augustus led the Lynx to four WNBA championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/7073839/wnba-finals-title-long-time-coming-minnesota-lynx |title=Title was a long time coming for Lynx |publisher=ESPN |date=October 7, 2011 |access-date=November 5, 2011}} She also won three gold medals in the Olympics on the U.S. national team.

In addition to the WNBA and the national team, she played for overseas for different teams, ending with the Dynamo Kursk.{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/lynx/227749651.html|title=Chart: Where Lynx players are headed now|work=Star Tribune|access-date=September 7, 2017}} After retiring as a player in 2020, she was an assistant coach for the Sparks for two seasons.{{Cite web|title=Seimone Augustus|url=https://www.wnba.com/player/seimone-augustus/|access-date=2021-11-15|website=WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA|language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Kliegman |first=Julie |date=2023-04-13 |title=Q&A: Seimone Augustus on LSU Title, WNBA Draft Fashion and More |url=https://www.si.com/wnba/2023/04/13/seimone-augustus-lsu-championship-wnba-draft-fashion-hoop-muses |access-date=2023-12-23 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}{{cite web |date=May 20, 2021 |title=Seimone Augustus explains her decision to retire and join Sparks coaching staff |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2021-05-20/seimone-augustus-sparks-newest-coach |access-date=December 6, 2022 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}

Early life

Augustus was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; she is the daughter of Seymore and Kim Augustus.

Before her freshman year in high school, Augustus was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Women, with a headline that asked, "Is She the Next Michael Jordan?" Augustus played for Capitol High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she was named a WBCA All-American. She participated in the 2002 WBCA High School All-America Game where she scored fourteen points, and earned MVP honors.

College career

Image:Augustus 07.25.07.JPG

During her collegiate career with the LSU Lady Tigers, the two-time All-American{{cite news|title=USBWA Women's Honors|url=http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/awards/women/index.html|publisher=USBWA|access-date=October 16, 2014|archive-date=January 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115112144/http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/awards/women/index.html|url-status=dead}} won the Naismith College Player of the Year,{{cite news|title=USBWA ANNOUNCES 2004-05 WOMEN'S HONORS|url=http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/news/2005/women050316.html|publisher=USBWA|date=March 16, 2005}} Wooden Award and Wade Trophy in 2005 and 2006 while leading the LSU to three straight Final Four appearances. The Lady Tigers however, never advanced beyond the semi-final round. She averaged 19.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2 assists per game in her collegiate career. During her final year, she won the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, recognizing her as the nation's top senior women's basketball player. Augustus graduated from Louisiana State University in 2006. Her uniform number (33) was retired by LSU on January 9, 2010, making her the first female athlete in school history to receive that honor. In January 2023, she became the first female athlete in school history to have a statue of her on the school campus; that statue is in front of the school’s basketball training center next to statues of Bob Pettit, Shaquille O'Neal, and Pete Maravich, who also played for LSU.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/jan/15/seimone-augustus-is-first-female-athlete-with-stat/|title=Augustus is first female athlete with statue on LSU campus|first=Brett|last=Martel|website=The Washington Times}}

Augustus also played with future WNBA teammate Sylvia Fowles during her collegiate career at LSU.

=College statistics=

Source

class="toccolours" style="font-size: 92%; white-space: nowrap;"

