Wendy Palmer

Personal information
Born	(1974-08-12)August 12, 1974 (age 51) Timberlake, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High school	Person (Roxboro, North Carolina)
College	Virginia (1992–1996)
WNBA draft	1997:Elite draft
Drafted by	Utah Starzz
Playing career	1997–2007
Position	Forward
Number	14, 4, 3, 0
Career history
1997–1999	Utah Starzz
1999–2002	Detroit Shock
2002	Orlando Miracle
2003–2004	Connecticut Sun
2005	San Antonio Silver Stars
2006–2007	Seattle Storm
Career highlights
WNBA All-Star (2000) All-WNBA Second Team (1997) WNBA Most Improved Player (2004) 2× Second-team All-American – AP (1995, 1996) 2× All-American –Kodak,USBWA (1995, 1996) 2×ACC Player of the Year (1995, 1996) 3× First-team All-ACC (1994–1996) ACC All-Freshman Team (1993
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats atBasketball Reference
Medals Women'sBasketball Representing United States Jones Cup 1994 Taipei Team Competition

Wendy Palmer (born August 12, 1974)^[1] is an American former professionalbasketball player in theWNBA, and former head coach of theUNCG women's basketball team.^[2] Her primary position wasforward.

Born inTimberlake, North Carolina, Palmer attended Person Senior High School in Roxboro, North Carolina, where she was named a High School All-American by theWBCA.^[3] She participated in the inaugural WBCA High School All-America Game in 1992, scoring eleven points.^[4]

Palmer graduated from theUniversity of Virginia in 1996, and is a member of theZeta Phi Beta sorority.

Palmer was named to the team representing the US at the 1994William Jones Cup competition inTaipei, Taiwan. The USA team won all eight games, winning the gold medal, but not without close calls. In three games the teams had to come from behind to win. One preliminary game ended up as a single-point victory, and the gold medal game went to overtime before the USA team beat South Korea by a single point, 90–89. Palmer was the leading scorer for the team, averaging 18.9 points per game. She also led the team in rebounding with 9.3 per game.^[5]

Palmer was originally drafted by theUtah Starzz 9th overall in the 2nd round of the 1997Elite draft. She played for the Starzz until 1999, when she became a member of theDetroit Shock.

In 2002, she played for theOrlando Miracle, which later became theConnecticut Sun. In 2004, while as a member of the Sun, she received theWNBA Most Improved Player Award.

In 2005, she played for theSan Antonio Silver Stars. After the season ended, she was hired as an assistant coach to the women's basketball team atVirginia Commonwealth University.

In 2006, she signed afree agent contract with the Storm, but played only five games with the team before suffering a partially tornAchilles tendon in her left foot. She never played in the WNBA again after her foot injury, and thus her final game ever was during her time with the Storm. Palmer's final game was played on August 26, 2007, in a 89–95 loss to thePhoenix Mercury where she recorded 8 points, 1 rebound, and 1 block.^[6]

Palmer took her first coaching position atVirginia Commonwealth University while playing in the WNBA. In 2007, she joined the staff at theUniversity of Kentucky under coachMatthew Mitchell. She remained there until 2009.

In 2009, Palmer became an assistant coach at theUniversity of Virginia under legendary coachDebbie Ryan.

In 2011, Palmer became the women's head coach at theUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro.

• WNBA Player Profile
• June 2006 Seattle Storm article on her injury
• July 2005 press release on joining the Virginia Commonwealth University coaching staff

• 1974 births
• Living people
• All-American college women's basketball players
• American expatriate basketball people in Hungary
• American expatriate basketball people in Spain
• American expatriate basketball people in Turkey
• American women's basketball coaches
• American women's basketball players
• Basketball players from North Carolina
• Connecticut Sun players
• Detroit Shock players
• Galatasaray S.K. (women's basketball) players
• Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball coaches
• Orlando Miracle players
• Parade High School All-Americans (girls' basketball)
• People from Person County, North Carolina
• Power forwards
• San Antonio Stars players
• Seattle Storm players
• UNC Greensboro Spartans women's basketball coaches
• Utah Starzz draft picks
• Utah Starzz players
• VCU Rams women's basketball coaches
• Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball coaches
• Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball players
• WNBA All-Stars

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from June 2025