Edna Campbell

Edna Campbell (born November 26, 1968 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.) is a retired women's basketball player who played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The 5' 8" guard was a star player for the Sacramento Monarchs and has also played for three other teams, but is best known for continuing to play despite suffering breast cancer.

College years

Campbell's college career began at the University of Maryland, College Park, but achieved her most notable success at the University of Texas' women's team, known as the "Lady Longhorns", where she was named the Southwest Conference's Newcomer of the Year in 1990. She graduated in 1991 after the Lady Longhorns compiled a 48-14 won/loss record while she was there.

ABL career

Campbell played for the Colorado Xplosion in the American Basketball League (ABL).

WNBA career

Campbell was the 10th overall draft pick, selected by the Phoenix Mercury during the 1999 WNBA Draft. She was left unprotected in the expansion draft the following year, and was chosen by the Seattle Storm. She became the new franchise's go-to option, but the team finished with a cellar-dwelling 6-26 record.

The next year, the Storm drafted its first superstar, Lauren Jackson, and Campbell was traded to the Sacramento Monarchs for Katy Steding and a draft pick. During the second of her four seasons in Sacramento, Campbell was diagnosed with breast cancer. She received treatment and was welcomed back before the fans of her two most recent teams in the Monarchs' final game against Seattle during the 2002 season.

Campbell continued to play despite the cancer, and has become a symbol to some survivors of the disease. She became the WNBA's national spokesperson for its anti-cancer efforts with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. She received the league's Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award in 2003.

Campbell signed a free agent contract with the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2005. She played with the Silver Stars for that one season, before announcing her retirement from the WNBA on February 28, 2006.

During the 2006 WNBA season, which honored 9 years of existence, Edna Campbell's return from breast cancer was nominated by fans as "most inspirational" and one of the top four WNBA Anniversary decade moments.

Life after basketball

Shortly after retiring, she was hired as a television commentator for the Silver Stars games during the 2006 WNBA season. In addition, Campbell has been working in the real estate business. During 2006, Edna Campbell moved back to Sacramento, CA where she opened an office as a realtor and loan consultant.

Career Statistics

WNBA Career Totals

WNBA Career Playoff Averages

External links

* [http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/edna_campbell/ WNBA player profile]
* [http://www.wnba.com/silverstars/news/campbell_050217.html Silver Stars bio]
* [http://aol.wnba.com/community/komen_partnership_030619.html Story on her bout with cancer]
* [http://www.wnba.com/silverstars/news/edna_campbell_retirement_060228.html Silver Stars' February 28, 2006 press release on her retirement]