SG Katie Smith (All B1G, B1G Champion, OSU HOF, Asst. Coach Minnesota Lynx)

[Buckskin86]

For Love of the Game
Tom Tiberio

Photo by Tessa Berg

Katie Smith deflects a compliment like an opponent’s shot. The first female athlete to have her number retired at Ohio State, Smith won two WNBA championships, has three Olympic gold medals and—if you count her American Basketball League career—is women’s basketball’s all-time leading scorer. Yet she is decidedly unflashy. For the Logan native, who quietly retired this year, it’s always been about the game. Here, she dishes on going back to school and her prospects as a coach.

Ever since college, Columbus has been home, whether I’ve been here or not. Your connections, your family, the university. It’s kind of who you are.

Right now, the plan is to coach as an assistant for the New York Liberty over the summer. I’m finishing grad school [at OSU] to be a registered dietitian in the spring. I really would like to pursue something at Ohio State, possibly be the female version of Eddie George’s position.

Basketball’s given me so much. I’m thankful for every opportunity that I’ve had. So many people had a hand in what I’ve done. Like most of us, you do what you do because you love it. The accolades, or the extras, are kind of a bonus.

Don’t get me wrong, you do want to be acknowledged. But all the attention makes me a little ... I’m more of a deflector. I would imagine it’s mostly just where I’m from and how I was raised. You do a good job, you do your work, whether anybody’s watching you or not.

It was the ultimate honor to put on the red, white and blue. And to know, we can flat-out say, we’re the best in the world. To represent Logan. And Ohio State, and Ohio, and my family.

For me, the WNBA is not just about basketball. It’s all about opportunities. Whatever you can dream of, having that opportunity to go out and pursue it. But at the end of the day, it’s gonna take a lot of hard work.

http://www.columbusmonthly.com/December-2013/For-Love-of-The-Game/

 

[Dryden]

https://www.landof10.com/ohio-state/ohio-states-katie-smith-named-head-coach-new-york-liberty

Ohio State’s Katie Smith named head coach of New York Liberty
Ohio State women’s basketball legend Katie Smith is the new head coach of the WNBA’s New York Liberty, the team announced Monday.

This is the first head coaching job for Smith, who was the first women’s basketball player at Ohio State to have her jersey retired. She had previously been an assistant for the Liberty working for Bill Laimbeer, who reportedly moved on to take a job as general manager and coach of the San Antonio Stars, who are moving to Las Vegas.

Smith has been preparing for this job for a while.

“I’d like to be a head coach, yes, whether it be in the pros or college, but definitely at some point I’d like to take that challenge on,” Smith told The Columbus Dispatch last year. “I do enjoy it. I enjoy working with the players on the floor, practice, but also scheming, watching film, trying to figure out how we can have success.”

Smith had an extensive WNBA career, playing for the Minnesota Lynx, Detroit Shock, Washington Mystics, Seattle Storm and the Liberty during her 15 years in the league.

“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to promote Katie Smith — unquestionably one of the best to ever play the game of basketball —- to head coach of the New York Liberty,” team president Isiah Thomas said in statement. “Katie has transitioned from an all-time great player to phenomenal coach during her time with the Liberty, which has included the most successful stretch of basketball in franchise history.”

 

[brodybuck21]

1. SPORTS

Former Ohio State guard Katie Smith will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Updated Feb 12, 8:36 PM; Posted Feb 12, 8:24 PM

Former Ohio State star Katie Smith was named to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2018 on Monday.(Jessica Hill, Associated Press)




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By Tim Bielik, cleveland.com

[email protected]



COLUMBUS, Ohio -- One of Ohio State's greatest women's basketball players will be enshrined into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Katie Smith was named as a member of the 2018 class on Monday and will be officially enshrined in June.

View image on Twitter

https://twitter.com/OhioState_WBB/status/963215789997395969
OSU W Basketball

✔@OhioState_WBB

Congratulations @katiesmith30 !!! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!

7:58 PM - Feb 12, 2018 · Champaign, IL

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In her collegiate career, Smith had 20.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, shooting 46.9 percent from the field. Smith is No. 3 in scoring in Ohio State history (2,578 points) and still holds the school records for free throws made (708) and attempted (845).

She was a two-time WNBA champion and helped the United States win three Olympic gold medals. As a pro, she scored 13.4 points per game and was a seven-time All-Star.

Joining Smith in the Class of 2018 are Ceal Barry, Rose Marie Battaglia, Chris Dailey, Mickie DeMoss, Chamique Holdsclaw and Tina Thompson.

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/2018/02/former_ohio_state_guard_katie.html

 

[LitlBuck]

Katie was a really good women's college basketball player back in the day. Almost brought Ohio State a national championship. Her induction is long overdue.

 

[Jagdaddy]

Katie was a really good women's college basketball player back in the day. Almost brought Ohio State a national championship. Her induction is long overdue.

She should also be inducted here: http://www.hoophall.com/

 

[LitlBuck]

Just days after being named into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, former Ohio State guard Katie Smith was named a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday.

 

[BB73]

Congrats to Katie on making the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame! Well deserved.

espn.com

..
HOF class

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Former NBA stars Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Ray Allen and Grant Hill headline the 2018 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class announced Saturday.

Other inductees include longtime college basketball coach Lefty Driesell, women's basketball standouts Katie Smith and Tina Thompson, and four-time NBA All-Star Maurice Cheeks. ...

Smith and Thompson are two of the greatest women's basketball players of all time. Smith is the all-time leading scorer in women's professional basketball, playing in both the ABL and WNBA. She won three Olympic gold medals in 2000, 2004 and 2008.

Cont'd ...

 

[Jagdaddy]

I hope she establishes her coaching chops with the Liberty. I'm not a big McGuff fan, and while I'm also usually not on the "X former OSU great should be a head coach at OSU" bandwagon, Katie Smith is the exception to that rule for me. I hope OSU can bring her home to take the women's program to where it should be at some point.

 

[Bestbuck36]

Heck yeah. Would love to see her challenge ND and UCONN for national supremacy. No reason why we shouldn't with OSU's facilities and recruiting base.

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[Bestbuck36]

The question is would Katie, who's supremely qualified, ever really want to coach her alma mater? She's already one of the greatest Buckeyes ever, could she make Mt Rushmore if she lead the Buckeyes to a National Championship? I would say YES.

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[Steve19]

What a wonderful tribute to Ohio State that speech is...what a wonderful athlete she remains.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]