|+ Legend

style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black;" | GP

| Games played

| style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black" | GS

| Games started

| style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black" | MPG

| Minutes per game

| style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black;" | FG%

| Field goal percentage

| style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black" | 3P%

| 3-point field goal percentage

style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black" | FT%

| Free throw percentage

| style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black;" | RPG

| Rebounds per game

| style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black" | APG

| Assists per game

| style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black" | SPG

| Steals per game

| style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black;" | BPG

| Blocks per game

style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black" | TO

| Turnovers per game

| style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black" | PPG

| Points per game

| style="background-color: #F2F2F2; border: 1px solid black" | Bold

| Career high

| style="background-color: #cfecec; border: 1px solid black" | *

| Led Division I

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Team

!GP

!Points

!FG%

!3P%

!FT%

!RPG

!APG

!SPG

!BPG

!PPG

2002–03

|LSU

|34

|504

|54.9

|33.3

|88.8

|5.5

|1.9

|1.0

|0.4

|14.8

2003–04

|LSU

|35

|679

|52.8

|37.5

|90.1

|6.0

|2.1

|1.6

|0.7

|19.4

2004–05

|LSU

|36

|724

|53.9

|27.8

|86.9

|4.6

|2.1

|1.4

|0.5

|20.1

2005–06

|LSU

|35

|795

|56.1

|45.0

|79.0

|4.7

|1.8

|1.5

|0.4

|bgcolor=#cfecec|*22.7

Career

|LSU

|140

|2702

|54.4

|38.8

|85.7

|5.2

|2.0

|1.4

|0.5

|19.3

WNBA career

=2006–2008: Personal success, team failure=

Augustus was drafted No. 1 overall in 2006 WNBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-11|title=How Seimone Augustus, the 'Original Lynx,' helped build Minnesota into a dynasty|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/31607557/how-seimone-augustus-original-lynx-helped-build-minnesota-dynasty|access-date=2021-11-15|website=ESPN|language=en}} Selected as a reserve for the 2006 WNBA All Star Game at Madison Square Garden, Augustus led the West squad with 16 points and won the Skills Competition the previous evening.

Augustus finished 2006 second to the Mercury's Diana Taurasi in scoring at 21.9 points per game, a rookie record. Only one player (Taurasi 2006), scored more points in a single season. In addition, she finished sixth in free throw percentage (.897). On August 20, Augustus was named the 2006 WNBA Rookie of the Year.

The former LSU star improved to a career-high 22.6 points per game in 2007, while shooting nearly 51% from the field. An All Star for the second straight year, Augustus finished second to Seattle's Lauren Jackson in scoring average and played in all 34 games. The Lynx however, finished 10–24 tied with Los Angeles Sparks for the league's worst record.

=2009–2010: Injuries=

File:Augustus 20161011.jpg

In June 2009, Seimone suffered a season-ending injury, a torn ACL, against the Phoenix Mercury.{{cite web|url=http://www.wnba.com/lynx/news/Seimone_Augustus_Injury_Update-090619.html |title=Augustus out for Season |publisher=Wnba.com |access-date=November 5, 2011}}

Augustus's return in 2010 was derailed by medical issues as well, as she was forced to undergo surgery to remove fibroid tumors, including one the size of a golf ball.{{cite web|author=Elizabeth Flores/The Associated Press |url=http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2010/05/seimone_augustus_feature.html |title=Seimone Augustus recovering from surgery to remove fibroids |publisher=Nola.com |access-date=November 5, 2011}} Augustus had attempted to postpone surgery until after the season, but the pain was too difficult to play through. Despite the setback, Augustus returned to play the final 25 games of the season.

=2011–2018: Dynasty =

Augustus was finally back to full strength in 2011, and a part of a potent Lynx team that included a supporting cast of Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson and newly acquired rookie Maya Moore. Augustus led the team in scoring and served as the team's lead defender as the Lynx rolled to a league best 27–7 record.{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/lynx/129697638.html |title=Blount: Finally healthy, Augustus puts it all together |publisher=Startribune.com |date=September 13, 2011 |access-date=November 5, 2011}} Augustus also made her first all-star game since 2007. She finished eighth in MVP voting, and was named Second Team All-WNBA for the third time in her career, and the first since 2007.

Augustus elevated her game in the playoffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/7057676/wnba-finals-seimone-augustus-hitting-peak-minnesota-lynx |title=Seimone Augustus hitting her peak |publisher=ESPN |date=October 4, 2011 |access-date=November 5, 2011}} She led the Lynx in scoring in five of their eight games, and scored the second-highest number of points in WNBA Finals history – 36 – in game two of the 2011 WNBA Finals. The Lynx swept the Atlanta Dream in the title round, with Augustus being unanimously named Finals MVP.

The Lynx were not a flash in the pan; they would return to the finals the next two seasons, losing to the Indiana Fever in 2012, and defeating Atlanta again in 2013. Augustus continued to earn accolades during this time. She was named first-team all-WNBA in 2012, and voted an all-star-game starter in 2013.

File:Augustus 20171004.jpg

During the 2015 season, Augustus was named a WNBA All-Star for the sixth time in her career while averaging 13.8 points per game. However, Augustus was battling a right knee injury and was out indefinitely midway through the season to have knee surgery.{{Cite web|url=http://www.twincities.com/2015/07/16/minnesota-lynx-seimone-augustus-out-after-knee-surgery/|title=Minnesota Lynx: Seimone Augustus out after knee surgery|date=July 16, 2015|website=Twin Cities|access-date=September 7, 2017}} The Lynx had remained dominant; making a trade for star center Sylvia Fowles, strengthening their starting lineup as they finished first place in the Western Conference with a 22–12 record. Augustus returned in time for the playoffs and The Lynx returned to the finals for a rematch against the Indiana Fever, this time with the Lynx beating Indiana in a hard-fought series, 3–2, with the newly acquired Sylvia Fowles winning Finals MVP, as the Lynx won their third WNBA championship in five years.{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/guards-seimone-augustus-lindsay-whalen-to-rejoin-lynx-for-friday-s-playoffs-opener/327801051/|title=Whalen, Augustus to rejoin Lynx for playoff opener|work=Star Tribune|access-date=September 7, 2017}}

