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KANSAN.COM
RETIRED JERSEYS
ANGELA AYCOCK
Guard, 1992-1995 No.12
▶ JARED ANDERSON
@JAnderson_383
In 1991, the Kansas women's basketball team brought in a player who would drive the program to heights it had failed to reach since the days Lynette Woodard ruled the hardwood.
Photo courtesy of Kansas Athletics
Angela Aycock, an All-American and one of just three women's basketball players to have her jersey raised to the rafters, is the woman who would end up changing the direction of Kansas basketball, during her reign at the University.
Although Aycock is one of the greatest women's basketball players Kansas has ever produced, in her post basketball career, she has made a personal decision to become a nun in the Russian Orthodox Church. As part of her new monastic life, she has taken a vow of humility and has gone into seclusion. Aycock is now known as Sister Paula.
During her sophomore year, Aycock averaged 16.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while being selected as the Most Valuable Player in the 1993 Big Eight Confer
In each of her four seasons at Kansas, Aycock averaged over 10 points and five rebounds per game.
ence Tournament.
In her junior season, Aycock averaged 16.9 points and 8.7 rebounds en route to being named the 1993-94 co-Big Eight Player of the Year.
Aycock averaged
16. 3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while being selected as the Most Valuable Player in the 1993 Big Eight Conference Tournament.
However, like most players. Aycock reached the peak of her collegiate basketball career during her senior season. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 23.1 points
and 7.3 rebounds in 199495 and as a result, received a surplus of rightful recognition.
Aycock went onto be named a 1995 Associated Press Second Team All-American and a 1995 USBWA All-American, in a season that embodied her greatness.
As her college days came to an end, Aycock posted staggering numbers. Her career statistics include 1,978 points (No. 3 all-time), 309 steals (No. 2 all-time) and 743 field goals made (No. 3 all-time). She was also able to grab three All-Big Eight selections in the process.
Following her graduation from Kansas, Aycock furthered her basketball career overseas and also had a short stint with the Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm in the WNBA, where she played three seasons.
The last time Aycock made a public appearance, was in 2003, when her jersey was raised inside Allen Fieldhouse.
Though she remained
silent in the stands during her ceremony, a statement was issued by the school after the event. "God willing," Aycock said. "Many more young women will be inspired and challenge
themselves as well as others not to limit themselves, but strive for excellence in all things."
Despite her new life ventures, Aycock will continue to serve as an irrefutable
Photo courtesy of Kansas Athletics
influence to incoming players, determined to cement their names alongside the Kansas legend.
- Edited by Erin Brock
TAMECKA DIXON Guard, 1994-1997 No.33
JARED ANDERSON @JAnderson_383
Of the 32 retired jerseys in Allen Fieldhouse, only three numbers were worn by members of the women's basketball team
basketball team.
One of those exclusive and influential female athletes is Tamecka Dixon, a woman who not only helped propel Kansas to a surplus of success during her playing days, but is also a universal trailblazer for women with professional basketball aspirations.
After Kansas retired her jersey in 2003, Dixon reflected on the feat.
"It just goes to show that I've dedicated four years of my life to this university and to these people," Dixon said when her jersey was retired. "It's great to come back and feel the vibe of Kansas basketball again."
Although her basketball resume is impressive in its entirety, it's important to first note her collegiate basketball career at Kansas.
As a freshman, Dixon came off the bench and averaged just 6.8 points per game. However, as her college career progressed,
her performance promptly improved. In Dixon's sophomore year, she averaged 11.6 points and four rebounds per game, a noticeable increase of production from her previous season.
Dixon continued to display sizable improvement in her junior year, as she averaged 17 points, four rebounds and three assists.
In that same season, Kansas went on to win the Big Eight championship, with Dixon being named the 1996 Big Eight Player of the Year. As if that wasn't enough, Dixon also ended up leading Kansas to the Sweet Sixteen, where it would fall to the 1996 National Champion, Tennessee.
Nevertheless, it was Dixon's senior year at Kansas that defined her lasting legacy at the university. She would go onto average 20.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
A slew of awards would follow her standout season, including being named the 1997 Big 12 Player of the Year, a 1997 USBWA and Kodak All-American, a member of the 1997 Associated Press All-American second team and a member of the 1997 Big 12 All-Tournament Team. Her 1,689 career points ranks her as Kansas' eighth all-time leading scorer.
Dixon's college play from 1994-97 didn't just capture awards, but also
the opportunity to extend her basketball career as a professional.
With the WNBA forming in 1997, Dixon's graduation from Kansas took place at an opportunte moment. In the first-ever WNBA draft, Dixon was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks with the No.14 overall pick. Her impact was immediate, as she averaged 11.9 points, three rebounds and two assists per game in her rookie campaign.
"It just goes to show that I've dedicated four years of my life to this university and to these people."
- Tamecka Dixon
Dixon's second season in the WNBA was arguably her best individual showing, posting 16.2 points and just over two rebounds and assists per game.
Dixon went onto be named a three-time consecutive All-Star in 2001, 2002 and 2003, while also being a substantial contributor to Los Angeles' back-to-back WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002.
As her playing days came
to an end, Dixon concluded her professional career with 3,500 points, 961 assists and 1,032 rebounds.
Photo courtesy of Kansas Athletics
At Kansas' 2016 Late Night, Dixon made a surprise appearance on the floor where she had once accomplished so much, years ago. Even though she now resides in New Jersey as a financial advisor, according to the WNBA, Dixon's passion for the game and her alma mater has never altered.
"This is the best place to play in the world," Dixon said at the event.
While her illustrious career may be over, Dixon's extraordinary contributions and brilliant play, will forever be memorialized inside the cathedral of basketball.
- Edited by Frank Weirich
Photo courtesy of University Archives
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