 Christensen in 2007 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1980-11-16)November 16, 1980 (age 44) Lakeview, Oregon |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2[1] in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 171[1] lb (78 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Modoc (Alturas, California) |
| College | UC Santa Barbara (1998–2002) |
| WNBA draft | 2002: 3rd round, 40th overall pick |
| Selected by thePhoenix Mercury | |
| Playing career | 2002–2008 |
| Position | Forward |
| Number | 20 |
| Career history | |
| 2002–2005 | Phoenix Mercury |
| 2006 | Houston Comets |
| 2006 | Phoenix Mercury |
| 2007–2008 | Chicago Sky |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career WNBA statistics | |
| Points | 463 (3.2 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 373 (2.6 rpg) |
| Steals | 90 (0.6 spg) |
Stats atBasketball Reference  | |
Kayte Lauren Christensen (born November 16, 1980) is an Americancolor commentator for theSacramento Kings[2] and former professional basketball player in theWomen's National Basketball Association.
Kayte Lauren Christensen was born inLakeview, Oregon to Randy and Cathy Christensen.[3] She attendedModoc High School inAlturas,California and graduated in 1998.[3] She was named theShasta Cascade League MVP in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons.[3] Her senior season saw her named the California Division V Player of the Year in 1998 en route to winning theCalifornia Interscholastic Federation Division V championship.[3]
Christensen attended college at theUniversity of California, Santa Barbara where she competed on the women's basketball team with future WNBA playersErin Buescher,Lindsay Taylor, andKristen Mann.[3] She was named to theBig West Conference All-Freshman team in 1999 and was the 2002 Big West Player of the Year.[3][4][5][6]
Christensen was selected by thePhoenix Mercury in the third round (40th overall) of the2002 WNBA draft.[7] She spent four seasons with the Mercury before she signed with theHouston Comets on March 24, 2006.[5] She was waived on May 19, 2006, when she failed to make Houston's regular-season roster.[6] She was signed to a short-term injury hardship contract by Houston on May 23, 2006, before rejoining the Mercury on June 15, 2006.[8][9]
After the 2006 season ended, Christensen became afree agent until she signed a contract with the Chicago Sky on March 8, 2007.[10][11] She was released from the Chicago Sky on May 20, 2008 after missing games due to a recurring back injury.[11]
Christensen has played professional basketball overseas in South Korea, Turkey, and Greece during the WNBA offseasons.[12][13]
Christensen has twice received the WNBA Offseason Community Assist Award, first in 2003 and second in 2004.[14]
Christensen served as theArizona State Sun Devils women's basketball radio color analyst, beginning in 2003, for the Sun Devil Sports Network onNBC 1190 AM.[15]
Christensen served as a courtside reporter for theNBA'sSacramento Kings duringComcast SportsNet broadcasts atSleep Train Arena. In May 2010, she was replaced byJim Gray. She returned to her courtside role in the Kings' 2013–14 season.[16] Before the start of the 2021-22 NBA season the Kings announced that Christensen would replaceDoug Christie as the team's television broadcast color analyst.[17]
She also has worked as a women's basketball color analyst forESPN andESPNU, a social media correspondent for thePhoenix Suns, and a social media engagement producer forThe Arizona Republic.[18]
In June 2011, Christensen traveled to Venezuela as aSportsUnited Sports Envoy for theU.S. Department of State. In this function, she worked withDarvin Ham to conduct basketball clinics for 300 youth from underserved areas and met with Venezuelan sports officials. In so doing, Christensen helped contribute to SportsUnited's mission to promote greater understanding and inclusion through sport.[19]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | RPG | Rebounds per game |
| APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
| TO | Turnovers per game | FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| Bold | Career best | ° | League leader |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Phoenix | 30 | 2 | 13.8 | 50.5 | 0.0 | 68.6 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 4.0 |
| 2003 | Phoenix | 30 | 16 | 22.0 | 48.4 | — | 60.2 | 4.2 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 6.9 |
| 2004 | Phoenix | 32 | 1 | 12.7 | 38.8 | — | 63.2 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 1.6 |
| 2005 | Phoenix | 11 | 1 | 9.8 | 46.7 | — | 57.1 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.6 |
| 2006 | Houston | 6 | 0 | 14.5 | 50.0 | — | 100.0 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 3.0 |
| Phoenix | 11 | 0 | 4.8 | 16.7 | — | 50.0 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.3 | |
| 2007 | Chicago | 23 | 7 | 9.2 | 41.7 | — | 44.4 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 2.1 |
| Career | 6 years, 3 teams | 143 | 27 | 13.6 | 46.4 | 0.0 | 60.8 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 3.2 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Santa Barbara | 30 | - | - | 55.1 | 100.0 | 62.1 | 5.6 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.6 | - | 8.0 |
| 1999–00 | Santa Barbara | 18 | - | - | 56.5 | 0.0 | 50.8 | 6.3 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.5 | - | 10.4 |
| 2000–01 | Santa Barbara | 31 | - | - | 54.9 | 0.0 | 66.7 | 7.6 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.1 | - | 13.7 |
| 2001–02 | Santa Barbara | 32 | - | - | 54.3 | 0.0 | 65.5 | 9.1 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | - | 14.5 |
| Career | 111 | - | - | 54.9 | 11.1 | 63.1 | 7.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.9 | - | 11.9 | |
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