In the 2016 season, the Lynx continued to be a championship contender in the league, as they finished with a franchise best 28–6 record. With the WNBA's new playoff format in effect, the Lynx were the number 1 seed in the league with a double-bye to the semi-finals (the last round before the WNBA Finals) facing the Phoenix Mercury. Prior to the playoffs, Augustus had signed a multi-year contract extension with the Lynx.{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/17555846/minnesota-lynx-sign-lindsay-whalen-seimone-augustus-multiyear-contract-extensions|title=Lynx sign Whalen, Augustus to multiyear deals|work=ESPN.com|access-date=September 7, 2017}} The Lynx defeated the Mercury in a three-game sweep, advancing to the WNBA Finals for the fifth time in six years. The Lynx were up against the Los Angeles Sparks, making it the second time in league history where two teams from the same conference faced each other in the Finals due to the new playoff format. However, the Lynx were defeated by the Sparks in five games. Also in 2016, Augustus was chosen to the WNBA Top 20@20, a list of the league's best 20 players ever in celebration of the WNBA's twentieth anniversary.

File:Seimone Augustus celebrates after Minnesota Lynx win 20171004.jpg

In the 2017 season, Augustus seemed to decline in scoring. She was still voted into the 2017 WNBA All-Star Game, making it her seventh all-star game appearance of her career, despite being less of a scorer she was more of a facilitator on offense, averaging a career-high in assists. On August 12, 2017, the Lynx made history as they defeated the Indiana Fever, 111–52, marking it the largest margin of victory in WNBA history; they also went on a league record 37–0 scoring run during the game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.swishappeal.com/2017/8/19/16170344/wnba-history-minnesota-routs-indiana-59-points|title=Lynx roar to WNBA history|first=Rene'|last=Kennedy|date=August 19, 2017|website=Swish Appeal}} The Lynx finished with the number 1 seed yet again, with a 27–7 record, receiving a double-bye to the semi-finals. In the playoffs, Augustus stepped up on offence and scored more to be more effective for her team. In the semi-finals, the Lynx defeated the Washington Mystics in a three-game sweep, advancing to the WNBA Finals for the sixth time in seven years, setting up a rematch with the Sparks. Augustus scored a season-high 24 points in game 1 against Washington.{{cite news|title=Vintage performance from Seimone Augustus puts Lynx up 1-0 in semis|author=Borzi, Pat|date=September 13, 2017|access-date=October 6, 2017|publisher=ESPN|url=http://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/20687243/vintage-performance-seimone-augustus-puts-minnesota-lynx-1-0-wnba-semifinals}} The Lynx avenged last year's Finals loss, this time by defeating the Sparks in five games to win their fourth championship in seven seasons, tying the now-defunct Houston Comets for most championships wins.

=2018–present: End of an era, departure from the Lynx=

In the 2018 season, the Lynx would start showing signs of age as their days of yearly championship contention started coming to an end. They failed to get off to a hot start to the season as they were 4–6 in their first 10 games. Despite averaging a career-low in scoring, Augustus would still be voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game for her eighth all-star game appearance. By the end of the season, the Lynx finished as the number 7 seed with an 18–16 record, making it the first time in 8 years that they did not finish as a top 2 seed. In the first round elimination game, the Lynx lost 75–68 to the rival Los Angeles Sparks, ending their streak of three straight finals appearances. Despite the retirement of her longtime teammate Lindsay Whalen, Augustus re-signed with the Lynx.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/25909756/seimone-augustus-re-signs-14th-season-minnesota-lynx|title=Augustus re-signs for 14th season with Lynx|date=February 3, 2019|website=ESPN.com}}

In 2019, Augustus would only play in 12 games due to a nagging knee injury, she had missed the first half of the season to recover and made her return in August.{{Cite web|url=https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-sports/seimone-augustus-returns-as-lynx-get-big-win-in-wnba-playoff-race|title=Augustus returns as Lynx get big win in WNBA playoff race|first=Joe|last=Nelson|website=Bring Me The News|date=August 7, 2019 }} The Lynx finished 18–16 with the number 7 seed but were eliminated by the Seattle Storm in the first round elimination game.

