Alaina Coates

Alaina Denise Coates (born April 7, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA and for Galatasaray in Turkey. She played college basketball for the University of South Carolina.

Alaina Coates
Coates in 2019
No. 81 – Las Vegas Aces
PositionCenter
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1995-04-07) April 7, 1995
Irmo, South Carolina
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolDutch Fork
(Irmo, South Carolina)
CollegeSouth Carolina (2013–2017)
WNBA draft2017: 1st round, 2nd overall pick
Selected by the Chicago Sky
Playing career2017–present
Career history
2018Sopron Basket
2018Chicago Sky
2018–2019Zhejiang Far East
2019Minnesota Lynx
2019Atlanta Dream
2020Hatay Büyükşehir Belediyespor
2020Washington Mystics
2020–2021Ramat HaSharon
2021–2022Nesibe Aydın GSK
2022Indiana Fever
2022Galatasaray
2023Phoenix Mercury
2023-presentLas Vegas Aces
Career highlights and awards
  • WNBA champion (2023)
  • NCAA champion (2017)
  • 2× First-team All-SEC (2016, 2017)
  • 2× Second-team All-SEC (2014, 2015)
  • SEC All-Freshman Team (2014)
  • SEC Co-6th Player of the Year (2014)
  • SEC Freshman of the Year (2014)
  • Gatorade South Carolina Player of the Year (2013)
Stats at WNBA.com

High School career

Coates enjoyed a stellar high school career. She was both a McDonald's and Parade All-American. She was chosen as the 2013 Gatorade South Carolina Player of the Year, South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association (SCBCA) Class 4A Player of the Year, Charlotte Observer South Carolina Miss Basketball, and became a three-time SCBCA Class 4A all-state selection.

During her senior season, she posted 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game while leading her team to back-to-back state championships (including an undefeated 29-0 season in 2012-2013.)

College career

Heavily recruited by power programs, she was ranked the 28th overall player as part of a high-profile 2013 recruiting class. After receiving offers from Tennessee, and Georgia, she eventually chose South Carolina to play for her hometown team. She went on to become a 4x All-SEC player, and All-American. Coates played a crucial part in helping South Carolina become a national powerhouse. In her senior season, Coates injured her ankle, which caused her to miss South Carolina's SEC Tourney & National Championship run. Coates finished the season averaging 13.4 ppg and 11.1 rpg.

Professional career

Chicago Sky

After her senior season, Coates was drafted second overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2017 WNBA draft. In April 2017, it was announced that Coates would miss part of the 2017 WNBA season following ankle surgery.[1] However, a timetable for her return still wasn't determined and Coates would end up missing the entire season.[2] In February 2018, Coates officially signed with the Sky.[3] She made her career debut on May 19, 2018, in the Sky's season opener against the Indiana Fever, she scored 5 points in 12 minutes of play in an 82-64 victory.[4] On July 3, 2018, Coates scored in double digits for the first time with 10 points in 16 minutes of play during a 108-85 loss to the Dallas Wings.[5] By the end of the season, the Sky finished 13-21, missing out on the playoffs.

Minnesota Lynx

On May 21, 2019, Coates was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for a 2020 third-round draft pick.[6] On July 14, 2019, Coates was waived by the Minnesota Lynx.

Atlanta Dream

On July 17, 2019, Coates signed with the Atlanta Dream.

Washington Mystics

Coates signed with the Washington Mystics on June 29, 2020, and made her debut for the team on the opening day of the season.[7]

Indiana Fever

On February 7, 2023, Coates signed with the Indiana Fever on a training camp contract.[8] Coates was temporarily suspended on May 5th, due to overseas commitments, and was activated May 11th. The Fever waived Coates on June 7th, 2023.[9]

Phoenix Mercury

On June 27, 2023, Coates signed a Hardship Contract with the Phoenix Mercury.[10] Coates appeared in 2 games for the Mercury and was released from the hardship contract on June 29, 2023.

