May 3, 2000

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Just as Maryland is well-represented in the National Basketball Association with six former Terps including 2000 rookie sensation Steve Francis of the Houston Rockets, the Terrapins' women's team is also highly represented --- with six Maryland alums on the playing floor, as well. Another, Sue Panek, is an assistant coach with the Charlotte Sting.

Most notable is the former Olympian, All-American and WNBA All-Star Vicky Bullett who, last winter, was obtained locally by the Washington Mystics. Bullett starred for three seasons with the Charlotte Sting, averaging 12.5 points and 6.6 rebounds, and ranking among league leaders in steals and blocks. Bullett, the only former Atlantic Coast Conference representative selected as a starter in last season's WNBA All-Star Game, still is the Terps' career leader in points and rebounds.

Joining Bullett and Panek with the Sting last two seasons was 1998 graduate Sonia Chase. She has seen regular action off the bench in 36 games in two years in Charlotte, following a Maryland career which saw her finish second in school history with 309 steals.

Another four-year WNBA veteran who logged time in a Terp uniform is Katrina Colleton. Colleton joins the Miami Sol in 2000 after three years with the Los Angeles Sparks, and still figures among Maryland career leaders in assists and field goal percentage. She was a part of four NCAA Tournament teams from 1990-93.

On those same teams at Maryland in the early '90s was Jessie Hicks, an early WNBA standout with the Utah Starzz who now has rejoined the league in the training camp of the Orlando Miracle. Hicks, the Terps' career leader in field goal percentage (58.8%), played in the WNBA's inaugural season, 1997, with the Starzz before taking a leave of absence to give birth and raise her first child. This month, she returns to the playing floor in hopes of landing a spot with the Miracle.

Also hoping to land spots on league rosters this summer are rookie Kelley Gibson and seasoned professional and international star .

Gibson, who battled through injuries for five seasons at Maryland from 1995-99, has spent a year preparing for her WNBA debut this summer. She performed well at recent WNBA tryout camps and has been invited by the Houston Comets to attend their preseason training camp.

Tate, still regarded as one of the most athletic guards in Maryland history, has lived a lengthy and successful playing career, hoping this summer to capture a spot with the New York Liberty. At Maryland, she played alongside Bullett to form the only first team All-America duo in Maryland history, helping the Terps to the 1989 Final Four as seniors. Since then, Tate has played internationally and later in the now-defunct American Basketball League. In the ABL, she was a starting guard and feature player with the New England Blizzard where she was re-united with former Terp assistant coach and player Boe Pearman. Tate has been invited to join the Liberty's training camp roster.

Maryland Alums in WNBA Training Camps
Player            Team                Pos. Ht.  Years at Maryland
Vicky Bullett     Washington Mystics   C   6-3  '86, '87, '88, '89
Sonia Chase       Charlotte Sting      G   5-9  '95, '96, '97, '98
Katrina Colleton  Miami Sol            G   5-11 '90, '91, '92, '93
Kelley Gibson     Houston Comets       G   5-10 '95, '96, '97, '98, '99
Jessie Hicks      Orlando Miracle      F   6-4  '90, '91, '92, '93
Deanna Tate       New York Liberty     G   5-8  '86, '88, '89