View source for Ann Wauters

{{Short description|Belgian basketball player (born 1980)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| embed           =
| name            = Ann Wauters
| image           = Anne Wauters - 2014.JPG
| image_size      = 
| caption         = 
| team            = 
| position        = 
| league          = [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]]
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1980|10|12|df=y}}
| birth_place     = [[Sint-Gillis-Waas]], Belgium
| death_date      = 
| death_place     = 
| nationality     = <!-- use only when necessary per [[WP:INFONAT]] -->
| height_ft       = 6
| height_in       = 4
| weight_lb       = 195
| high_school     = 
| college         = 
| draft_year      = 2000
| draft_round     = 1
| draft_pick      = 1
| draft_team      = [[Cleveland Rockers]]
| draft_league    = WNBA
| career_start    = 1999
| career_end      = 2021
| career_position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| career_number   = 12, 21
| coach_start     = 2022
| coach_end       = 
| years1          = 1999–2004
| team1           = [[Union Sportive Valenciennes Olympic|US Valenciennes Olympic]]
| years2          = {{WNBA Year|2000}}–{{WNBA Year|2002}}
| team2        = [[Cleveland Rockers]]
| years3          = 2003
| team3           = [[Samsung Life Blueminx|Samsung Life Bichumi]]
| years4         = {{WNBA Year|2004}}–{{WNBA Year|2005}}
| team4           = [[New York Liberty]]
| years5          = 2006
| team5           = Samsung Life Bichumi
| years6          = 2004–2007
| team6          = [[VBM-SGAU Samara]]
| years7          = 2007–2009
| team7          = [[WBC CSKA Moscow]]
| years8          = {{WNBA Year|2008}}–{{WNBA Year|2009}}
| team8           = [[San Antonio Silver Stars]]
| years9          = 2009–2010
| team9           = [[UMMC Ekaterinburg]]
| years10         = 2011–2012
| team10           = [[Ros Casares Valencia]]
| years11         = {{WNBA Year|2012}}
| team11           = [[Seattle Storm]]
| years12       = 2012–2013
| team12          = [[Galatasaray S.K. (women's basketball)|Galatasaray S.K.]]
| years13         = 2013–2014
| team13          = UMMC Ekaterinburg
| years14         = 2014–2015
| team14         = [[ESB Villeneuve-d'Ascq]]
| years15         = 2015–2016
| team15         = [[Royal Castors Braine]]
| years16      = 2016
| team16          = Galatasaray S.K.
| years17         = {{WNBA Year|2016}}
| team17          = [[Los Angeles Sparks]]
| years18        = 2016–2017
| team18        = [[Abdullah Gül Üniversitesi B.K.|AGÜ Spor]]
| years19        = 2017
| team19          = [[Yakın Doğu Üniversitesi (women's basketball)|Yakin Dogu]]
| years20       = 2019–2020
| team20        = [[Kayseri Basketbol]] 
| cyears1         = 2022–2023
| cteam1          = [[Chicago Sky]] (assistant)
| cyears2         = 
| cteam2          = 
| highlights      =
* [[List of WNBA champions|WNBA champion]] ([[2016 WNBA Finals|2016]])
* [[WNBA All-Star Game|WNBA All-Star]] ([[2005 WNBA All-Star Game|2005]])
* 4x [[EuroLeague Women|EuroLeague]] champion (2002, 2004, 2005, 2012)
* 2× [[Russian Women's Basketball Premier League|Russian National League]] champion (2010, 2014)
* 3× Russian Cup winner (2008, 2010, 2014)
* [[EuroCup Women|EuroCup]] winner (2015)
* [[Liga Femenina de Baloncesto|Spanish National League]] champion (2012)
* [[Turkish Women's Cup Basketball|Turkish Cup]] winner (2013)
* Belgian National League champion (2016)
* [[Women's Korean Basketball League|Korean National League]] champion (2006)
* 4× [[Ligue Féminine de Basketball|French National League]] champion (2001–2004)
* 4× French Cup winner (2001–2004)
* [[FIBA Women's World League|World League]] champion (2004) 
| stat1label      = Points
| stat1value      = 2,174 (9.9 ppg)
| stat2label      = Rebounds
| stat2value      = 1,111 (5.1 rpg)
| stat3label      = Assists
| stat3value      = 293 (1.3 apg)
| stats_league    = WNBA
| bbr_wnba        = wautean01w
| wnba_profile    =
| cstats_league1  = 
| cwin1           =
| closs1          =
| HOF             = 
| HOF_player      = 
| womensHOF       = 
| medal_templates = 
{{MedalCountry | {{BEL}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[EuroBasket Women|EuroBasket]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[EuroBasket Women 2017|2017 Czech Republic]]|}}
}}

