Debbie Black, Usa

Ibn Quote: "Going from high school to college, no one recruited me, Division I-wise. The main reason was they thought I was too small to play at that level. Even coming into the pro level they thought maybe I wasn't big enough. But it doesn't bother me. It made me actually work harder. And you have to use what have. I think that's important, particularly for young girls to understand. Use what you have. Don't try to be somebody else. I've never been a terrific offensive player but I know I can play defense and I know I can run a team, so I try to do the things that I do well and then work on the other parts of my game."                   --Debbie Black on how she her height limits her in the eyes of others.

"I loved the ABL because it was seven months out of the year. It was a full-time job with a great salary. Players didn't have to go overseas; you stayed in one city because of length of the season. We were more of a part of the community. The ABL was really developed for us, not on the coattails of the men. But we need the help of the NBA to actually make it. -- Debbie Black on the ABL and WNBA

There are a lot of things that I loved about the ABL, but I realize that we are lucky to have the WNBA. The WNBA is what we have, but the ABL is what I want as a player."

" ...Whether (Teresa Weatherspoon) wants to believe it or not, we are very similar. I only know her on the court. [The WNBA] was her league, but I came in. We are intense, physical, and very emotional. She isn't used to playing someone who plays her the way I play. There is an intense rivalry when we play each other. She tends to get more aggravated when we play ... possibly because she is playing someone exactly like her..." -- Debbie Black on her intense rivalry with New York Liberty's Teresa Weatherspoon

At St. Joseph's University, Debbie Black was a multi-sport athlete, earning 12 varsity letters in basketball, field hockey, and softball.  Professionally, Black won two league titles in her eight years in the WNBL (1991 and 1995), was named the ABL defensive player of the year in 1996-97 (also all-ABL second team) and then the WNBA defensive player of the year in 2001.  In an ABL game against Teresa Edwards and the Atlanta Glory, Debbie Black pulled off a unheard-of feat when she recorded a quadruple-double -  10 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists, 10 steals.

Stealing the Tip:  Debbie Black unofficially leads the league in tie-ups/jumpballs.  One of the funniest things I have ever seen (and smartest) is seeing the 5-3 Black go up against a someone significantly taller than her (most everyone) at midcourt for a jumpball.  Black realizes that she isn't going to gain possession the traditional way, Debbie then surveys the area and when the ball is tossed - instead of jumping, Debbie immediately bolts to the area where she predicts the ball will be tapped by the opposition - literally attempting to steal the tip.  On at least two occasions, I have seen highlights of Debbie successfully guessing where the tap is headed, beating the opposing team to the ball, and going in for a layup. (does anyone have a clip of this?  I will host it on my server... contact me stuart at interbasket dot net)