In 2020, Augustus left the Lynx after 14 seasons and signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Sparks.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/sparks-sign-four-time-wnba-champion-seimone-augustus/ |title=Sparks Sign Four-Time WNBA Champion Seimone Augustus |date=2020-02-20 |access-date=2020-02-20}} Her mother had planned events for 2020 to thank Minnesota for taking care of her daughter for so long but both mother and daughter wound up in tears. Augustus explained that she was saddened and disappointed with the tone of negotiations with the Lynx — who were all business, and who had offered her more money than L.A.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/28847011/seimone-augustus-says-took-less-money-leave-lynx-negotiations-soured|title=Seimone Augustus says she took less money to leave Lynx after negotiations soured|author=Voepel, Mechelle|date=March 5, 2020|access-date=March 25, 2020|publisher=ESPN}}{{Cite web|last=Spotrac.com|title=Seimone Augustus|url=https://www.spotrac.com/wnba/los-angeles-sparks/seimone-augustus-29897/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Spotrac.com|language=en-US}} Augustus would take a bench role with the Sparks. On July 25, 2020, she would make her Sparks debut, scoring 14 points in the team's 99–76 win against the Phoenix Mercury. On August 9, 2020, she scored 13 points in the team's 97–81 win against her former team. The Sparks finished 15–7 with the number 3 seed, receiving a bye to the second round. The season had been delayed and shortened to 22 games in a bubble at IMG Academy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the playoffs, the Sparks would come up short as they lost 73–59 to the Connecticut Sun in the second round elimination game.

In 2021, Augustus re-signed with the Sparks on a one-year deal.{{Cite web|last=Spotrac.com|title=Seimone Augustus|url=https://www.spotrac.com/wnba/los-angeles-sparks/seimone-augustus-29897/#:~:text=Current%20Contract,a%20cap%20hit%20of%20$70,040.|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Spotrac.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/30945772/los-angeles-sparks-re-sign-seimone-augustus-laud-leadership-2020|title=Sparks re-sign Augustus, laud her 'leadership'|date=February 22, 2021|website=ESPN.com}} On May 13, 2021, she announced her retirement from play, and joined the Los Angeles Sparks coaching staff.{{Cite web|title=4X WNBA Champ, Seimone Augustus Enters Retirement; Joins Sparks Coaching Staff|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/4x-wnba-champ-seimone-augustus-enters-retirement-joins-sparks-coaching-staff/|access-date=2021-06-30|website=WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA|language=en}} Later that year, as part of the league's celebration of its 25th season, Augustus was named to The W25, consisting of the top 25 WNBA players of all time as chosen by a panel of media and women's basketball pioneers.{{cite press release|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-continues-celebration-of-landmark-25th-season-names-greatest-players-in-league-history-the-w25/ |title=WNBA Continues Celebration Of Landmark 25th Season, Names Greatest Players In League History, "The W25" |publisher=WNBA |date=September 5, 2021 |accessdate=October 18, 2021}}

On May 29, 2022, the Minnesota Lynx retired her jersey in Target Center.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-29 |title=Minnesota Lynx retire four-time WNBA champion Seimone Augustus' No. 33 jersey |url=https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/minnesota-lynx-retire-four-time-wnba-champion-seimone-augustus-no-33-jersey/ |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}

WNBA career statistics

class="wikitable"

style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|†

|Denotes seasons in which Augustus won a WNBA championship

=Regular season=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2006

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

| 34 || 34 || 33.1 || .456 || .353 || .897 || 3.8 || 1.5 || 0.6 || 0.5 || 2.0 || 21.9

| style="text-align:left;"| 2007

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

| 34 || 33 || 32.1 || .508 || .419 || .873 || 4.0 || 2.3 || 1.2 || 0.6 || 2.4 || 22.6

| style="text-align:left;"| 2008

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

| 31 || 31 || 33.6 || .470 || .317 || .890 || 3.9 || 2.7 || 1.0 || 0.4 || 1.6 || 19.1

| style="text-align:left;"| 2009

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

| 6 || 6 || 29.7 || .570 || .643 || .905 || 4.2 || 1.5 || 2.0 || 0.5 || 2.1 || 21.0

| style="text-align:left;"| 2010

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

| 25 || 25 || 33.3 || .429 || .336 || .667 || 3.2 || 1.9 || 0.7 || 0.3 || 1.4 || 16.4

