Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
- swright@ia.ua.edu
- Phone:
- 205-348-6164
Shereka Wright, former collegiate standout at Purdue and member of the WNBA, is entering her sixth season at Alabama as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. She works primarily with the posts and also assists with scouting.
Each season in Tuscaloosa has brought on new milestones, and the 2017-18 campaign certainly had its fair share of highlights. For the second year in a row, the Crimson Tide reached the 20-win milestone and the quarterfinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. Additionally, Alabama won its first game in program history at Tennessee.
Senior forward Ashley Williams finished her career ranked No. 9 in scoring (1,450) and No. 5 in rebounding (859) and notched 20 career double-doubles, six of which came in her last nine games. She was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week and earned a spot on the ncaaW’s Starting Five after leading the Tide to its wins over Tennessee and Auburn.
In 2016-17, the Tide collected 22 wins, which is the most since the 1997-98 season and also reached the quarterfinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament for the first time since 2002. Under Wright’s direction, SEC All-Freshman selection Ashley Knight set the Alabama single season record and led the league in blocks with 90. She is the first student-athlete in program history to finish as the SEC’s leader in blocks.
The Tide reached the postseason in 2015-16 for the first time in five years in addition to collecting an historic win against Tennessee. The victory over the Lady Volunteers ended a 42-game losing streak that dated back to 1984 and was also the first win for Alabama in the series in Tuscaloosa.
In 2014-15, UA reached the double-figure win column in non-conference play for the first time since 2010 and had several individuals make the final Southeastern Conference rankings. Wright also was instrumental in constructing a signing class that ranked in the top 25 nationally, featuring both the Alabama and Mississippi high school players of the year.
In her first season in Tuscaloosa, the Tide had several notables including the most Southeastern Conference wins since the 2001-02 season with seven, as well as its highest seed in the conference tournament since 1999. Alabama collected its first win in Lexington against Kentucky since 2002, its first against Georgia since 2004, snapping a 23-game losing streak to the Lady Bulldogs, and the first in program history at Vanderbilt's Memorial Gym.
Wright began her coaching career at Texas Tech and was responsible for the perimeter players, recruiting, scouting, academics and equipment. She spent seven seasons in Lubbock with head coach Kristy Curry, helping the Lady Raiders advance to the postseason five times and win 20 or more games in her final three seasons at Tech.
Prior to coaching, she spent two seasons in the WNBA, averaging 3.1 points and 1.6 rebounds for the Phoenix Mercury, but missed all of the 2006 season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during training camp.
Wright was selected as the 13th overall pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft by the Detroit Shock after a stellar collegiate playing career under Kristy Curry at Purdue. She was the third player in program history to be named to the All-Big Ten First Team on three occasions and was also honorable mention Kodak All-America as well as a finalist for the Wade Trophy, Naismith Award and Wooden Award. As a freshman in 2001, Wright was named to the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team.
Throughout her four-year career, the Boilermakers appeared in four NCAA tournaments, advancing to the national championship game in 2001, the Elite Eight in 2003 and the Sweet 16 in 2004, and won two Big Ten regular season titles (2001, 02) and a pair of Big Ten Tournament crowns (2003, 04).
Wright graduated from Purdue in 2004 with a degree in health and fitness.
