# Rachel Banham

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American basketball player (born 1993)

Rachel Banham Banham (right) with the Minnesota Lynx in 2021 No. 24 – Chicago Sky Position Point guard League WNBA Personal information Born (1993-07-15) July 15, 1993 (age 32) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Listed height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Listed weight 181 lb (82 kg) Career information High school Lakeville North (Lakeville, Minnesota) College Minnesota (2011–2016) WNBA draft 2016: 1st round, 4th overall pick Drafted by Connecticut Sun Playing career 2016–present Career history Playing 2016–2019 Connecticut Sun 2020–2023 Minnesota Lynx 2024 Connecticut Sun 2024–present Chicago Sky 2026–present Lunar Owls BC Coaching 2023–2024 Minnesota (assistant) Career highlights First-team All-American – AP (2016) 2× Honorable Mention All-American – AP, WBCA (2013, 2014) All-American – USBWA, (2016) Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year (2016) Big Ten Player of the Year (2016) 3× First-team All-Big Ten – Coaches (2013, 2014, 2016) 2× Second-team All-Big Ten – Media (2012, 2013) Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2012) Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2012) Minnesota Miss Basketball (2011) Stats at Basketball Reference

**Rachel Banham** (born July 15, 1993) is an American professional [basketball](/source/Basketball) player for the [Chicago Sky](/source/Chicago_Sky) of the [Women's National Basketball Association](/source/Women's_National_Basketball_Association) (WNBA) and the [Lunar Owls](/source/Lunar_Owls_BC) of [Unrivaled](/source/Unrivaled_(basketball)). Banham played guard for the [Minnesota Golden Gophers women's basketball](/source/Minnesota_Golden_Gophers_women's_basketball) team, where she set a number of team records. Banham was drafted by the [Connecticut Sun](/source/Connecticut_Sun) with the 4th pick of the [2016 WNBA draft](/source/2016_WNBA_draft).[1] Banham was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in 2020,[2] and later signed with the Sky in 2024.

## Early life

Banham was born on July 15, 1993, in [Minneapolis, Minnesota](/source/Minneapolis%2C_Minnesota).[3]

Banham went to [Lakeville North High School](/source/Lakeville_North_High_School) in Lakeville, Minnesota and graduated in 2011. She started on the varsity basketball team as an 8th grade student. During her senior year, she averaged 17.8 points per game, 5.3 rebounds, and four assists. With these numbers she led her squad to a 29–3 record and a conference championship.[4]

## College career

After graduating from high school, Banham continued her education and basketball career at the University of Minnesota. Banham started all 36 games her freshman year, and was named Freshman All American First Team and [Big Ten Freshman of the Year](/source/Big_Ten_Conference_Women's_Basketball_Freshman_of_the_Year). During her freshman year, (2011–2012) she averaged 16.1 points per game which ranked her 97th in the nation. Her sophomore year (2012–2013) she averaged 20.7 points per game which was good enough for second-leading sophomore scorer in NCAA Division I. As a Junior (2013–2014) Banham averaged 22.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. At the start of her senior season (2014–2015) Banham had only played 10 games before she suffered a season ending ACL injury. Before she tore her ACL, Banham was on ESPN's top 5 players to watch in the upcoming season. She later received a medical hardship waiver so she could play in the 2015–2016 season. When she returned to the court in the 2015–2016 season for her senior year, she had an outstanding season. Banham was named Big Ten Player of the Year and was a [John R. Wooden Award](/source/John_R._Wooden_Award) finalist.[5] Despite her time off because of her injury, Banham came back to become the Gophers all-time leading scorer and tied an NCAA record with a 60-point game against [Northwestern](/source/Northwestern_University) on February 7, 2016.[6] Banham ended her college career on a high note, becoming the sixth-leading scorer in NCAA Division I women's history and the [Big Ten Conference](/source/Big_Ten_Conference)'s all-time scoring leader at the end of her college career with 3,093 points. (As of the end of the 2017–18 season, she is now eighth on the career scoring list, having since been surpassed by [Washington](/source/Washington_Huskies_women's_basketball)'s [Kelsey Plum](/source/Kelsey_Plum) (2013–17), now the D-I all-time scoring leader,[7] and new Big Ten career scoring leader [Kelsey Mitchell](/source/Kelsey_Mitchell_(basketball)) of [Ohio State](/source/Ohio_State_Buckeyes_women's_basketball) (2015–18).[8]) Banham's senior year was not only one of the most memorable seasons in Gopher basketball history, but NCAA basketball history as well.[9]

