Leilani Mitchell (born June 15, 1985 in Richland, Washington, U.S.) is an American basketball player in the WNBA for the New York Liberty.

Mitchell was born to an American father and an Australian mother of Asian descent (specifically Filipino, Malaysian, Singaporean, Indian, and others).^[1] Mitchell played high school basketball at Kennewick High School, where the team won a state 4A title.

[edit] College years

Mitchell played her first three years of college basketball at the University of Idaho. Mitchell then transferred to the University of Utah. She sat out the 2006-07 season under NCAA rules, and then played the 2007-08 season for Utah.^[2]

[edit] WNBA career

Mitchell was drafted by the San Antonio Silver Stars twenty-fifth overall in the second round of 2008 WNBA Draft. Mitchell was then traded to the Phoenix Mercury. When the New York Liberty learned during the 2008 pre-season that the Mercury planned to cut Mitchell, the Liberty acquired Mitchell in a trade in exchange for a 2009 third round draft pick.^[3]

Initially a bench player, Mitchell made her first professional start on June 6, 2008 in place of the injured Loree Moore. During the 2008 season she developed a strong fan following and a reputation for fearlessness in grabbing loose balls and occasionally driving to the basket.

Mitchell scored 14 points in the Liberty's narrow loss to the Detroit Shock in Game 3 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals.

[edit] Reference list

[edit] External links

• WNBA Player Profile