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July 25, 2005
RICHMOND, Va. – Former University of Virginia All-American Wendy Palmer-Daniel (1993-96) was named an assistant women’s basketball coach at Virginia Commonwealth University on July 19, VCU head coach Beth Cunningham announced.
Palmer-Daniel, a 1997 WNBA draftee, will pull double-duty as she will coach and continue playing in the professional league.
“Initially when I began the search to finalize my staff three things came to mind that I was looking for — a WNBA player, someone with Virginia roots, and a well-known reputation,” explained Cunningham. “The first person that came to mind was Wendy Palmer-Daniel. Wendy’s accomplishments over the past decade have established her as one of the elite players in the game. I expect her to have a significant impact in recruiting and with the development of our young players.”
Palmer-Daniel, one of the few original players left in the WNBA, was selected by the Utah Starzz in the second round (ninth overall) of the WNBA Elite Draft on February 27, 1997. Since being drafted, Palmer-Daniel has also played for the Detroit Shock, Orlando Miracle, and Connecticut Sun, along with her current squad the San Antonio Silver Stars. She was an All-WNBA second-team selection in 1997 and was voted an Eastern Conference reserve for the 2000 WNBA All-Star contest. Palmer-Daniel has compiled nearly 260 games played in her nine years with the league, including a current career average of 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds each time out.
“I am truly excited about the opportunity to join the VCU Women’s Basketball program,” commented Palmer-Daniel. “I think Beth, her staff and the team have really created something special. I look forward to watching the program grow and being a part of that. Everyone at VCU treated me so well during my visit — I knew it is the perfect fit for me, the school and the program.”
Palmer-Daniel, a two-time Kodak All-American at UVA, became the first player in Cavalier women’s basketball history to record over 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. She was a three-time All-ACC first-team selection and she became only the third player in league history to receive two-straight ACC Player of the Year nods. Palmer-Daniel ended her career at Virginia ranked among the program’s all-time leaders in several statistical categories, including first in career rebounds (1,221), second in career field goals made (780), and third in career scoring (1,918).
The 6-2 forward led the ACC in rebounding during her sophomore and senior seasons, ending her career ranked eighth all-time among the league’s top rebounders. To date, Palmer-Daniel remains atop UVa’s career rebounds list and still owns the single-season rebounding record title (358). She also set a Cavalier single-game scoring record when she registered 39 points in just 26 minutes of play at Maryland during the 1994-95 campaign.
Palmer-Daniel, who graduated from UVa in 1996 with a degree in history, was the fourth Cavalier in the program’s history to have her jersey retired.
Palmer-Daniel’s hire completes Cunningham’s staff for the upcoming season. VCU finished the 2004-05 campaign with an 11-18 overall record and a 6-12 mark in Colonial Athletic Association play.