Alaina Coates

American basketball player (born 1995)

Alaina Coates

Coates with the Minnesota Lynx in 2019

Personal information
Born|  (1995-04-07) April 7, 1995 (age 30)
Irmo, South Carolina, U.S.
Nationality| American
Listed height| 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight| 225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school| Dutch Fork
(Irmo, South Carolina)
College| South Carolina (2013–2017)
WNBA draft| 2017: 1st round, 2nd overall pick
Drafted by| Chicago Sky
Playing career| 2017–present
Position| Center
Career history
2018| Sopron Basket
2018| Chicago Sky
2018–2019| Zhejiang Far East
2019| Minnesota Lynx
2019| Atlanta Dream
2020| Hatay Büyükşehir Belediyespor
2020| Washington Mystics
2020–2021| Ramat HaSharon
2021–2022| Nesibe Aydın GSK
2022| Indiana Fever
2022| Galatasaray
2023| Phoenix Mercury
2023| Las Vegas Aces
2023–2024| Nesibe Aydın GSK
2024| BC Castelnuovo Scrivia
Career highlights

* WNBA champion (2023)
* NCAA champion (2017)
* 2× First-team All-SEC (2016, 2017)
* 2x SEC All-Defensive Team (2015, 2017)
* 2× Second-team All-SEC (2014, 2015)
* SEC All-Freshman Team (2014)
* SEC Co-Sixth Player of the Year (2014)
* SEC Freshman of the Year (2014)
* Gatorade South Carolina Player of the Year (2013)
* McDonald's All-American (2013)

Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

Medals

Women's basketball
Representing the  United States
Pan American Games
| 2015 Toronto | Team

Alaina Denise Coates (born April 7, 1995) is an American professional basketball player who is a free agent. She played college basketball for the University of South Carolina.

## Early life

[edit]

Coates enjoyed a stellar high school career. She was both a McDonald's and Parade All-American. She was chosen as the 2013 Gatorade South Carolina Player of the Year, South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association (SCBCA) Class 4A Player of the Year, Charlotte Observer South Carolina Miss Basketball, and became a three-time SCBCA Class 4A all-state selection.

During her senior season, she posted 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game while leading her team to back-to-back state championships (including an undefeated 29–0 season in 2012–13.)

## College career

[edit]

Heavily recruited by power programs, she was ranked the 28th overall player as part of a high-profile 2013 recruiting class. After receiving offers from Tennessee, and Georgia, she eventually chose South Carolina to play for her hometown team. She went on to become a 4x All-SEC player, and All-American. Coates played a crucial part in helping South Carolina become a national powerhouse. In her senior season, Coates injured her ankle, which caused her to miss South Carolina's SEC Tourney & National Championship run. Coates finished the season averaging 13.4 ppg and 11.1 rpg.

## Professional career

[edit]

### WNBA

[edit]

#### Chicago Sky

[edit]

After her senior season, Coates was drafted second overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2017 WNBA draft. In April 2017, it was announced that Coates would miss part of the 2017 WNBA season following ankle surgery.[1] However, a timetable for her return still wasn't determined and Coates would end up missing the entire season.[2] In February 2018, Coates officially signed with the Sky.[3] She made her career debut on May 19, 2018, in the Sky's season opener against the Indiana Fever, she scored 5 points in 12 minutes of play in an 82–64 victory.[4] On July 3, 2018, Coates scored in double digits for the first time with 10 points in 16 minutes of play during a 108–85 loss to the Dallas Wings.[5] By the end of the season, the Sky finished 13–21, missing out on the playoffs.

#### Minnesota Lynx

[edit]

On May 21, 2019, Coates was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for a 2020 third-round draft pick.[6] On July 14, 2019, Coates was waived by the Minnesota Lynx.

#### Atlanta Dream

[edit]

On July 17, 2019, Coates signed with the Atlanta Dream.

