University of Pittsburgh Athletics
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Shavonte Zellous Makes Return To WNBA; Signs With Washington Mystics
3/31/2021 2:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Former Pitt women's basketball standout Shavonte Zellous signed a contract with the Washington Mystics of the WNBA on Wednesday afternoon. The 11-year WNBA veteran will join her fifth franchise since being drafted in 2009 following her illustrious Pitt career.
Zellous has played in Turkey for the last five seasons and is currently enjoying one of her best campaigns overseas as she is leading Cankaya Universitesi Ankara in minutes (37.8 mpg), points (22.0 ppg) and assists (4.9 apg) while ranking second in rebounds (8.4 rpg). The gifted scorer is also shooting 53.2% from the floor, 34.8% from behind the arc and 75.6% from the free throw line in 24 games.
One of the most prolific student-athletes to come through the University of Pittsburgh, Zellous was a District 1 WBCA All-America selection and Third Team Associated Press All-America selection in 2009. The Orlando native was also a three-time First Team All-Big East selection during the course of her career. As a sophomore, Zellous was part of a historic Panther squad that made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history in 2007. Pitt then went on to make back-to-back appearances in the Sweet 16 her junior and senior seasons.
Zellous' name is etched all over the Pitt basketball record book as she left the program on top of various categories including career made free throws (793), points in a season (747, 2008-09) and free throws made in a season (198, 2008-09). The guard ranks third in career points (2,251) and ranks second in most points in a game (42 vs. Florida, 12-21-2008).
Following her collegiate career, Zellous was selected by the Detroit Shock in the first round of the 2009 WNBA Draft as the 11th overall selection. In her first season with the Shock, Zellous was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team after averaging 11.9 points and was second in the league with 155 free throws made.
She spent six seasons with the Indiana Fever, where she helped the team win the 2012 WNBA Championship. Following a career 2013 season, Zellous was named the WNBA's Most Improved Player of the Year while also earning an All-Star nod. After three seasons with the New York Liberty, Zellous spent the 2019 season with the Seattle Storm. Her career averages include 8.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
The Mystics closed out their 2020 campaign with a 9-13 overall record and secured the eighth seed in the 2020 WNBA playoffs, their fourth straight postseason trip. The Mystics dropped a heartbreaker at the buzzer in the first round of the playoffs to the Phoenix Mercury.
Zellous and the Mystics will open up the 25th season of the WNBA later this summer as no official start date for the 2021 season has been announced to this point.
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Zellous has played in Turkey for the last five seasons and is currently enjoying one of her best campaigns overseas as she is leading Cankaya Universitesi Ankara in minutes (37.8 mpg), points (22.0 ppg) and assists (4.9 apg) while ranking second in rebounds (8.4 rpg). The gifted scorer is also shooting 53.2% from the floor, 34.8% from behind the arc and 75.6% from the free throw line in 24 games.
One of the most prolific student-athletes to come through the University of Pittsburgh, Zellous was a District 1 WBCA All-America selection and Third Team Associated Press All-America selection in 2009. The Orlando native was also a three-time First Team All-Big East selection during the course of her career. As a sophomore, Zellous was part of a historic Panther squad that made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history in 2007. Pitt then went on to make back-to-back appearances in the Sweet 16 her junior and senior seasons.
Zellous' name is etched all over the Pitt basketball record book as she left the program on top of various categories including career made free throws (793), points in a season (747, 2008-09) and free throws made in a season (198, 2008-09). The guard ranks third in career points (2,251) and ranks second in most points in a game (42 vs. Florida, 12-21-2008).
Following her collegiate career, Zellous was selected by the Detroit Shock in the first round of the 2009 WNBA Draft as the 11th overall selection. In her first season with the Shock, Zellous was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team after averaging 11.9 points and was second in the league with 155 free throws made.
She spent six seasons with the Indiana Fever, where she helped the team win the 2012 WNBA Championship. Following a career 2013 season, Zellous was named the WNBA's Most Improved Player of the Year while also earning an All-Star nod. After three seasons with the New York Liberty, Zellous spent the 2019 season with the Seattle Storm. Her career averages include 8.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
The Mystics closed out their 2020 campaign with a 9-13 overall record and secured the eighth seed in the 2020 WNBA playoffs, their fourth straight postseason trip. The Mystics dropped a heartbreaker at the buzzer in the first round of the playoffs to the Phoenix Mercury.
Zellous and the Mystics will open up the 25th season of the WNBA later this summer as no official start date for the 2021 season has been announced to this point.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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