Coco Miller Signs With Atlanta Dream
May 16, 2009 | Women's Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. --- Coco Miller, one of just five 2,000-point scorers in the history of Georgia Lady Bulldog Basketball, signed a free agent contract with the WNBA's Atlanta Dream on Friday, the franchise announced.
"I'm glad we finally have a UGA player and what a great one we got," Dream General Manager and Head Coach Marynell Meadors. "Coco still has a lot of friends in Athens so she is really looking forward to getting back to Georgia and into an Atlanta Dream uniform.
"Coco is the type of player who helps you win games," Meadors continued. "She's an extremely hard worker and is very professional in her approach to the game."
Miller was released by Washington on Monday. She played eight seasons with the Mystics after being the team's first-round draft pick (No. 9 overall selection) in 2001. She was named the WNBA's Most Improved Player in 2002.
"Coco has been a tremendous asset to the Washington Mystics organization over the past eight seasons," Washington General Manager Angela Taylor said. "It was with great difficulty that we decided to waive her. A fan favorite, Coco is the consummate professional who has earned the respect of her teammates, coaches and peers around the league for her tireless work ethic and competitive spirit. We sincerely thank her for her contributions to this organization over the years and wish her continued success throughout the remainder of her professional career."
Miller and her twin sister Kelly were the catalysts for Georgia teams that reached the 1999 Final Four, captured the 2000 SEC Championship and won the 2001 SEC Tournament. Coco was a four-time All-SEC performer and a two-time All-America selection. She also was an Academic All-American in 2001.
Among the Lady Bulldogs' career statistical leaders, Coco ranks No. 5 in scoring (2,131 points), No. 2 in field goal attempts (1890), No. 4 in field goals made (864), No. 9 in both steals (225) and three-pointers (136) and No. 10 in three-point attempts (361). She also holds Georgia's single-game scoring record of 45 points, established against Charleston Southern during her freshman season.
The Millers and teammate Deanna Nolan made history in 2001 when they became the first trio of college teammates to be taken in the first round of the WNBA Draft. Kelly was the No. 2 overall pick by Charlotte, and Nolan was nabbed with the No. 6 selection by the Detroit Shock.
Kelly Miller also is enjoying a homecoming of sorts this spring. She was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in February, returning to the state where she was a prep All-American at Mayo High School in Rochester, Minn.
All told, 19 former Lady Bulldogs have gone on to play in the WNBA. There are eight former Georgia standouts in 2009 WNBA training camps, which open on Sunday. In addition to Coco Miller, Kelly Miller and Christi Thomas are with Minnesota; Nolan and Kara Braxton are with defending champion Detroit; Tasha Humphrey and Kiesha Brown are with Washington; and Sherill Baker is with Indianapolis.
"I'm glad we finally have a UGA player and what a great one we got," Dream General Manager and Head Coach Marynell Meadors. "Coco still has a lot of friends in Athens so she is really looking forward to getting back to Georgia and into an Atlanta Dream uniform.
"Coco is the type of player who helps you win games," Meadors continued. "She's an extremely hard worker and is very professional in her approach to the game."
Miller was released by Washington on Monday. She played eight seasons with the Mystics after being the team's first-round draft pick (No. 9 overall selection) in 2001. She was named the WNBA's Most Improved Player in 2002.
"Coco has been a tremendous asset to the Washington Mystics organization over the past eight seasons," Washington General Manager Angela Taylor said. "It was with great difficulty that we decided to waive her. A fan favorite, Coco is the consummate professional who has earned the respect of her teammates, coaches and peers around the league for her tireless work ethic and competitive spirit. We sincerely thank her for her contributions to this organization over the years and wish her continued success throughout the remainder of her professional career."
Miller and her twin sister Kelly were the catalysts for Georgia teams that reached the 1999 Final Four, captured the 2000 SEC Championship and won the 2001 SEC Tournament. Coco was a four-time All-SEC performer and a two-time All-America selection. She also was an Academic All-American in 2001.
Among the Lady Bulldogs' career statistical leaders, Coco ranks No. 5 in scoring (2,131 points), No. 2 in field goal attempts (1890), No. 4 in field goals made (864), No. 9 in both steals (225) and three-pointers (136) and No. 10 in three-point attempts (361). She also holds Georgia's single-game scoring record of 45 points, established against Charleston Southern during her freshman season.
The Millers and teammate Deanna Nolan made history in 2001 when they became the first trio of college teammates to be taken in the first round of the WNBA Draft. Kelly was the No. 2 overall pick by Charlotte, and Nolan was nabbed with the No. 6 selection by the Detroit Shock.
Kelly Miller also is enjoying a homecoming of sorts this spring. She was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in February, returning to the state where she was a prep All-American at Mayo High School in Rochester, Minn.
All told, 19 former Lady Bulldogs have gone on to play in the WNBA. There are eight former Georgia standouts in 2009 WNBA training camps, which open on Sunday. In addition to Coco Miller, Kelly Miller and Christi Thomas are with Minnesota; Nolan and Kara Braxton are with defending champion Detroit; Tasha Humphrey and Kiesha Brown are with Washington; and Sherill Baker is with Indianapolis.
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