#### Washington Mystics

[edit]

Coates signed with the Washington Mystics on June 29, 2020, and made her debut for the team on the opening day of the season.[7]

#### Indiana Fever

[edit]

On February 7, 2023, Coates signed with the Indiana Fever on a training camp contract.[8] Coates was temporarily suspended on May 5, due to overseas commitments, and was activated May 11. The Fever waived Coates on June 7, 2023.[9]

#### Phoenix Mercury

[edit]

On June 27, 2023, Coates signed a Hardship Contract with the Phoenix Mercury.[10] Coates appeared in 2 games for the Mercury and was released from the hardship contract on June 29, 2023.

#### Las Vegas Aces

[edit]

On August 2, 2023, Coates signed a 7-Day Contract with the Las Vegas Aces.[11] Coates stayed with Aces following the 7-Day, signing a 2nd and 3rd 7-Day Contract with Las Vegas.[12] After her 3rd 7-Day Contract, Coates signed a rest-of-season hardship contract to remain with the Aces.[13]

### Overseas

[edit]

In October 2018, Coates signed with Zhejiang Far East of the Chinese League for the 2018-19 off-season.[14]

Coates played for Nesibe Aydın GSK of the Turkish Women's Basketball Super League (TKBL) in the 2021–2022 season.[15]

On October 5, 2022, she signed with Galatasaray.[16]

Coates returned to Nesibe Aydın GSK for the 2023–2024 season.[17]

She played for BC Castelnuovo Scrivia of the Lega Basket Femminile from September to December 2024.[18]

## Personal life

[edit]

Alaina is the daughter of Gary and Pamela Coates. She has an older brother, Gary. Her uncle, Ben Coates, is retired from the NFL and was a member of the Baltimore Ravens first Super Bowl. While at South Carolina, she majored in sociology. In March 2018, Coates's father died of cardiac arrest.[19]

## Career statistics

[edit]

Legend  GP  | Games played  |  GS | Games started  |  MPG | Minutes per game  |  RPG | Rebounds per game

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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

### College

[edit]

Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | Points | PPG

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2013–14  | South Carolina | 29 | 19.2 | .630 | .000 | .658 | 7.9 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 417 | 12.2
2014–15  | South Carolina  | 28 | 20.7 | .526 | .000 | .705 | 8.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 399 | 10.6
2015–16  | South Carolina  | 29 | 26.7 | .655 | .000 | .551 | 10.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 425 | 11.7
2016–17  | South Carolina  | 27 | 27.5 | .670 | .000 | .653 | 11.1 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 362 | 13.4
Career  | South Carolina  | 113 | 23.5 | .622 | .000 | .644 | 9.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 1603 | 12.0

Source[20]

### WNBA

[edit]

†  | Denotes seasons in which Coates won a WNBA championship

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#### Regular season

[edit]

Year  | Team  | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG

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2018 | Chicago | 32 | 0 | 11.4 | .568 | — | .625 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 3.4
2019 | Minnesota | 14 | 0 | 6.6 | .484 | — | .625 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.5
Atlanta | 9 | 0 | 8.3 | .643 | — | .538 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 2.8
2020 | Washington | 20 | 0 | 9.9 | .529 | — | .538 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 2.5
2022 | Indiana | 8 | 0 | 9.4 | .636 | — | .933 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 3.5
2023 | Phoenix | 2 | 0 | 2.5 | 1.000 | — | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0
2023† | Las Vegas | 10 | 0 | 3.0 | .800 | — | .250 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.9
Career  | 5 years, 7 teams  | 95 | 0 | 8.8 | .565 | — | .623 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.7

#### Postseason

[edit]