## Professional career

### WNBA

#### Connecticut Sun (2016–2019)

Banham was selected 4th overall by the [Connecticut Sun](/source/Connecticut_Sun) in the [2016 WNBA draft](/source/2016_WNBA_draft). During her rookie season with the Sun, Banham played in 15 games and averaged 10.9 minutes, 3.7 points, 1 assist, 1 rebound, while shooting 41% from the field and 35% from 3-point distance. Ultimately her rookie year was cut short after she tore her MCL and had micro fracture surgery on July 10.[10] Banham's best year with the Sun came in 2018 when she averaged a career high 5.2 points. During the rest of her time in Connecticut, she did not get much playing time as she only averaged 11.4 minutes, 4 points, 1 assist and 1 rebound a game in her first four seasons with the Sun.

#### Minnesota Lynx (2020–2023)

On February 25, 2020, Banham was acquired by the [Minnesota Lynx](/source/Minnesota_Lynx) in a sign and trade deal that sent a 2021 2nd Round Pick to the Sun.[11] During the [2020](/source/2020_WNBA_season) Bubble Season in Bradenton, she showed some improvements averaging multiple career highs – 17.4 minutes, 6.9 points, 2.4 assists and 1.3 rebounds a game. She had her best game as a professional against the [Indiana Fever](/source/Indiana_Fever) on September 12, when she scored a career high 29 points and 10 assists, while making 7 3-pointers.

The 2021 season saw a change for Banham as her role decreased as the team signed [Kayla McBride](/source/Kayla_McBride), [Natalie Achonwa](/source/Natalie_Achonwa) & [Aerial Powers](/source/Aerial_Powers) during the offseason. On June 29, Banham was waived from the Lynx in order to clear some salary cap space for Minnesota.[12] After clearing waivers, the Lynx re-signed Banham to a rest of season deal on July 5 – allowing her to re-join the team.[13]

#### Connecticut Sun (2024)

Banham returned to the Sun in February 2024, signing a two year deal with the team.[14] Banham set an WNBA record with 8 three pointers off the bench on July 14, 2024.[15]

#### Chicago Sky (2024–present)

On July 17, 2024, Banham was traded to the [Chicago Sky](/source/Chicago_Sky) alongside [Moriah Jefferson](/source/Moriah_Jefferson), a 2025 1st round pick and the rights to swap 2026 first round picks, in exchange for [Marina Mabrey](/source/Marina_Mabrey) and a 2025 2nd round pick from the Chicago Sky.[16]

### Unrivaled

On November 5, 2025, it was announced that Banham had been drafted by [Lunar Owls BC](/source/Lunar_Owls_BC) for the [2026 Unrivaled season](/source/2026_Unrivaled_season).[17]

## Career statistics

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

#### Regular season

*Stats current through end of 2025 regular season*

WNBA regular season statistics[18] Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG 2016 Connecticut 15 0 10.9 .408 .351 .667 0.7 0.9 0.5 0.1 0.5 3.7 2017 Connecticut 30 0 9.4 .327 .281 .800 1.1 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.4 3.3 2018 Connecticut 33 5 12.8 .414 .370 .868 0.9 1.5 0.5 0.1 0.5 5.2 2019 Connecticut 29 0 12.2 .322 .306 .692 1.0 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.9 3.6 2020 Minnesota 20 1 17.0 .462 .472 .800 1.3 2.4 0.5 0.1 1.0 6.9 2021 Minnesota 27 0 12.6 .395 .373 .625 1.2 1.6 0.3 0.1 0.9 5.0 2022 Minnesota 36 5 17.5 .430 .383 .800 1.3 2.3 0.3 0.1 1.3 7.9 2023 Minnesota 32 1 13.6 .370 .402 .786 1.0 1.7 0.3 0.1 1.1 5.5 2024 Connecticut 21 0 12.9 .358 .348 .900 1.2 0.7 0.4 0.2 0.5 4.8 Chicago 16 9 19.8 .346 .382 .700 1.8 1.6 0.4 0.1 0.6 6.9 2025 Chicago 44 33 24.6 .382 .357 .881 1.7 2.7 0.6 0.3 1.6 9.0 Career 10 years, 3 teams 303 54 15.3 .386 .367 .818 1.2 1.6 0.4 0.3 0.9 5.8