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2011^†

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

| 34 || 34 || 29.3 || .504 || .417 || .865 || 3.5 || 2.2 || 0.9 || 0.4 || 1.3 || 16.2

| style="text-align:left;"| 2012

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

| 29 || 29 || 29.3 || .491 || .437 || .852 || 3.6 || 2.5 || 0.9 || 0.2 || 1.7 || 16.6

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2013^†

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

| 31 || 31 || 29.8 || .516 || .290 || .879 || 3.2 || 2.5 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 1.4 || 16.3

| style="text-align:left;"| 2014

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

| 24 || 24 || 31.2 || .511 || .333 || .846 || 3.6 || 2.4 || 0.4 || 0.1 || 1.6 || 16.5

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|2015^†

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

| 16 || 16 || 30.1 || .440 || .130 || 1.000 || 2.9 || 2.4 || 0.5 || 0.3 || 1.2 || 13.8

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016

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

| 29 || 29 || 26.4 || .460 || .333 || .804 || 2.9 || 2.4 || 0.5 || 0.3 || 1.9 || 11.2

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|2017^†

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

| 32 || 32 || 27.7 || .502 || .432 || .868 || 2.9 || 4.0 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 1.4 || 10.9

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

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

| 33 || 33 || 26.2 || .467 || .318 || .706 || 1.8 || 2.6 || 0.4 || 0.2 || 1.2 || 10.8

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

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

| 12 || 7 || 13.0 || .313 || .167 || .750 || 0.6 || 1.3 || 0.4 || 0.1 || 1.0 || 3.8

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

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

| 21 || 0 || 15.8 || .491 || .545 || .667 || 1.8 || 1.2 || 0.6 || 0.1 || 0.4 || 5.9

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

| style="text-align:left;"|15 years, 2 teams

| 391 || 365 || 28.8 || .480 || .364 || .858 || 2.6 || 3.1 || 0.7 || 0.3 || 1.6 || 15.4

=Postseason=

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|2011^†

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

| 8 || 8 || 33.0 || .527 || .438 || .886 || 4.5 || 3.8 || 0.9 || 0.6 || 1.6 || 22.0

| style="text-align:left;"| 2012

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

| 9 || 9 || 35.0 || .427 || .294 || .806 || 5.0 || 2.1 || 1.6 || 0.3 || 1.5 || 17.9

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|2013^†

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

| 7 || 7 || 32.0 || .546 || .333 || .684 || 3.7 || 1.4 || 1.0 || 0.9 || 1.7 || 17.4

| style="text-align:left;"| 2014

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

| 5 || 5 || 34.2 || .443 || .250 || .833 || 3.2 || 2.4 || 1.0 || 0.2 || 1.0 || 18.6

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2015^†

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

| 10 || 10 || 34.4 || .379 || .143 || .762 || 3.0 || 2.5 || 0.9 || 0.3 || 1.3 || 12.8

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016

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

| 8 || 8 || 26.9 || .393 || .250 || .870 || 2.9 || 3.3 || 0.8 || 0.2 || 2.0 || 11.1

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2017^†

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

| 8 || 8 || 31.8|| .490 || .526 || .500 || 4.8 || 3.5 || 0.3 || 0.5 || 1.6 || 13.9

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

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

| 1 || 1 || 24.0 || .286 || .000 || .500 || 3.0 || 2.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 5.0

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

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

| 1 || 0 || 21.0 || .273 || .000 || .000 || 3.0 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 6.0

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

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

| 1 || 0 || 22.0 || .500 || .000 || 1.000 || 3.0 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 10.0

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

| style="text-align:left;"|10 years, 2 teams

| 58 || 56 || 32.0 || .452 || .322 || .799 || 3.8 || 2.6 || 0.9 || 0.5 || 1.5 || 15.5

Overseas career

In the 2006–07 and 2007–08 WNBA off seasons, she played for the Dynamo Moscow club in Russia.{{cite web|url=http://www.wnba.com/features/overseas_0607.html |title=Offseason 2006–07: Overseas Roster |publisher=Wnba.com |access-date=November 5, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wnba.com/news/overseas_0708.html |title=Offseason 2007–08: Overseas Roster |publisher=Wnba.com |date=February 12, 2008 |access-date=November 5, 2011}}

During the 2008–09 WNBA offseason, Augustus played in the EuroCup for Galatasaray, a club based in Turkey.{{cite web|url=http://www.wnba.com/news/overseas_0809.html |title=Offseason 2008–09: Overseas Roster |publisher=Wnba.com |date=January 8, 2009 |access-date=November 5, 2011}} She would once again play for Galatasaray in the 2010-11 WNBA offseason.

