Roster

RUTH RILEY Roster


Class 2001
RUTH RILEY -  - Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Bio
  • Inducted into the Purcell Pavilion Ring of Honor on November 12, 2010
  • Only player in Notre Dame history to score better than 2,000 points and grab at least 1,000 rebounds
  • Three-time All-America selection during her career from 1997-2001, earning first-team honors in 2000 and 2001
  • 2001 consensus National Player of the Year after leading Fighting Irish to a 34-2 record and the program’s first NCAA national championship
  • Named Most Outstanding Player of the 2001 NCAA Women’s Final Four after posting 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks in title game win over Purdue, capped off by her two game-winning free throws with 5.8 seconds left
  • Three-time BIG EAST Conference Defensive Player of the Year and all-conference selection (1999-2001)
  • Recipient of NCAA Top VIII Award and NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in 2001
  • In 2006, ESPN.com named her one of the 25 greatest women’s college basketball players of the past 25 years
  • Off the court, was a two-time first-team Academic All-America choice (2000, 2001)
  • Selected as Academic All-America Team Member of the Year (all sports in Division I) for 2001 campaign
  • Inducted into Academic All-America Hall of Fame in June 2012
  • Was originally drafted in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2001 WNBA Draft by the Miami Sol, playing two seasons in South Beach
  • Selected No. 1 overall by Detroit Shock in 2003 WNBA Dispersal Draft
  • Played in Motor City from 2003-06, helping that franchise win WNBA titles in 2003 and 2006
  • Named 2003 WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player after scoring career-high 27 points in decisive Game Three win over Los Angeles, outperforming Hall of Fame center (and four-time Olympic gold medalist) Lisa Leslie
  • Became first player ever named Finals MVP at both the NCAA and WNBA levels

Ruth Riley – Strong of Heart – From Pro Athlete To Humanitarian