Silver Stars Announce 2004 Roster

Published on May 19, 2004 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
San Antonio Stars News Release


SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Silver Stars Chief Operating Officer Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil announced today the Silver Stars roster for the 2004 season. At the same time the Silver Stars put LaToya Thomas on injured reserve with a left-medial calf strain. San Antonio's roster includes six returning players from the 2003 Silver Stars team and six new faces.

Tai Dillard, Margo Dydek, Marie Ferdinand, Adrienne Goodson, Gwen Jackson and Semeka Randall have all returned for the Silver Stars second season in the Alamo City.

Dillard enters her second season with the Silver Stars. She appeared in 24 games averaging 1.7 points in 7.0 minutes per game in 2003. The 5-9 guard spent the 2004 offseason playing for the Houston Stealth of the NWBL where she averaged 5.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per game.

A native of Poland who speaks five languages (Polish, French, Spanish, English and Russian) Dydek has led the WNBA in blocks each of the last six seasons. During the 2003 campaign she was named to the All-Star Team for the first time and averaged 11.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2.94 blocks in 34 games.

Ferdinand, a two-time All-Star, is in her fourth year with the Silver Stars. The 5-9 guard led the league in free throws made and attempted in 2003 and was fourth in the WNBA in steals (1.71 spg). For her career Ferdinand has played in 98 games earning 88 starts, averaging 13.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.52 steals in 31.1 minutes per game.

Goodson, five-year WNBA veteran, ranks among the Top 10 in seven Silver Stars all-time statistical categories. She received the Silver Stars 2003 Offseason Community Assist Award. In 2003 she started 32 games, averaging 11.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 29.4 minutes per game.

Jackson returns for her second season with the Silver Stars. The 6-3 forward was one of the top rookies in 2003, ranking second amongst first-year players in rebounding (6.2 rpg). During her first season with the Silver Stars Jackson appeared in 33 games earning 26 starts, averaging 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in 29.5 minutes per game.

Randall enjoyed her first full season with the Silver Stars in 2003. A strong defensive player, Randall played in 33 games in 2003, averaging 2.7 points and 1.6 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game.

Newcomers to the Silver Stars this year include Agnieszka Bibrzycka, Jessie Hicks, Shannon Johnson, Mandisa Stevenson, LaToya Thomas and Toccara Williams.

Bibrzycka comes to San Antonio via Poland where she played with current Silver Stars teammate Dydek for Lotos VBW Clima Gydnia. The 6-2 guard was named the 2003 European Player of Year by La Gazetta dello Sport. She also played for the Polish National Team in 2003 European Championships.

Hicks is a seasoned WNBA veteran who makes her way to the Alamo City from Connecticut. She played for Silver Stars Head Coach Dee Brown in Orlando in 2002. The 6-4 center has played in 142 games in her WNBA career, averaging 4.1 points and 2.1 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game.

The biggest acquisition the Silver Stars made during the offseason was acquiring Shannon Johnson from Connecticut in exchange for their fourth, 16th and 29th picks in the 2004 WNBA Draft. Johnson, a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team, has been named to the All-WNBA Second Team three times and is a four-time All Star.

Stevenson was signed by the Silver Stars as a rookie free agent. In two seasons at the University of Auburn the 6-3 center played in 64 games earning 60 starts, averaging 8.0 points and 6.9 rebounds in 28.3 minutes per game.

Thomas was drafted third by the Silver Stars in 2004 WNBA Dispersal Draft after the Cleveland Rockers ceased operations. The No. 1 pick in the 2003 WNBA Draft, Thomas averaged 10.8 rebounds and 5.8 rebounds in 26.7 minutes per game during her rookie season.

Williams was drafted by the Silver Stars with the 34th overall pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft. She finished her career at Texas A&M as one of only three players in NCAA history and the only player in Big 12 history to have tallied more than 1,000 points (1,302), 500 rebounds (582), 600 assists (724) and 350 steals (452) during their career. She was named First Team All-Big 12 in 2004 and was selected as the conference's best defender after leading the nation in steals (4.1 spg) and the conference in assists (7.1 apg).

The Silver Stars will start the 2004 regular season on the road in Houston on May 20 at 7:30 p.m., but will play their next four games at the SBC Center, including the home opener against the defending WNBA Champion Detroit Shock on Sat., May 22 at 7 p.m. The Silver Stars host the Comets for the first time during the regular season on Sat., June 12 at 7 p.m. before welcoming them back on Thu., September 9 at 7 p.m. The Phoenix Mercury and Diana Taurasi come to town twice, first on Thu., June 29 at 7 p.m. and then on Fri., July 30 at 7 p.m. Lisa Leslie and the Los Angeles Sparks make their way to the Alamo City on Fri., July 9 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 31 at 7 p.m. San Antonio closes out the regular season home schedule against the Charlotte Sting on Friday, September 17 at 7 p.m.

Fans interested in purchasing Silver Stars season tickets can do so by calling 444-5050 for tickets and information. Full-season ticket prices are $132.30, $276.30, $366.30 and $564.30, while the 10-Game Weekend Pak (Friday, Saturday and Sunday games only) prices are $83.50, $163.50 and $233.50.

Saturday night's game against Detroit will be the first eight televised games on KRRT WB-35 starting at 7:00 p.m. Fans can also tune in and listen to all of the team's 2004 WNBA games on Clear Channel radio stations Ticket 760 AM and KSJL 810 AM with Andrew Monaco calling the action.

SAN ANTONIO SILVER STARS 2004 ROSTER

NO PLAYER POS. HT. WT. DOB COLLEGE WNBA YEARS

10 Agnieszka Bibrzycka G/F 6-2 168 10/21/82 Poland R

9 Tai Dillard G 5-9 154 5/6/81 Texas '03 1

12 Margo Dydek C 7-2 223 4/28/74 AWF (Poland) '94 6

3 Marie Ferdinand G 5-9 145 10/13/78 Louisiana State '01 3

15 Adrienne Goodson F 6-0 165 10/19/66 Old Dominion '88 5

7 Jessie Hicks C 6-4 188 12/2/71 Maryland '93 5

13 Gwen Jackson F 6-3 182 10/23/80 Tennessee '03 1

14 Shannon Johnson G 5-7 152 8/18/74 South Carolina '96 5

21 Semeka Randall G 5-9 164 2/7/79 Tennessee '01 3

54 Mandisa Stevenson F/C 6-3 166 2/4/82 Auburn '04 R

32 LaToya Thomas * F 6-2 165 7/6/81 Mississippi State '03 1

1 Toccara Williams G 5-8 138 1/11/82 Texas A&M '04 R

* Injured Reserve

Head Coach: Dee Brown (Jacksonville ‘90)

Assistant Coaches: Shell Dailey (Texas '86)

Vonn Read (Clark Atlanta ‘97)

Athletic Trainer: Kevin Semans (Tennessee '91)

Strength Coach: Patrice Arnold (Incarnate Word '99)

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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 19, 2004


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