Tina Thompson to receive 2022 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia head women’s basketball coach Tina Thompson has been selected as a recipient of the 2022 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, the NCAA announced on Monday.

The award annually recognizes distinguished individuals on the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of their college athletics careers. The honorees are selected by the NCAA Honors Committee, composed of representatives of NCAA member schools, conferences and distinguished citizens, including past awardees.

Thompson is one of six former college student-athletes to receive the Silver Anniversary Award this year in recognition of their collegiate and professional achievements, as well as their civic contributions. Silver Anniversary honorees will be recognized during the annual Honors Celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 19, in Indianapolis, Indiana during the 2022 NCAA Convention. Also being honored this year with the Silver Anniversary Award will be Maiya Anderson (Air Force), Tim Duncan (Wake Forest), Warrick Dunn (Florida State), Matthew Humphreys (UC Santa Cruz) and Katie King Crowley (Brown).

Thompson, a 1997 U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-American and an Associated Press second-team All-American, helped Southern California to three NCAA tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight appearance in 1994. Thompson is still second in school history for points in a game (49) and ranks fifth in career points (2,248) and rebounds (1,168).

In 1997, Thompson became the first college player ever drafted in the WNBA, and she went on to be a four-time WNBA champion with the Houston Comets. A three-time first-team All-WNBA selection and five-time second-team All-WNBA honoree, she garnered nine WNBA All-Star appearances in her career. Thompson retired from the Seattle Storm as the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer (7,488) in 496 games. She earned gold medals with Team USA at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.

Thompson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. She helped coach Texas to a quarterfinal appearance in the NCAA tournament in 2016 and third-round appearances in 2017 and 2018. Thompson received the Triumph Award from the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network in recognition of her work in sports and the community.

She helped organize the For The City charity basketball game to provide high-quality, low-cost sports opportunities for underserved youth in Los Angeles. Thompson has advocated for diversity and inclusion in college athletics. This is her fourth season as Virginia’s head women’s basketball coach.