Year  | Team  | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG

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2020 | Washington | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | .000 | — | — | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0
2023† | Las Vegas | 6 | 0 | 1.8 | 1.000 | — | — | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3
Career  | 2 years, 2 teams  | 7 | 0 | 2.1 | .500 | — | — | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Basketball: Alaina Coates had ankle surgery, will miss part of WNBA season". Excelle Sports. April 10, 2017. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
2. ^ Cloninger, David (May 18, 2017). "Why Alaina Coate's pro career is still on hold". thestate.com. The State. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
3. ^ Dull, Ben (February 6, 2018). "Chicago Sky sign Alaina Coates, re-sign Jordan Hooper". High Post Hoops. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
4. ^ "Quigley, DeShields lead Sky over Fever 82-64". ESPN. Associated Press. May 18, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
5. ^ "Cambage scores career-high 37; Wings beat Sky 108-85". ESPN. Associated Press. May 18, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
6. ^ Kenney, Madeline (May 21, 2019). "Sky trade Alaina Coates to Lynx". chicago.suntimes.com. Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
7. ^ "Mystics sign Alaina Coates and Shay Peddy". WNBA.com. June 29, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
8. ^ "Fever Sign Alaina Coates". fever.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
9. ^ @IndianaFever (June 7, 2022). "Roster Update: Center Alaina Coates has been waived" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
10. ^ @phoenixmercury (June 27, 2023). "The Phoenix Mercury announced today the signing of center Alaina Coates to a hardship contract" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
11. ^ "Aces Sign Veteran Center Alaina Coates To Emergency Hardship Contract". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
12. ^ "Aces Sign Veteran Center Alaina Coates to Second Emergency Hardship Contract". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
13. ^ "Aces Sign Veteran Center Alaina Coates to Rest of Season Contract". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
14. ^ "Zhejiang tabs Alaina Coates". asia-basket.com. EuroBasket News. October 2, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
15. ^ "Nesibe adds Coates to their roster". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
16. ^ "Alaina Coates Galatasaray Çağdaş Faktoring'de!" (in Turkish). Galatasaray. October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
17. ^ "Scrivia adds Coates to their roster, ex Nesibe". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
18. ^ "Scrivia waives Alaina Coates". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
19. ^ Butler, Andrea (March 14, 2018). "Father of former USC basketball star Alaina Coates dies while driving". wach.com. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
20. ^ "Alaina Coates #41, C, South Carolina". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved May 13, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alaina Coates.

*   * Career statistics from WNBA.com · Basketball Reference
* South Carolina Gamecocks bio at the Wayback Machine (archived 2017-06-30)
* USA Basketball bio

* v
* t
* e

South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball 2016–17 NCAA champions

* 3 Kaela Davis
* 10 Allisha Gray
* 21 Mikiah Herbert Harrigan
* 22 A'ja Wilson (MOP)
* 41 Alaina Coates
* 52 Tyasha Harris

Head coach
Dawn Staley

Assistant coaches
Lisa Boyer
Fred Chmiel
Nikki McCray-Penson

* v
* t
* e

2017 WNBA draft

First round|

* Kelsey Plum
* Alaina Coates
* Evelyn Akhator
* Allisha Gray
* Nia Coffey
* Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
* Brittney Sykes
* Brionna Jones
* Tori Jankoska
* Kaela Davis
* Sydney Wiese
* Alexis Jones

Second round|

* Shayla Cooper
* Lindsay Allen
* Alexis Peterson
* Leticia Romero
* Erica McCall
* Jennie Simms
* Jordan Reynolds
* Feyonda Fitzgerald
* Chantel Osahor
* Ronni Williams
* Breanna Lewis
* Lisa Berkani

* v
* t
* e

Las Vegas Aces 2023 WNBA champions

* 0 Young
* 1 Bell
* 2 Williams
* 3 Parker
* 7 Clark
* 10 Plum
* 12 Gray
* 13 George
* 22 Wilson (Finals MVP)
* 41 Stokes
* 51 Colson
* 81 Coates

* Head coach: Hammon
* Assistant coaches: Marsh
* Nakase
* Thomas-Swinson
* Trainers: Anumba

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*[t]: Discuss this template
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