Ryneldi Becenti
Personal information
Born (1971-08-11) August 11, 1971
Fort Defiance, Arizona, U.S.
Career information
High schoolWindow Rock
(Fort Defiance, Arizona)
College
PositionGuard
Career history
1997Phoenix Mercury
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Women's Basketball
Representing USA
World University Games
Bronze medal – third place1993 New YorkTeam Competition

Ryneldi Becenti (born August 11, 1971) is a retired American professional basketball player. She became the first Native American to play in the WNBA when she played for the Phoenix Mercury in 1997.[1]

High school

Becenti attended Window Rock High School in Fort Defiance, Arizona, and in 1989, Scottsdale Community College in Phoenix. She was the country's top junior college point guard in 1990–91, and left Scottsdale a two-time NJCAA All-American.[1]

College

Becenti was an All-Pac 10 First Team selection in both her seasons at Arizona State University, and a two-time honorable mention All-America honoree. She also turned out for the US at the 1993 World University Games in Buffalo, New York, where her team won the bronze medal.[1][2][3]

Professional career

In 1994, Becenti was playing professional basketball in Sweden. She also played in Greece and, briefly, Turkey. In 1997, she signed with the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA as a free agent and played in their inaugural season. In 1998, she was drafted by the Chicago Condors in the American Basketball League.[4][5][6]

Honors

In 1996, she became the first and only female basketball player to be inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame.[1]

in 2013, she was the first women's basketball player to have her jersey (No. 21) retired by ASU.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Prominent American Indian Athletes:Ryneldi Becenti". Mesa Community College. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "ASU women's basketball will honor Ryneldi Becenti". AZ Central. December 21, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Sixteenth World University Games – 1993". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Arizona State retires Becenti's number". AZ Central. December 21, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Native American Women in the WNBA; Schimmel to Join Elite Company". nativenewsonline.net. April 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ "History of The American Basketball Leange: ABL Drafts 1996 - 1998". apbr.org. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
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