About Sancho
WNBA CAREER
Signed with Phoenix as a free agent on February 1, 2018
15-year WNBA veteran with the Houston Comets (2005-08), Atlanta Dream (2009-17) and Phoenix Mercury (2018-19)
Owns career averages of 8.9 points and 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 392 career games (281 starts)
Nine playoff appearances (2019, 2018, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2006, 2005)
Three WNBA Finals appearances (2013, 2011, 2010)
Two-Time All-WNBA Defensive First Team (2014, 2012)
Two-Time All-WNBA Defensive Second Team (2017, 2016)
2009 WNBA All-Star
Member of the WNBA squad during the 2010 ‘WNBA vs. USA Basketball: The Stars at the Sun’ game
Three-time Eastern Conference Player of the Week award winner
Scored 3,000th-career point on June 5, 2016 against Washington
Scored 2,000th-career point on July 13, 2012 at San Antonio
Scored 1,000th-career point on August 25, 2009 against Sacramento
Became 13th player in WNBA history to record 2,500 career rebound on June 12, 2018 at Dallas
Ranks 10th on the WNBA’s all-time rebounds list with 2,601 career rebounds
Finished her career tied for sixth on the WNBA all-time steals list with 634 career steals
One of four players to rank in the top-15 on both the WNBA’s all-time rebounds and steals list (Tamika Catchings, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Yolanda Griffith)…only active player in the top-15 on both lists…Karl Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon are the only two NBA players to rank in the top-15 on the NBA’s all-time rebounds and steals list
Three-time WNBA steals leader (2016, 2015, 2011)…one-of-two players (Tamika Catchings) to lead league in steals in three seasons or more…only power forward to ever lead WNBA in steals…Golden State’s Draymond Green is only power forward to lead NBA in steals since stat was first recorded in 1973-74
Originally selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Houston Comets…acquired by the Dream with the first selection in the 2008 WNBA dispersal draft
Holds the record for most seasons played for the Atlanta Dream with eight
54 career double-doubles
2019 SEASON
Played in 20 games in her final WNBA season…averaged 2.9 points and 2.9 rebounds on 41.9 percent shooting
Missed 13 games due to a knee injury sustained on July 12 at Connecticut
Tied Jia Perkins for sixth on the WNBA’s all-time steals list with 634 on Sept. 8 against Las Vegas
Moved into 10th on the WNBA’s all-time rebounds list on July 7 against Atlanta with six rebounds…has 2,601 for her career
2018 SEASON
Played in 18 games in 2018, starting in all 18 of them
Suffered a torn ACL on June 30 at Washington causing her to miss the remainder of the season
Averaged 7.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals per game before suffering her knee injury
Notched the 54th double-double of her career on June 12 at Dallas, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds
Scored a season-high 20 points on May 27 at Los Angeles, finishing 10-of-13 (77.0 percent) from the field
Scored in double-figures in six of the 18 games she appeared in
Finished a perfect six-for-six from the field in the Mercury’s June 16 win against Connecticut…finished with 14 points and nine rebounds
Was shooting 54.0-percent (61-of113) from the field prior to the injury, her highest field goal percentage since shooting 58.2-percent from the field in 2008…was also shooting a career-best 85.5-percent (21-of-24) from the free throw line
Mercury was 13-5 in the 18 games she appeared in…team went 7-9 following the injury
Recorded 2,500th-career rebound on June 12 at Dallas
2017 WNBA Season: Played in 29 games and started 28 for the Dream…Suffered broken nose on July 5 at Dallas…Averaged 6.4 points per game…Recorded 1.6 steals per game finishing sixth in the WNBA…Her 7.1 rebounds a game ranked 11th in the league…Finished with a season-high 18 points vs. Seattle on August 23…Missed four games to help lead Team Spain to the 2017 FIBA EuroBasket title…Moved in to 12th place all-time in WNBA history with 2,447 career rebounds and sits in ninth place with 606 career steals.
2016 WNBA Season: Suited up for 19 games and started 18…Averaged 7.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game during the season…Led the WNBA in steals at 1.8 per game…Recorded A career-high eight steals vs. Liberty (6/22).
2015 WNBA SEASON: Led the league in steals per game (2.25)…50 points away from 3,000…Played and started in 24 games…Has appeared in 30 postseason games in her career…Recorded 6 double-doubles…10 double-digit rebound games…11 double-digit scoring games…Scored a season high 19 points on two separate occasions (6/16 and 9/11)…Season high 13 defensive rebounds in the win over Seattle Storm (7/5)…Named to the All-Defensive Second Team…Seventh active leader in total rebounds (2,092)…Fifth in the league in rebounds per game (8.2)…Led the Dream in offensive rebounds (67) and defensive rebounds (131).