'''Ann Hilde Willy Wauters''' (born 12 October 1980) is a Belgian former professional [[basketball]] player and coach, most recently serving as an assistant coach for the [[Chicago Sky]] in the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA). She played for numerous American and European professional teams, including the [[Cleveland Rockers]], [[US Valenciennes Olympic]], and the [[San Antonio Silver Stars]]. She won four [[EuroLeague Women|EuroLeague]] championships and [[2016 WNBA Finals|one WNBA Finals]] during her career. Her primary position was [[Center (basketball)|center]].

==Early life==
Born in [[Sint-Gillis-Waas]], Belgium, Wauters began playing basketball at age 12. Her international professional basketball career began immediately after high school. She speaks Dutch, French and English. She wears jersey No.&nbsp;12 because of her birthdate.

==Professional career==
===WNBA===
Wauters was drafted first overall in the [[2000 WNBA draft]] by the [[Cleveland Rockers]] at the age of 19, becoming the youngest player in the league at the time. She was also the first Belgian-born player in the WNBA. When the team selected her, she was considered a project and raw talent. Having only played basketball for 7 years prior to the draft, Wauters quickly blended in with the big-name centers.

In her rookie season, Wauters was a reserve on the Rockers' roster, averaging 6.7 ppg off the bench. The Rockers were second in the East with a 17–15 record, and were one win away from advancing to the Finals, but were defeated in 3 games by the [[New York Liberty]] in the Conference Finals.

After her second season, Wauters sat out the 2003 WNBA season in order to rest. The Rockers folded in 2003 and Wauters was moved to the [[New York Liberty]] the following year in a [[2004 WNBA dispersal draft|dispersal draft]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/10/sports/basketball/imported-wauters-boosts-the-liberty.html |title=Imported Wauters Boosts the Liberty |newspaper=The New York Times |date=10 August 2005 |last1=Williams |first1=Lena |access-date=18 February 2017 |archive-date=15 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015055445/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/10/sports/basketball/imported-wauters-boosts-the-liberty.html |url-status=live}}</ref> She played two seasons for the Liberty before taking another break from the WNBA in 2006. During her time with the Liberty, she was selected to play in the [[2005 WNBA All-Star Game]] as a reserve.

In 2008, Wauters returned to the WNBA and was selected by the [[Atlanta Dream]] in the expansion draft.

On 9 April 2008, Wauters, along with [[Morenike Atunrase]] and a 2009 second round draft pick, was traded to the [[San Antonio Silver Stars]] for [[Camille Little]], [[Chioma Nnamaka]], and the Silver Stars' first round pick in the [[2009 WNBA draft]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA.041008.BKW_silver_stars_draft.EN.38a75fc.html |title=WNBA: Silver Stars again make splash with draft-day trade |website=mysanantonio.com}}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> During her first season with the Silver Stars, she averaged a career-high 14.7 ppg as the team's starting center. Playing alongside [[Becky Hammon]], the Silver Stars were also a championship contender in 2008, having finished first in the West with a 24–10 record and advancing all the way to the Finals but would get swept by the [[Detroit Shock]].

