Notre Dame, 2001
• 2000 First Team Academic All-America®
• 2001 First Team Academic All-America®
Ruth Riley was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Hall of Fame in 2012.
With a list of awards and accolades practically as long as her 6'5" frame, Ruth Riley is undoubtedly one of the greatest players in the history of women's basketball. She led Notre Dame to their first NCAA championship in 2001, scoring the final four points against Purdue after trailing them into the final minute of the game. While making the Dean's List every semester with a 3.64 GPA and earning Academic All-America® status twice, she became her team's all-time leader in seven categories, including rebounds (1,007), blocked shots (370), and field goal percentage (.632).
After graduating with a degree in psychology in 2001, Riley was the WNBA's fifth overall draft pick, going on to play two seasons with the Miami Sol. She next played for the Detroit Shock, and was instrumental in bringing the team, which prior to her recruitment had the WNBA's worst regular-season record, to a 2003 championship victory. Riley was traded to the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2007, and currently plays for the Chicago Sky.
Riley wrote a children's book, The Spirit of Basketball, in 2005, and in 2009 was appointed to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. She is also a spokesperson for international charities, including the UN anti-malaria campaign Nothing But Nets, and TRIAD Trust (Training to Reduce the Incidents of AIDS-related Deaths).
Born: Ransom, Kansas
High School: North Miami High School
Occupation: WNBA Player for the Chicago Sky