Monique Billings Explained

Monique Billings
League:WNBA
Team:Phoenix Mercury
Number:25
Position:Power forward
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lbs:185
Birth Date:2 May 1996
Birth Place:Riverside, California, U.S.
High School:Santiago (Corona, California)
College:UCLA (2014–2018)
Draft League:WNBA
Draft Year:2018
Draft Round:2
Draft Pick:15
Draft Team:Atlanta Dream
Career Start:2018
Years1:
Team1:Atlanta Dream
Years2:2018–2019
Team2:Asan Woori Bank Wibee
Years3:2020–2021
Team3:Nadezhda Orenburg
Years4:2022–2023
Team4:Besiktas J.K.
Team5:Dallas Wings
Years6:–present
Team6:Phoenix Mercury
Highlights:

Monique Charice Billings (born May 2, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted into the WNBA in 2018 by the Dream, and has played for the Dream and Dallas Wings. As a child in elementary school, she attended Saint Edward Catholic School in Corona, California.[1]

College career

UCLA

Billings played basketball at Santiago High School in Corona, California. She was a 4-year letterman there and also participated in the high jump on the track and field team. Billings was ranked in the top 30 by many recruiting services coming out of high school. She also received an invite to the United States National Team Under-18 trials in 2014.[2]

While at UCLA, Billings contributed from the start. In her freshman season; she played in 37 games for the Bruins and was named to the Pac-12 all-freshman team. During her sophomore season, she started all 35 games. She led the team to the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament (the "Sweet 16"), where they lost to Texas. Billings also led the team in rebounds that year and was named an honorable mention to the all Pac-12 team. Billings again started all 34 games for the Bruins in her junior year, again leading the team to the NCAA tournament. The Bruins again fell in the Sweet 16. Billings led the team in scoring that year and was named to the All Pac-12 team. During her senior season, Billings led the Pac-12 in rebounds, double-doubles, and offensive rebounds. She started 34 of 35 games for the Bruins, who reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999.[2]

Career statistics

UCLA statistics

Source[3]

YearTeamGPPointsFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2014-15UCLA3721346.8%0.0%47.7%5.00.31.01.45.8
2015-16UCLA3544549.2%0.0%67.9%8.11.01.61.612.7
2016-17UCLA3456847.2%0.0%63.6%10.50.91.81.916.7
2017-18UCLA3553547.2%0.0%71.6%9.51.21.11.615.3
Career141176147.7%0.0%64.3%8.20.81.41.612.5

Professional career

WNBA

Atlanta Dream

Billings was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Dream in the 2018 WNBA draft.[4]

Dallas Wings

Billings signed with the Los Angeles Sparks in February 2024, but she ultimately didn't make the Sparks roster for the season and was waived during training camp.[5] [6]

With not making the Sparks roster, Billings was signed by the Dallas Wings to a hardship contract following their season opening, as Natasha Howard sustained an injury.[7] Billings quickly was inserted into the Wings's starting lineup and became a force. In her second game with Dallas, against the Atlanta Dream on May 21, she scored 20 points and 10 rebounds.[8] Natasha Howard returned from injury, but the Wings were dealt more injuries to Maddy Siegrist, Jaelyn Brown, and Satou Sabally, which allowed Billings to continue to stay in Dallas. Following the Olympic break, the Wings's players became healthy, which forced the Wings to have to release Billings from her hardship contract.[9]

Phoenix Mercury

Billings signed a 7-Day Contract with the Phoenix Mercury on August 18, 2024.[10]

Overseas

Asan Woori Bank Wibee

After the 2018 WNBA season, Billings played for the Asan Woori Bank Wibee of the Women's Korean Basketball League.[11]

WNBA career statistics

Regular season

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta| 32 || 0 || 11.0 || .441 || .000 || .750 || 2.8 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 0.0 || 0.4 || 3.3|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta| 29 || 2 || 19.1 || .389 || 1.000 || .783 || 6.9 || 0.6 || 0.6 || 0.4 || 1.6 || 5.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta| 22 || 16 || 27.1 || .400 || .000 || .761 || 8.5 || 1.2 || 1.1 || 0.8 || 1.9 || 8.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta| 31 || 9 || 23.9 || .495 || .000 || .675 || 6.5 || 1.0 || 1.2 || 1.0 || 1.4 || 8.1|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2022| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta| 23 || 8 || 17.4 || .470 || .000 || .765 || 6.3 || 1.1 || 0.8 || 0.3 || 1.3 || 6.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2023| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta| 39 || 9 || 16.7 || .407 || .000 || .836 || 5.0 || 0.8 || 0.4 || 0.3 || 0.9 || 4.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| Career| style="text-align:left;"| 6 years, 1 team| 176 || 44 || 18.7 || .434 || .125 || .759 || 5.8 || 0.8 || 0.7 || 0.5 || 1.2 || 5.9

Playoffs

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta| 5 || 0 || 12.8 || .474 || .000 || .579 || 2.6 || 0.8 || 0.0 || 0.6 || 0.4 || 5.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2023| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta| 2 || 2 || 23.5 || .286 || .000 || .625 || 7.0 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 1.5 || 4.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| Career| style="text-align:left;"| 2 years, 1 team| 7 || 2 || 15.9 || .423 || .000 || .593 || 3.9 || 0.6 || 0.1 || 0.4 || 0.7 || 5.4

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.instagram.com/p/B5_tG7kls1U/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
  2. Web site: Monique Billings Bio. uclabruins.com. UCLA. August 7, 2018.
  3. Web site: NCAA Statistics. web1.ncaa.org. 2017-10-15.
  4. Web site: WNBA Draft Board, Round 2. wnba.com. WNBA. August 7, 2018.
  5. Web site: Sparks Sign Forward Monique Billings . sparks.wnba.com . WNBA . 18 August 2024.
  6. Web site: Alford . Jovan . Sparks Continue Roster Shakeup With Shocking Cut Prior to Season Opener . lasportshub.com . Minute Media . 18 August 2024.
  7. Web site: Dallas Wings' Natasha Howard will miss up to 6 weeks after breaking foot in season opener . kplctv.com . KPLCTV . 18 August 2024.
  8. Web site: Graham . Arie . Monique Billings is putting up career numbers with the Dallas Wings . thenexthoops.com . The Next Hoops . 18 August 2024.
  9. Web site: Sabally, Siegrist and Brown Scheduled To Return To Dallas Wings Lineup . wings.wnba.com . WNBA . 18 August 2024.
  10. Web site: PHOENIX MERCURY SIGNS VETERAN FORWARD MONIQUE BILLINGS TO A SEVEN-DAY CONTRACT . wnba.com . WNBA . 18 August 2024.
  11. Web site: Monique Billings' Asan Woori Bank Wibee Player Profile Page. February 21, 2019.