Wauters played for the Silver Stars once again in 2009, but decided not to rejoin the team in 2010 to take another break; she also did not join the team in 2011 as she became pregnant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wnba.com/silverstars/news/100405_wauters_will_not_play.html |title=Silver Stars Center Ann Wauters Will Not Play In WNBA In 2010 |website=wnba.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413221825/http://www.wnba.com/silverstars/news/100405_wauters_will_not_play.html |archive-date=13 April 2010}}</ref> In 2012, Wauters signed with the [[Seattle Storm]]. Wauters did not rejoin the Storm for the 2013 WNBA season in order to spend time with her family. After a 3-year break from the WNBA, Wauters signed with the [[Los Angeles Sparks]] in 2016 and won her first WNBA Championship with the team after defeating the [[Minnesota Lynx]] in the Finals.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sparks.wnba.com/sparks-sign-veteran-center-ann-wauters/ |title=Sparks Sign Veteran Center Ann Wauters |website=sparks.wnba.com |access-date=2016-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220145503/http://sparks.wnba.com/sparks-sign-veteran-center-ann-wauters/ |archive-date=2016-12-20 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Overseas===
Throughout her basketball career, Wauters has gained more overseas experience than any other female player. Prior to her WNBA career, Wauters played in France for [[Union Sportive Valenciennes Olympic|USV Olympic]]. After her rookie season in the WNBA, she played with the team for four more years during the off-season and won four consecutive championships. From 2004 to 2007, Wauters played in [[Russia]] for VBM-SGAU and won a championship. From 2007 to 2009, Wauters played two off-seasons for [[CSKA Moscow]]. In the 2009–10 off-season, Wauters played for [[UMMC Ekaterinburg]] and won a championship with the team. In the 2011–12 off-season, Wauters played in [[Spain]] for [[Ros Casares Valencia]], winning two championships with the team. In the 2012–13 off-season, Wauters played in [[Turkey]] for [[Galatasaray S.K. (women's basketball)|Galatasaray S.K.]] and won a Turkish Cup with the team. In the 2013–14 off-season, Wauters returned to UMMC Ekaterinburg and won her second Russian League championship with the team. In the 2014–15 off-season, Wauters played in [[France]] for [[ESB Villeneuve-d'Ascq]], winning a EuroCup championship with the team. In the 2015–16 off-season, Wauters played in her home country for [[Royal Castors Braine]] in the first portion of the off-season and spent the second portion of the off-season playing for Galatasaray S.K. As of May 2016, Wauters signed with [[Abdullah Gül Üniversitesi B.K.|AGÜ Spor]] of the [[Turkish Women's Basketball League|Turkish League]] for the 2016–17 off-season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurobasket.com/Turkey/news/447139/Abdullah-Gul-inks-Ann-Wauters |title=Abdullah Gul inks Ann Wauters |website=eurobasket.com |access-date=2016-12-08 |archive-date=2016-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220082058/http://www.eurobasket.com/Turkey/news/447139/Abdullah-Gul-inks-Ann-Wauters |url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2017, Wauters signed with [[Yakın Doğu Üniversitesi (women's basketball)|Yakin Dogu]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gazete.neu.edu.tr/2017/06/15/ann-wauters-yakin-dogu-universitesinde/ |title=ANN WAUTERS Near East University! |website=gazete.neu.edu.tr |access-date=2017-09-19 |archive-date=2018-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115195230/http://gazete.neu.edu.tr/2017/06/15/ann-wauters-yakin-dogu-universitesinde/ |url-status=live}}</ref> She played for [[Kayseri Basketbol]] in the 2019–2020 season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kayserianadoluhaber.com.tr/yazar/kayseri-haberler-ann_wauters_saglik_kontrolunden_gecti-52864.aspx |title=Ann Wauters sağlık kontrolünden geçti |access-date=2021-07-22 |archive-date=2021-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722145324/https://www.kayserianadoluhaber.com.tr/yazar/kayseri-haberler-ann_wauters_saglik_kontrolunden_gecti-52864.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref>