#### Playoffs

WNBA playoff statistics Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG 2017 Connecticut 1 0 2.0 1.000 1.000 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 2018 Connecticut 1 0 9.0 .250 1.000 .000 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 3.0 2019 Connecticut 4 0 6.0 .375 .600 1.000 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 2.8 2020 Minnesota 4 0 18.8 .310 .333 1.000 1.5 1.8 0.0 0.3 1.3 5.8 2021 Minnesota 1 0 5.0 .000 .000 1.000 1.0 0.9 0.1 0.3 0.7 2.0 2023 Minnesota 3 0 19.7 .316 .231 .000 1.7 3.0 1.0 0.7 1.7 5.0 Career 6 years, 2 teams 14 0 12.4 .317 .375 1.000 1.1 1.4 0.3 0.4 0.9 4.1

### College

NCAA statistics[19] Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG 2011–12 Minnesota 36 36 33.7 .419 .425 .817 5.2 2.7 1.6 0.2 3.2 16.1 2012–13 Minnesota 32 32 35.3 .435 .335 .895 4.0 3.9 1.9 0.4 2.8 20.7 2013–14 Minnesota 34 34 35.7 .418 .421 .874 3.7 3.9 1.3 0.3 2.6 22.1 2014–15 Minnesota 10 10 28.5 .426 .405 .737 4.5 4.6 1.0 0.8 2.3 18.6 2015–16 Minnesota 32 32 33.8 .457 .390 .859 5.9 3.8 2.0 0.3 3.2 28.6 Career 144 144 34.2 .433 .394 .857 4.7 3.6 1.7 0.3 2.9 21.5

## Personal life

It was also announced on January 2, 2022, on social media that she and her boyfriend [Andre Hollins](/source/Andre_Hollins) were engaged at [Williams Arena](/source/Williams_Arena).[20]

## See also

- [List of NCAA Division I women's basketball career scoring leaders](/source/List_of_NCAA_Division_I_women's_basketball_career_scoring_leaders)

- [List of NCAA Division I women's basketball season scoring leaders](/source/List_of_NCAA_Division_I_women's_basketball_season_scoring_leaders)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Rachel Banham, the WNBA draft and the Minnesota Lynx"](http://www.startribune.com/rachel-banham-the-wnba-draft-and-the-minnesota-lynx/368961351/). *Star Tribune*. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Minnesota Lynx Acquire Rachel Banham"](https://lynx.wnba.com/news/minnesota-lynx-acquire-rachel-banham/). *Minnesota Lynx*. Retrieved 2020-12-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["2016 WNBA Draft Profile: Rachel Banham"](https://www.wnba.com/draft2016profile/rachel-banham/). Women's National Basketball Association. Retrieved April 15, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["GOPHERSPORTS.COM Rachel Banham Bio :: University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site :: Women's Basketball"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160405141238/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/rachel_banham_759452.html). *www.gophersports.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/rachel_banham_759452.html) on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2016-04-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["GOPHERSPORTS.COM Rachel Banham Bio :: University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site :: Women's Basketball"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160405141238/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/rachel_banham_759452.html). *www.gophersports.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/rachel_banham_759452.html) on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2016-04-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Rachel Banham scores 60 points"](https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2016-02-08/minnesotas-rachel-banham-scores-60-points-ties-ncaa-record). February 7, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Individual Records: Scoring"](http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_basketball_RB/2018/D1.pdf) (PDF). *2017–18 Division I Women's Basketball Records*. NCAA. p. 2. Retrieved January 27, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell sets Big Ten record for career points"](https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22234918/kelsey-mitchell-ohio-state-buckeyes-sets-big-ten-record-career-points). *ESPN.com*. January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Gophers' Banham named first-team All-America"](http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-s-rachel-banham-named-first-team-all-america/373746281/). *Star Tribune*. Retrieved 2016-04-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Allard, Marc. ["Knee troubles started early for Sun rookie"](https://www.norwichbulletin.com/sports/20160710/knee-troubles-started-early-for-sun-rookie). *norwichbulletin.com*. Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved 7 July 2021.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Minnesota Lynx Acquire Rachel Banham"](https://lynx.wnba.com/news/minnesota-lynx-acquire-rachel-banham/). *lynx.wnba.com*. WNBA. Retrieved 7 July 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Youngblood, Kent. ["Lynx waive Rachel Banham to clear salary cap room, with hope of re-signing her"](https://www.startribune.com/lynx-waive-rachel-banham-to-clear-salary-cap-room-with-hope-of-re-signing-her/600072908/). *startribune.com*. Star Tribune. Retrieved 7 July 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Youngblood, Kent. ["After a week in limbo, Rachel Banham re-signs with Lynx"](https://www.startribune.com/after-a-week-in-limbo-rachel-banham-re-signs-with-lynx/600075196/). *startribune.com*. Star Tribune. Retrieved 7 July 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Rachel Banham Signs with Connecticut"](https://sun.wnba.com/news/rachel-banham-signs-with-connecticut). *sun.wnba.com*. Retrieved 2024-12-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Rachel Banham shines as Connecticut Sun rout Phoenix Mercury 96-69 in final home game before Olympic break"](https://www.courant.com/2024/07/14/rachel-banham-shines-as-connecticut-sun-rout-phoenix-mercury-96-69-in-final-home-game-before-olympic-break/). *Hartford Courant*. 2024-07-14. Retrieved 2024-12-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Connecticut Sun Acquires Veteran Guard Marina Mabrey"](https://sun.wnba.com/news/connecticut-sun-acquires-veteran-guard-marina-mabrey/). *[WNBA](/source/WNBA)*. July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Andrews, Kendra (November 5, 2025). ["Rosters set for Unrivaled second season after internal draft"](https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/46863562/rosters-set-unrivaled-second-season-internal-draft). *ESPN*. Retrieved 2025-11-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Rachel Banham WNBA Stats"](https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/b/banhara01w.html). *Basketball Reference*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["NCAA Statistics"](http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careerplayer). *web1.ncaa.org*. Retrieved 2016-04-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Banham Engaged to Hollins"](https://twitter.com/minnesotalynx/status/1478135274773237763). *Twitter*. Retrieved 2022-01-03.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Rachel Banham](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rachel_Banham).