Las Vegas Aces

On August 2nd, 2023, Coates signed a 7-Day Contract with the Las Vegas Aces.[11] Coates stayed with Aces following the 7-Day, signing a 2nd and 3rd 7-Day Contract with Las Vegas.[12] After her 3rd 7-Day Contract, Coates signed a rest-of-season hardship contract to remain with the Aces.[13]

Overseas

In October 2018, Coates signed with Zhejiang Far East of the Chinese League for the 2018-19 off-season.[14]

On 5 October 2022, she signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Women's Basketball Super League (TKBL).[15]

Personal life

Alaina is the daughter of Gary and Pamela Coates. She has an older brother, Gary. Her uncle, Ben Coates, is retired from the NFL and was a member of the Baltimore Ravens first Super Bowl. While at South Carolina, she majored in sociology. In March 2018, Coates's father died of cardiac arrest.[16]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader

College
Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG Points PPG
2013–14 South Carolina 2919.2.630.000.6587.90.30.62.041712.2
2014–15 South Carolina 2820.7.526.000.7058.10.80.61.539910.6
2015–16 South Carolina 2926.7.655.000.55110.11.01.11.342511.7
2016–17 South Carolina 2727.5.670.000.65311.11.61.21.436213.4
Career South Carolina 11323.5.622.000.6449.30.90.91.6160312.0

Source[17]

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2018 Chicago 32011.4.568.000.6253.20.40.20.20.53.4
2019 Minnesota 1406.6.484.000.6252.40.10.20.40.42.5
2019 Atlanta 908.3.643.000.5383.00.10.20.70.42.8
2020 Washington 2009.9.529.000.5382.80.50.40.20.62.5
2022 Indiana 809.4.636.000.9332.00.30.30.40.63.5
Career 4 years, 5 teams 8309.7.555.000.6372.80.30.20.30.53.0

Postseason
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2020 Washington 104.0.000.000.0001.00.00.00.00.00.0
Career 1 year, 1 team 104.0.000.000.0001.00.00.00.00.00.0

References
  1. "Basketball: Alaina Coates had ankle surgery, will miss part of WNBA season". Excelle Sports. 2017-04-10. Archived from the original on 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2017-09-08.
  2. Cloninger, David (May 18, 2017). "Why Alaina Coate's pro career is still on hold". thestate.com. The State. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  3. Dull, Ben (6 February 2018). "Chicago Sky sign Alaina Coates, re-sign Jordan Hooper". High Post Hoops. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  4. "Quigley, DeShields lead Sky over Fever 82-64". espn.com. Associated Press. May 18, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  5. "Cambage scores career-high 37; Wings beat Sky 108-85". espn.com. Associated Press. May 18, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  6. Kenney, Madeline (May 21, 2019). "Sky trade Alaina Coates to Lynx". chicago.suntimes.com. Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  7. "Mystics sign Alaina Coates and Shay Peddy". WNBA.com. June 29, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  8. "Fever Sign Alaina Coates". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  9. @IndianaFever (June 7, 2022). "Roster Update: Center Alaina Coates has been waived" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. @phoenixmercury (June 27, 2023). "The Phoenix Mercury announced today the signing of center Alaina Coates to a hardship contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. "Aces Sign Veteran Center Alaina Coates To Emergency Hardship Contract". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  12. "Aces Sign Veteran Center Alaina Coates to Second Emergency Hardship Contract". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  13. "Aces Sign Veteran Center Alaina Coates to Rest of Season Contract". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  14. "Zhejiang tabs Alaina Coates". asia-basket.com. EuroBasket News. October 2, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  15. "Alaina Coates Galatasaray Çağdaş Faktoring'de!" (in Turkish). Galatasaray. October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  16. Butler, Andrea (March 14, 2018). "Father of former USC basketball star Alaina Coates dies while driving". wach.com. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  17. "Alaina Coates #41, C, South Carolina". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
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