==WNBA career statistics==
{{WNBA player statistics legend}}

===Regular season===
{{WNBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" | [[2000 WNBA season|2000]]
| align="left" | [[Cleveland Rockers|Cleveland]]
| '''32''' || 0 || 18.7 || .523 || .000 || .741 || 4.0 || 1.2 || 0.6 || 0.7 || 1.9 || 6.2
|-
| align="left" | [[2001 WNBA season|2001]]
| align="left" | [[Cleveland Rockers|Cleveland]]
| 24 || 14 || 25.9 || '''.569''' || .000 || .800 || 4.8 || 1.5 || 0.7 || 0.5 || 2.0 || 9.8
|-
| align="left" | [[2002 WNBA season|2002]]
| align="left" | [[Cleveland Rockers|Cleveland]]
| 28 || 25 || 28.6 || .553 || .000 ||''' .851''' || 5.0 || 1.4 || 0.5 || 0.7 ||  2.1|| 11.2
|-
| align="left" | [[2004 WNBA season|2004]]
| align="left" | [[New York Liberty|New York]]
| 13 || 4 || 20.8 || .439 || .333 || .793 || 3.1 || 1.6 || 0.3 || 0.6 || 1.6 || 6.3
|-
| align="left" | [[2005 WNBA season|2005]]
| align="left" | [[New York Liberty|New York]]
| 28 || 28 || '''31.4''' || .541 || '''1.000''' || .752 || 6.6 || 1.5 || 0.6 || 0.8 || 2.5 || 13.7
|-
| align="left" | [[2008 WNBA season|2008]]
| align="left" | [[San Antonio Silver Stars|San Antonio]]
| '''32''' || '''31''' || 30.6 || .553 || .355 || .714 || '''7.5''' || '''1.8''' || '''1.1''' || '''1.1''' || 2.1 || '''14.7'''
|-
| align="left" | [[2009 WNBA season|2009]]
| align="left" | [[San Antonio Silver Stars|San Antonio]]
| 17 || 16 || 27.2 || .548 || .167 || .673 || 5.6 || 1.1 || 0.7 || 0.3 || 2.5 || 12.9
|-
| align="left" | [[2012 WNBA season|2012]]
| align="left" | [[Seattle Storm|Seattle]]
| 25 || 17 || 23.0 || .519 || .450 || .737 || 5.8 || 1.4 || 0.5 || 0.7 || 2.2 || 9.6
|-
| align="left" | [[2016 WNBA season|2016]]
| align="left" | [[Los Angeles Sparks|Los Angeles]]
| 21 || 1 || 4.6 || .545 || .000 || .750 || 1.1 || 0.4 || 0.1 || 0.1 || '''0.3''' || 1.4
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |9 years, 5 teams
| 220 || 136 || 24.0 || .536 || .358 || .759 || 5.0 || 1.3 || 0.7 || 0.7 || 2.0 || 9.9
{{S-end}}

===Postseason===
{{WNBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" | [[WNBA Playoffs#2000 season|2000]]
| align="left" | [[Cleveland Rockers|Cleveland]]
| 6 || 0 || 17.8 || .481 || .000 || .333 || 3.0|| 0.8 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 1.3 || 4.7
|-
| align="left" | [[WNBA Playoffs#2001 season|2001]]
| align="left" | [[Cleveland Rockers|Cleveland]]
| 3 || 3 || 28.7 || .489 || .000 || '''.889''' || 3.3 || 0.7 || '''0.6''' || 1.0 || 1.3 || 11.3
|-
| align="left" | [[2008 WNBA Playoffs|2008]]
| align="left" | [[San Antonio Silver Stars|San Antonio]]
| '''9''' || '''9''' || '''33.3''' || .444 || '''.083''' || '''.889''' || 5.8 || 1.6 || '''0.6''' || '''1.3''' || 1.8 || '''13.4'''
|-
| align="left" | [[2009 WNBA Playoffs|2009]]
| align="left" | [[San Antonio Silver Stars|San Antonio]]
| 3 || 3 || 27.3 || .389 || .000 || .800 || '''7.7''' || '''3.3''' || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.3 || 10.7
|-
| align="left" | [[2012 WNBA Playoffs|2012]]
| align="left" | [[Seattle Storm|Seattle]]
| 3 || 0 || 12.7 || .250 || .000 || .500 || 2.3 || 1.0 || 0.3 || 0.3 || '''0.0''' || 2.7
|-
| align="left" | [[2016 WNBA Playoffs|2016]]
| align="left" | [[Los Angeles Sparks|Los Angeles]]
| 2 || 0 || 2.3 || '''.500''' || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 1.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |6 years, 4 teams
| 26 || 15 || 23.8 || .451 || .067 || .784 || 4.3 || 1.3 || 0.5 || 0.8 || 1.3 || 8.7
{{s-end}}

