Kim Williams (basketball)

Born and raised in South Side, Chicago, Williams graduated from Marshall High School in 1993 and was Illinois "Ms. Basketball" as a senior.[1][2]

She helped guide the Westark Community College (now University of Arkansas-Fort Smith) to back-to-back appearances in the NJCAA Women's Basketball Championship. The team were national runner-us in 1994 and won the national championship in 1995, going 67–2 cumulatively in Williams' two seasons.[3] She was the first women's basketball player from Arkansas-Fort Smith to be drafted in the WNBA.[3]

Williams transferred to DePaul University, where she played from 1995 to 1997. As a senior at DePaul in 1996–97, Williams was Conference USA Player of the Year after scoring 25.1 points per game, second highest nationally, and leading C-USA in assists (5.6 apg) and steals (4.52 spg).[4]

Drafted in the fourth round (28th overall) by the Utah Starzz in the 1997 WNBA draft, Williams began her professional career in the WNBA with the Starzz. In 58 games (20 starts) in two years, Williams averaged 7.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.[4]

The Minnesota Lynx selected Williams third overall in the 1999 WNBA expansion draft, but Williams never played for the Lynx.[4][5] Following the 1998 WNBA season, Williams played overseas, beginning with Sporting in Greece from 1998 to 1999, followed by Holon in Israel from 1999 to 2000 and Fiskobirlik in Turkey from 2000 to 2001.[6]

In 2004, Williams returned to the United States with the Chicago Blaze of the National Women's Basketball League, playing two seasons.[6][7] Williams played in Europe and Israel from 2004 to 2014, most recently with Dynamo Kyiv from 2012 to 2014.[6] Williams left Ukraine as military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine began.[8]

Williams signed with the Chicago Lady Steam of the Women's American Basketball Association in 2014.[6] She returned to DePaul University later that year to finish her bachelor's degree.[8]