Anne Donovan
Inducted:
1995
Player Stats
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Born
November 1, 1961
Ridgewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Died
June 13, 2018
Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.
Position
Center
College
Old Dominion (1979–1983)
Anne Donovan was a towering figure in basketball, standing 6'8" and possessing a soft touch and defensive dominance that made her one of the most successful figures in the sport's history. At Old Dominion University (ODU), she was a three-time All-American and led the Lady Monarchs to the 1980 AIAW National Championship. Donovan remains the NCAA’s all-time leader in blocked shots (801) and finished her college career averaging a double-double (20.0 ppg and 14.5 rpg).
Donovan's legacy is unique because she reached the absolute pinnacle as both a player and a coach. She won two Olympic Gold Medals as a player (1984, 1988) and later made history as a coach. In 2004, she led the Seattle Storm to a title, becoming the first female head coach to win a WNBA Championship. She also guided the U.S. Women's National Team to a Gold Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, becoming the first person in USA Basketball history to win Olympic Gold as both a player and a head coach. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.
Donovan's Awards and Records
- Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (Inaugural Class, 1999)
- Naismith College Player of the Year (1983)
- Honda Sports Award for Basketball (1983)
- FIBA Hall of Fame (2015)
- USA Basketball National Coach of the Year (2007, 2008)
- 22 Retired by Old Dominion University
Teams
Old Dominion (1979–1983)
National Team
United States
Number Worn
22
Career Stats
Seasons
4 (1979–1983)
Games Played
136
Points:
2,719
Rebounds:
1,976
Blocks:
801
FG(%):
63.1
FT(%):
66.1
PPG:
20.0
Olympic Gold (Player):
2 (1984, 1988)
Olympic Gold (Coach):
1 (2008)