2014 WNBA SEASON: Named to the All-Defensive First Team … Finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting … WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week (June 23-29) … Averaged 12.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game … Finished second in the league in steals and fifth in rebounds … Only player on the team to start all 34 games … Nine double-doubles (tied for seventh in the league) … 23 double-digit scoring games and 14 double-digit rebound games … Grabbed a franchise record 21 rebounds plus 10 points May 17 at Indiana … Tied team record with seven steals, plus eight points and 12 boards Aug. 5 at Phoenix … Averaged 9.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in three playoff games vs. Chicago.
2013 WNBA SEASON: Played in just six regular-season games, averaging 14.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals … Missed six games from June 14-30 while helping the Spanish National Team win gold at EuroBasket Women 2013, winning the MVP award … Later named the FIBA Europe Women’s Player of the Year for 2013 … Suffered a fracture in her left foot in her first game back with the Dream on July 9 at Minnesota, and missed the rest of the season … Had three double-doubles in her six games.
2012 WNBA SEASON: WNBA All-Defensive First Team … WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the Week of Aug. 20-26 … Averaged a career-best 14.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game … Only Dream player to start all 34 games … Had a team-best 27 double-digit scoring efforts, including six double-doubles … Set a team single-season record with 84 steals … Had the most total steals in the WNBA and ranked second in steals per game … Ranked sixth in the WNBA in rebounding and 18th in scoring … Tied for second on the team with 28 three-pointers made, after making just two in her fi rst seven years in the league … Averaged 12.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals in three playoff games.
2011 WNBA SEASON: Averaged 10.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game … WNBA All-Defensive Second team honoree … Led WNBA in steals (2.4 spg) … Missed a total of 12 games (six due to commitments to Spain’s national team and six more with a back injury) … Started all eight postseason games, averaging 10.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg.
2010 WNBA SEASON: Averaged 12.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game … WNBA All-Defensive Second team honoree … 2010 WNBA “Stars at the Sun” selection for the WNBA squad … Recorded a career-high 27 points against Connecticut on May 21 … Started all seven playoff games, averaging 10.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
2009 WNBA SEASON: Started 31 of 34 games and averaged 27.4 minutes per game … Averaged 13 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game … WNBA All-Defensive Second Team honoree in 2009 … Earned first WNBA All-Star selection … Ranked second on the team in steals (68) … Ranked fourth in WNBA in both defensive rebounds (182) and total rebounds (254).
2008 WNBA SEASON: Played in 27 games for the Comets, including nine starts … Averaged 8.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game … Recorded career-highs in all major statistical categories …Led the team in field goal percentage, shooting 58.2% from the field … Led the team in blocked shots.
2007 WNBA SEASON: Played in 31 games for the Comets, including 25 starts … Averaged 5.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game … Recorded her first career double-double with ten points and 11 rebounds against Connecticut on July 22.
2006 WNBA SEASON: Appeared in 29 games for the Comets, including two starts … Averaged 3.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
2005 WNBA SEASON: Played in 33 games for the Comets as a rookie … Averaged 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds …Ranked first among WNBA rookies in field goal percentage (58.4 pct) … Set the Comets rookie record for field goal percentage in a season … Finished second among rookies in rebounds per game (3.8) … Made her WNBA debut against San Antonio on May 21.
INTERNATIONAL/SPANISH NATIONAL TEAM
Four-time EuroLeague Champion (2016, 2014, 2012, 2011)
Spent the 2016-17 WNBA offseason in Russia playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg alongside Mercury teammates Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner…averaged 5.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game
Played for UMMC Ekaterinburg with Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner during the 2015-16 WNBA offseason…averaged 7.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game…helped to the EuroLeague Title
Played for Galatasaray in Turkey for three-consecutive WNBA off seasons (2012-2015)…best season came in 2013-14 when she averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, guiding team to EuroLeague Title
Played for Ros Casares in Spain during 2011-12 WNBA offseason, helping team to EuroLeague Title (her second consecutive title) with averages of 12.8 points and 7.4 rebounds
Played two straight years for Halcon Avenida in Spain during WNBA offseason from 2009-11…averaged double-double (17.6 points, 10.8 rebounds during 2009-10 season…helped Avenida to EuroLeague Title during 2010-11 season
Helped guide Spain to the 2017 FIBA EuroBasket Titile
Led Spain to a silver medal at the 2014 FIBA World Champion ships
Member of Team Spain in the 2010 FIBA World Championships
Named to the All-Star Five at both the 2014 and 2010 FIBA World Championships
COLLEGE CAREER
Finished career at University of Houston after spending two seasons at Clarendon Junior College in Texas
Averaged 17,6 points and 10.7 rebounds in her two seasons at Houston
In her senior season, averaged 18.8 points and led the nation in rebounds with 12.1 per game
AP All-America Honorable Mention, All-Conference USA First Team and Conference USA All-Tournament Team honors in 2005
Dunked in a game against Gonzaga
PERSONAL
Grew up in Saint Vincent in the West Indies
Standout sprinter growing up, representing her country in the 400 meters and 300 hurdles
Played netball growing up, but did not start playing basketball until senior season of high school (17 years old)
Majored in kinesiology and minored in health at Houston
Awarded Spanish citizenship after competing in Spain for a few years during WNBA offseason