Since 2013, Augustus played three consecutive offseasons for Dynamo Kursk of the Russian League.

=Awards and achievements=

2004—Winner of the Honda Sports Award for basketball{{Cite web|url=https://allstatesugarbowl.org/classic/seimone-augustus-20052006-corbett-award/|title=Seimone Augustus - 2005/2006 Corbett Award|last=firefly-wp|website=Official Site of the Allstate Sugar Bowl|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-29}}
2005—Winner of the Honda Sports Award for basketball
2007–08 Turkish Presidents Cup Winner with Galatasaray{{cite web|url=http://www.galatasaray.org/basketbol/bayan/haber/2121.php |title=ŞAMPİYON GALATASARAY | Galatasaray 71 – Fenerbahçe 55 |publisher=Galatasaray.org |access-date=November 5, 2011}}
2008–09 FIBA Eurocup Winner with Galatasaray{{cite web|url=http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8jInH7Qj1EsyH5rjn2.teamID_1456.compID_Rn2Om4j3HOcXtTFwJWFsh3.season_2009.roundID_6490.coid_Uzl,UjH8IPkVp6DfdW6AL3.articleMode_on.html |title=Galatasaray Win EuroCup Women After OT Thriller |publisher=Fibaeurope.com |access-date=November 5, 2011}}
2008–09 FIBA Eurocup MVP with Galatasaray

USA Basketball career

Augustus was a member of the U.S. women's basketball team, and she earned a gold medal at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.{{Cite web|title=Seimone Augustus|url=https://www.teamusa.org/usa-basketball/athletes/seimone-augustus|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016200613/http://www.teamusa.org/usa-basketball/athletes/Seimone-Augustus|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 16, 2014|access-date=2021-11-15|website=Team USA}}

Augustus was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp in the fall of 2009.{{cite web|url=http://157.166.255.220/womens/national/09_wnt_fall_invitees_add_rm.html|title=USA Basketball Women's National Team To Tip-Off Training Tomorrow In D.C.|publisher=USA Basketball|access-date=October 1, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809182900/http://157.166.255.220/womens/national/09_wnt_fall_invitees_add_rm.html|archive-date=August 9, 2014}} The team selected to play for the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Olympics is usually chosen from these participants. At the conclusion of the training camp, the team traveled to Ekaterinburg, Russia, where they competed in the 2009 UMMC Ekaterinburg International Invitational. While Augustus did not go to the World Championship, she was chosen for her second Olympic tournament. Augustus was ultimately selected to the 2014 FIBA World Championship, along with Lynx teammates Moore and Whalen, and the US went on to win the gold medal.{{Cite news|url=http://www.usab.com/basketball/players/womens/a/augustus-seimone.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526235016/http://www.usab.com/basketball/players/womens/a/augustus-seimone.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 26, 2015|title=Seimone Augustus|access-date=September 7, 2017|language=en-US}}

Post-retirement basketball honors and awards

= 2021 =

Named to the W25 - top 25 WNBA players of all time

= 2022 =

Minnesota Lynx retired her jersey on May 29, 2022

= 2023 =

All-25 Team, Minnesota Lynx{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Lynx Unveil Final Group of the All-25 Team |url=https://lynx.wnba.com/news/minnesota-lynx-unveil-final-group-of-the-all-25-team/ |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=Minnesota Lynx |language=en}}
First female athlete in Louisiana State University history to have a statue on campus

= 2024 =

Inducted in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame on April 27, 2024{{Cite web |date=2023-12-01 |title=Former LSU women's basketball star Seimone Augustus elected to Women's Basketball Hall of Fame |url=https://lsutigerswire.usatoday.com/2023/12/01/lsu-womens-basketball-seimone-augustus-elected-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=LSU Wire |language=en-US}}
Inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024{{Cite web |title=The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: NAISMITH BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES FOR THE CLASS OF 2024 |url=https://www.hoophall.com/news/naismith-basketball-hall-of-fame-announces-eligible-candidates-for-the-class-of-2024 |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=www.hoophall.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Class of 2024 & Awards |url=https://www.hoophall.com/events/enshrinement-2024/the-class-awards/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=www.hoophall.com |language=en}}
Inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in June 2024{{Cite web |date=2024-04-26 |title=Seimone Augustus To Enter Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Saturday |url=https://lsusports.net/news/2024/04/26/seimone-augustus-to-enter-womens-basketball-hall-of-fame-saturday/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=LSU |language=en-US}}
Inducted into the East Baton Rouge Parish Hall of Fame in March 2024{{Cite news |date=March 2024 |title=First EBR Parish Hall of Fame |url=https://centralcitynews.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CCN-April-2024-small.pdf |access-date=October 17, 2024 |work=Central City News |pages=15}}

