Jackie Stiles is one of the best women’s college basketball players ever. She attended Missouri State University for four years. At Missouri State, Stiles dominated.
College
As a freshman, Stiles averaged 20.6 points per game on 52% shooting from the field and 36% from three-point land. Stiles could score the basketball; she got better every year while in college. In her sophomore season, she averaged 25.7 points per game, and as a junior, she upped her scoring to 27.8. All while shooting a substantial percentage from the field. This leads up to her outstanding senior campaign.
In 2001, the Missouri State star became the first player in NCAA women’s college basketball to score 1,00 points. She finished the season with 1,062 points scored. Also, Stiles won the Wade Trophy, which is for the best women’s player in the college ranks, and the Broderick Cup, which honors the College Woman Athlete of the Year.
On March 10, 2000, Stiles scored 56 points in a game against Evansville, and in the NCAA, her 41 points helped Missouri State upset duke in the Sweet 16. She followed that game up with 32 point performance to beat Washington to advance to the Final Four, where Missouri State lost to Purdue. The shooting guard was outstanding in her senior year; Stiles averaged 30.3 points per game and shot a career-high 56% from the field and 49% from beyond the arc. She could score from anywhere on the court. Stiles finished her college career with 3,393 points.
Pro Career
After college Stiles made her way to the WNBA, where she was selected fourth overall by the Portland Fire, she averaged 14.9 points and shot 43% from three-point land. The former Missouri State star took home the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award that season and quickly became one of the league’s best shooters.
After her rookie season, Jackie started experiencing wrist pain and needed surgery. Also, she started developing shoulder problems and had to have surgery for that as well. After the 2002 WNBA season, the Portland Fire folded, and Stiles went on to sign with the Sparks but never played due to injuries.
In 2004, Stiles went on to play in the NWBL for the Lubbock Hawks and, in 2006, went to the Canberra Capitals before she retired. Now she works as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball team.
Jackie Stiles is one of the best shooters in women’s basketball history; she really worked hard on shooting at a young age.
“During the season I make 1000 shots probably twice a week. I have a 45-minute workout every day. Before a game, I have a workout and make 115 shots.” Jackie said in the segment.
If it was not for injuries, she could have had a great WNBA career. But her college career speaks for itself. Stiles made the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
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