Sports stats

Silver Stars Sign Riley To Two-Year Deal

March 11, 2008 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
San Antonio Stars News Release


SAN ANTONIO - The San Antonio Silver Stars have signed Ruth Riley to a two-year deal, Head Coach and General Manager Dan Hughes announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract have not been released.

The Silver Stars acquired Riley in a trade with Detroit that sent Katie Feenstra to the Shock in February 2007. A WNBA all-star, Riley owns a rare trifecta with an NCAA Championship (Notre Dame 2001), Olympic Gold Medal (Athens 2004) and two WNBA titles (Detroit 2003, 2006). The 6'5" center was voted Most Outstanding Player at the 2001 Final Four after helping the Fighting Irish to their first national title. She also picked up the Naismith Award as the nation's top basketball player that season. In 2003, she earned MVP honors during the WNBA Finals after scoring 27 points against Los Angeles in the championship game.

"We are so excited to have a multi-year agreement with Ruth," said Hughes. "She is truly one of the most successful players to wear a WNBA uniform and does so many selfless actions to make us successful. With her return to health in 2008, we are blessed to have her talents on our court and in our community."

In seven WNBA seasons, Riley has averaged 7.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.58 blocks per game. She spent much of 2007 hampered by injuries, but still averaged 5.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and a career-best 1.97 blocks per game.

"I am extremely excited about my future with San Antonio," said Riley. "I appreciate the values-based organization, our dedicated coaching staff, and I love the great group of women that I am able to compete with day in and day out. Although last season's finale was heart-breaking, with our core group still intact, we are on the verge of doing something special for the community in San Antonio!"

Well known for her humanitarian efforts, Riley spent much of the past two off-seasons in Africa where she worked with Nothing But Nets to distribute bed nets to children as part of the group's malaria prevention campaign. She also spent time working basketball clinics for children and promoting health initiatives while in Africa.

The Silver Stars open the 2008 season on the road at Sacramento May 17 before hosting the defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury on May 20. Affordable full and partial season ticket plans are on sale now. Visit www.sasilverstars.com or call (210) 444.5090 for more information.



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from March 11, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent San Antonio Stars Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central