26-year-old Courtney Paris was a star basketball player for the University of Oklahoma. After being drafted to the WNBA in 2009 as the number seven pick, she has finally gotten her big break starting and playing a lot for her new team the Tulsa Shock.
Her career has had many ups and downs. In 2010, she spent her preseason in Chicago but was waived before any games were played, and spent a year out of the WNBA. Then, she went to Atlanta and was cut from that team after 28 games. In her career in the WNBA she has not started often so she is taking advantage of her recent opportunity.
"I think it's just time for me. I love playing with the team. They play so hard. We are going to put it together,” said Paris, reported by ESPN.
Last season Paris played overseas in a Turkish league where she averaged 14.7 points and 12.1 rebounds a game. Having success in Turkey allowed her to get better and explore what her actually strengths as a basketball player are.
"It was a good season for me development-wise. I saw things I'd never seen on the floor, and I was more comfortable than I've ever been in my career. I feel like I know my strengths and weaknesses now," said Paris, documented by ESPN.
There is a matchup coming up that will have Paris’ team competing extremely hard. On Friday June 6 the Tulsa Shock play against Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and the Phoenix Mercury, according to WNBA.