Coaching career

Augustus was an assistant coach for the Sparks in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, Augustus was taking a break from coaching but expressed interest in returning to it at some level in the future. She served as a facilitator for the 2023 season of Athletes Unlimited Basketball.{{Cite web |last=Savanna |date=2023-02-09 |title=Athletes Unlimited finalizes 2023 Basketball roster, facilitators |url=https://auprosports.com/read/athletes-unlimited-basketball-finalizes-roster-facilitators-for-2023-season/ |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=Athletes Unlimited |language=en-US}} On May 20, 2024, Louisiana State University announced that Augustus returned to her alma mater as an assistant coach for women's basketball under coach Kim Mulkey. LSU assistant coach Bob Starkey encouraged Augustus to consider coaching and would send her books about leadership and coaching when she was playing in the WNBA.{{Cite web |last=Northam |first=Mitchell |date=2025-03-24 |title=How a WNBA legend found her voice as a coach in the SEC |url=https://www.sbnation.com/2025/3/24/24392671/seimone-augustus-lsu-coach-kim-mulkey-bob-starkey-wnba-sec |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=SBNation.com |language=en}} Kim Mulkey tried to recruit Augustus as an assistant coach when she moved to LSU in 2021, but Augustus didn't feel the time was right.

Other basketball professional activities

In March 2023, the book Hoop Muses was published by the Hachette Book Group. Augustus is credited as the curator of the book, along with writing by Kate Fagan and illustrations from Sophia Chang.{{Cite book |url=https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/seimone-augustus/hoop-muses/9781538709146/?lens=twelve |title=Hoop Muses |date=2022-07-13 |isbn=978-1-5387-0914-6 |language=en-US |last1=Augustus |first1=Seimone |last2=Fagan |first2=Kate |publisher=Grand Central }} The book is a "colorful encyclopedia of sorts" on women's basketball.{{Cite web |title=Seimone Augustus, Kate Fagan bring women's hoops lore to life in new book |url=https://justwomenssports.com/article/seimone-augustus-kate-fagan-womens-basketball-hoop-muses/ |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=Just Women's Sports |date=February 10, 2022 |language=en-US}}

Personal life

In April 2010, Augustus had surgery at Fairview Southdale Hospital to remove fibroids, a surgery that both her mother and grandmother had undergone. While her uterus was removed during the operation, her ovaries were left intact, making children via a gestational surrogate possible. She has said that she wants children someday.{{cite news|last=Augustoviz|first=Roman|title=Augustus set to overcome her latest major hurdle|url=http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_This_Story?sid=92829179|newspaper=Star Tribune|date=May 6, 2010|access-date=June 10, 2012|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151949/http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_This_Story?sid=92829179|url-status=dead}}

Augustus is openly lesbian.{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2012/10/15/seimone-augustus-gay-marriage-ban-minnesota/1635127/ | work=USA Today | first1=Michael | last1=Katz | title=Seimone Augustus, WNBA star, speaks out for same-sex marriage in Minnesota | date=October 15, 2012 | access-date=December 12, 2014}} She became engaged to LaTaya Varner in 2010,{{cite web|url = http://www.advocate.com/print-issue/current-issue/2012/05/15/reasons-have-pride-2012-part-1?page=0,0|title = Reasons to Have Pride in 2012, Part 1|publisher = The Advocate|date = May 15, 2012}} and married her in Hawaii in 2015. As of October 2018, the couple divorced. In 2012, Augustus was the grand marshall of the Twin Cities Pride Parade along with Varner.{{Cite web |last=Boller |first=Jay |title=Pride of the Lynx |url=https://www.startribune.com/pride-of-the-lynx/159765345/ |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=Star Tribune|date=August 9, 2012 }}{{Cite news|url=http://www.people.com/article/wnba-all-star-seimone-augustus-weds-lataya-varner|title=WNBA's Seimone Augustus Weds LaTaya Varner in Hawaii. The couple divorced October 2018. |date=May 10, 2015|work=PEOPLE.com|access-date=September 7, 2017|language=en-US}} The New York Times called Augustus "one of sports’ most forward-thinking and undersung activists."{{Cite news |last=Weiner |first=Natalie |date=2021-09-20 |title=Seimone Augustus Found Her Voice Long Before Coaching |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/20/sports/basketball/seimone-augustus-lgbtq-sparks.html |access-date=2023-12-25 |issn=0362-4331}} She came out publicly in 2012 in the magazine The Advocate and spoke out about her own story as advocacy against a proposed state constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriages in Minnesota.