==Coaching career==
In January 2022, the [[Chicago Sky]] announced that they had hired Wauters as an assistant coach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stremplewski |first=Stephanie |date=2022-01-25 |title=Sky hire WNBA champion Ann Wauters as assistant coach |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/sky/chicago-sky-hire-wnba-champion-ann-wauters-assistant-coach |access-date=2022-01-31 |website=NBC Sports Chicago |language=en |archive-date=2022-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131195852/https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/sky/chicago-sky-hire-wnba-champion-ann-wauters-assistant-coach |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Costabile |first=Annie |date=2022-01-25 |title=Ann Wauters to join Sky coaching staff as an assistant |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-sky-and-wnba/2022/1/25/22900730/ann-wauters-to-join-sky-coaching-staff-as-an-assistant |access-date=2022-01-31 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en |archive-date=2022-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131195853/https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-sky-and-wnba/2022/1/25/22900730/ann-wauters-to-join-sky-coaching-staff-as-an-assistant |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In November 2010, Wauters' management announced she was 3 months pregnant with her first child, adding that this would not mean the end of her career. After the birth of her child, Wauters signed with [[Ros Casares Valencia]] in Spain. Her wife, Lot Wielfaert, was also pregnant and gave birth a month before Wauters.<ref name="out">{{cite news |url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail.aspx?articleid=GCQ3290UN |title=Echtgenote van Ann Wauters: 'Samen zwanger zijn is heerlijk' |date=16 November 2010 |periodical=[[Het Nieuwsblad]] |access-date=4 January 2012 |language=nl |archive-date=21 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121022614/http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail.aspx?articleid=GCQ3290UN |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
===Team===
*[[EuroLeague Women]]: 2002, 2004, 2005, 2012
*[[FIBA Women's World League]]: 2004
*[[Ligue Féminine de Basketball]]: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
*[[Russian Women's Basketball Premier League]]: 2005, 2006, 2010
*[[Liga Femenina de Baloncesto]]: [[2011–12 Liga Femenina de Baloncesto|2012]]
*[[Women's Korean Basketball League]]: 2006
*Belgian Championship: 2016
*[[Women's National Basketball Association]]: 2016
*Coupe de France: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
*Russian Cup: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010
*Turkish Cup: 2013

===Individual===
*European player of year: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008
*EuroLeague Final Four MVP: 2001, 2002, 2004
*Best foreign player in France: 2001
*Best center of European championship in Greece: 2003
*WNBA All-Star 2005
*French Women's Basketball League's list of « 5 major » foreign players of the period 1998–2018 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.basketlfb.com/actualites/les-5-majeurs-des-20-ans-connus |title=LES 5 MAJEURS DES 20 ANS CONNUS |publisher=La Ligue Féminine de Basketball |date=30 May 2018 |access-date=30 May 2018 |archive-date=16 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116000835/http://www.basketlfb.com/actualites/les-5-majeurs-des-20-ans-connus |url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Basketball stats|wnba=100445}}
* {{FIBA profile|new_id=120394|old_id=21026}}
* {{FIBA 3x3 profile|c1576d70-81d7-4c5e-bd4a-992b411b39f3}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221163316/http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/ann_wauters/index.html |title=WNBA player profile |date=dmy}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114022659/http://www.wnba.com/silverstars/news/draft_recap_080409.html |title=Wauters traded to Silver Stars |date=dmy}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com}}
* {{Team Belgium}}

{{navboxes|list=
{{2000 WNBA draft}}
{{WNBA First Overall Picks}}
{{Ros Casares Valencia 2011–12 Euroleague Women champions}}
{{Los Angeles Sparks 2016 WNBA Champions}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wauters, Ann}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Abdullah Gül Üniversitesi basketball players]]
[[Category:Atlanta Dream players]]
[[Category:Basketball players at the 2015 European Games]]
[[Category:Basketball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate basketball people in France]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate basketball people in Russia]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate basketball people in Spain]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate basketball people in Turkey]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate basketball people in the United States]]
[[Category:Belgian women's basketball players]]
[[Category:Centers (basketball)]]
[[Category:Chicago Sky coaches]]
[[Category:Cleveland Rockers players]]
[[Category:European Games competitors for Belgium]]
[[Category:Galatasaray S.K. (women's basketball) players]]
[[Category:LGBTQ basketball players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Sparks players]]
[[Category:New York Liberty players]]
[[Category:Olympic basketball players for Belgium]]
[[Category:People from Sint-Gillis-Waas]]
[[Category:Ros Casares Valencia players]]
[[Category:San Antonio Stars players]]
[[Category:Seattle Storm players]]
[[Category:WNBA All-Stars]]
[[Category:First overall WNBA draft picks]]
[[Category:20th-century Belgian LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from East Flanders]]
[[Category:Expatriate basketball people in Northern Cyprus]]
[[Category:Belgian lesbian sportswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century Belgian sportswomen]]
[[Category:21st-century Belgian LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century Belgian sportswomen]]
[[Category:Atlanta Dream draft picks]]