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Monique Billings

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Monique Billings
No. 25 – Guangdong Vermilion Birds
PositionPower forward
LeagueWCBA
Personal information
Born (1996-05-02) May 2, 1996 (age 28)
Riverside, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High schoolSantiago (Corona, California)
CollegeUCLA (2014–2018)
WNBA draft2018: 2nd round, 15th overall pick
Selected by the Atlanta Dream
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2023Atlanta Dream
2018–2019Heilongjiang Dragons
2019Asan Woori Bank Wibee
2019–2020Elitzur Ramla
2020Hatay BB
2020–2021Nadezhda Orenburg
2021–2022Townsville Fire
2022–2023Besiktas
2023–2024Dynamo Kursk
2024Dallas Wings
2024Phoenix Mercury
2024–presentGuangdong Vermilion Birds
2025–presentGolden State Valkyries
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Monique Charice Billings (born May 2, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Valkyries of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Guangdong Vermilion Birds of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). She played college basketball with the UCLA Bruins. Billings was selected 15th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2018 WNBA draft. As a child in elementary school, she attended Saint Edward Catholic School in Corona, California.[1]

College career

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UCLA

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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]

Professional career

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WNBA

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Atlanta Dream (2018–2023)

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Billings was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Dream in the 2018 WNBA draft.[3]

Dallas Wings (2024)

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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.[4][5]

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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]

Phoenix Mercury (2024)

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Billings signed a 7-Day Contract with the Phoenix Mercury on August 18, 2024.[9] On August 25, 2024, Billings signed a rest-of-season contract with the Mercury.[10]

Golden State Valkyries (2025–present)

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On December 6, 2024, Billings was selected as the Golden State Valkyries' pick from the Phoenix Mercury's 2024 roster in the WNBA's expansion draft.[11]

Overseas

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Asan Woori Bank Wibee

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After the 2018 WNBA season, Billings played for the Asan Woori Bank Wibee of the Women's Korean Basketball League.[12]

Career statistics

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Legend
  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

WNBA

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Regular season

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Stats current through end of 2024 season

WNBA regular season statistics[13]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2018 Atlanta 32 0 11.0 .441 — .750 2.8 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.4 3.3
2019 Atlanta 29 2 19.1 .389 1.000 .783 6.9 0.6 0.6 0.4 1.6 5.5
2020 Atlanta 22 16 27.1 .400 — .761 8.5 1.2 1.1 0.8 1.9 8.5
2021 Atlanta 31 9 23.9 .495 .000 .675 6.5 1.0 1.2 1.0 1.4 8.1
2022 Atlanta 23 8 17.4 .470 .000 .765 6.3 1.1 0.8 0.3 1.3 6.5
2023 Atlanta 39 9 16.7 .407 .000 .836 5.0 0.8 0.4 0.3 0.9 4.8
2024 Dallas 24 12 25.4 .475 .143 .804 6.6 1.9 0.6 0.5 2.1 8.8
Phoenix 13 2 18.1 .434 .286 .800 4.2 0.5 0.9 0.5 1.1 4.9
Career 7 years, 3 teams 213 58 19.4 .441 .182 .766 5.8 0.9 0.7 0.5 1.3 6.2

Playoffs

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WNBA playoff statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2018 Atlanta 5 0 12.8 .474 — .579 2.6 0.8 0.0 0.6 0.4 5.8
2023 Atlanta 2 2 23.5 .286 — .625 7.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 1.5 4.5
2024 Phoenix 2 0 14.0 .800 — .000 3.5 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 4.0
Career 3 years, 2 teams 9 2 15.4 .484 — .571 3.8 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.6 5.1

College

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NCAA statistics[14]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2014–15 UCLA 37 2 16.5 .468 — .477 5.0 0.3 1.0 1.4 1.6 5.8
2015–16 UCLA 35 35 28.7 .492 — .679 8.1 1.0 1.6 1.6 2.0 12.7
2016–17 UCLA 34 34 31.3 .472 — .636 10.5 0.9 1.8 1.9 1.6 16.7
2017–18 UCLA 35 34 31.9 .472 .000 .716 9.5 1.2 1.1 1.6 2.2 15.3
Career 141 105 26.9 .477 .000 .643 8.2 0.8 1.4 1.6 1.8 12.5

References

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  1. ^ "Instagram".
  2. ^ a b "Monique Billings Bio". uclabruins.com. UCLA. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  3. ^ "WNBA Draft Board, Round 2". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  4. ^ "Sparks Sign Forward Monique Billings". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  5. ^ Alford, Jovan (13 May 2024). "Sparks Continue Roster Shakeup With Shocking Cut Prior to Season Opener". lasportshub.com. Minute Media. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Dallas Wings' Natasha Howard will miss up to 6 weeks after breaking foot in season opener". kplctv.com. KPLCTV. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  7. ^ Graham, Arie (June 2024). "Monique Billings is putting up career numbers with the Dallas Wings". thenexthoops.com. The Next Hoops. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Sabally, Siegrist and Brown Scheduled To Return To Dallas Wings Lineup". wings.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  9. ^ "PHOENIX MERCURY SIGNS VETERAN FORWARD MONIQUE BILLINGS TO A SEVEN-DAY CONTRACT". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  10. ^ Sports, Arizona (2024-08-25). "Mercury sign forward Monique Billings through rest of season". Arizona Sports. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  11. ^ Henderson, Cydney; Horrow, Ellen J. (December 6, 2024). "WNBA expansion draft live updates: Golden State Valkyries pick their players for 2025". USA Today. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  12. ^ "Monique Billings' Asan Woori Bank Wibee Player Profile Page". Retrieved February 21, 2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ "Monique Billings WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference.
  14. ^ "NCAA Statistics". web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
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