Augustus is the cousin of former Mississippi State power forward, Kodi Augustus.{{cite web | url=http://www.hailstate.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1244473 | title=#24 Kodi Augustus | work=HailState.com | access-date=December 22, 2014}}

References

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite web|title=WBCA High School All-America Game Box Scores|url=http://www.wbca.org/pages/AWARDS_high_school_all-america_game_box_scores|publisher=Women's Basketball Coaches Association|access-date=June 29, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715064856/http://www.wbca.org/pages/AWARDS_high_school_all-america_game_box_scores|archive-date=July 15, 2014}}

{{cite web|title=WBCA High School All-America Game Team MVP's|url=http://www.wbca.org/pages/AWARDS_high_school_all-america_game_past_mvps|publisher=Women's Basketball Coaches Association|access-date=June 29, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715083757/http://www.wbca.org/pages/AWARDS_high_school_all-america_game_past_mvps|archive-date=July 15, 2014}}

{{cite web|title=Women's Basketball Player stats|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careersearch|website=NCAA|access-date=September 25, 2015}}

{{cite web|title=The Wade Trophy|url=http://www.wbca.org/pages/AWARDS_wade-trophy|publisher=Women's Basketball Coaches Association|access-date=June 30, 2014}}

{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/womensbasketball/2010-01-09-3657095299_x.htm|title=LSU retires jersey of Seimone Augustus|date=Jan 9, 2010|publisher=AP – USAToday|access-date=January 10, 2010}}

{{cite web|title=Twenty-One Finalists In The Mix For Final 2012 U.S. Women's Olympic Basketball Team Roster|url=http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/national/12_woly_21_finalists.html|publisher=USA Basketball|access-date=February 13, 2012|date=February 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216201120/http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/national/12_woly_21_finalists.html|archive-date=February 16, 2012}}

{{cite journal|title=PAST HONDA SPORTS AWARD WINNERS FOR BASKETBALL|url=http://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/archives/basketball|journal=THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program|access-date=May 8, 2014}}

}}

External links

{{Instagram|moneymone33}}

[http://www.seimone33.com/ Seimone Augustus] official site, hosted by LSU Athletics
{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123120143/http://www.usabasketball.com/bioswomen/seimone_augustus_bio.html |title=USA Basketball bio |date=November 23, 2007 }}
{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930031431/http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_49110.htm |title=Seimone Augustus at the United States Olympic Team |date=September 30, 2007 }}
{{Olympedia}}
{{Olympics.com profile|seimone-augustus}}
[http://www.galatasaray.org/basketbol/bayan/pages/oyuncu_358.php Seimone Augustus Profile] Galatasaray.org
{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421013116/http://www.tbl.org.tr/tbbl/oyuncu.asp?Kod=3911 |title=Profile at tbl.org.tr |date=mdy}}
{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821173420/http://www.wnbc.com/sports/9382532/detail.html |title=Seimone's Story: WNBA Phenom Part 1 |date=mdy}},[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311182410/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/sports/9440987/detail.html Part II], [https://web.archive.org/web/20080907000814/http://www.wnbc.com/sports/9519622/detail.html Part III], [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927235123/http://www.wyff4.com/sports/9592237/detail.html Part IV], [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927235021/http://www.wyff4.com/sports/9695813/detail.html Part V]
[https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/seimone-augustus-marriage Players' Tribune column by Augustus from July 27, 2015]
[http://www.wnba.com/draft2006/prospect_seimone_augustus.html WNBA 2006 Draft Prospectus]
{{cite video|title=The Second Jobs of WNBA All-Stars: Seimone Augustus in Russia|url=https://sports.vice.com/en_us/video/the-second-jobs-of-wnba-all-stars-seimone-augustus-in-russia|publisher=Vice Sports|date=March 21, 2017}} - 14 minute video
[https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/seimone-augustus-wnba-knuckleheads-podcast-basketball Augustus on the Knuckleheads podcast], January 8, 2021