- Career statistics from [WNBA.com](https://www.wnba.com/player/1627671/) · [Basketball Reference](https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/b/banhara01w.html)

- [Minnesota Golden Gophers bio](http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/rachel_banham_759452.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160405141238/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/rachel_banham_759452.html) 2016-04-05 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [ESPN profile](https://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/91024/rachel-banham)

- [Thoughts about Rachel](http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/111010aaa.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160426050926/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/111010aaa.html) 2016-04-26 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) at gophersports.com

v t e Chicago Sky current roster 0 Sheldon 1 Williams 4 Diggins 5 Jackson 7 Carrington 9 Cloud 10 Cardoso 11 Jaquez 12 Taylor 21 Westbeld 22 Vandersloot 24 Banham 30 Stevens 35 Coulibaly 55 Bibby – Sivka Head coach T. Marsh Assistant coaches L. Trammell R. Wakama K. Faris J. Simpson East ATL CHI CON IND NY TOR WAS West DAL GS LV LA MIN PHO POR SEA

Links to related articles v t e 2016 WNBA draft First round Breanna Stewart Moriah Jefferson Morgan Tuck Rachel Banham Aerial Powers Jonquel Jones Kahleah Copper Courtney Williams Tiffany Mitchell Imani Boyette Bria Holmes Adut Bulgak Second round Rachel Hollivay Jazmon Gwathmey Whitney Knight Courtney Walker Jamie Weisner Ruth Hamblin Lia Galdeira Jillian Alleyne Brene Moseley Bashaara Graves Brianna Butler Ameryst Alston v t e Big Ten Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year 1983: Coenen 1984: Browne 1985: Browne 1986: Hall 1987: Hall 1988: Edwards 1989: Cline 1990: Price 1991: Holmes 1992: Joseph 1993: Foster 1994: Shudlick 1995: Lovelace 1996: K. Smith 1997: Berggren 1998: T. Smith 1999: White-McCarty 2000: Darling & Douglas 2001: Douglas 2002: Whalen 2003: Mazzante 2004: Mazzante 2005: Davenport 2006: Davenport 2007: Davenport 2008: Anderson & Lavender 2009: Lavender 2010: Lavender 2011: Keane & Lavender 2012: Prahalis 2013: Lucas 2014: Hooper & Lucas 2015: Mitchell & Zahui B. 2016: Banham 2017: Mitchell 2018: Gustafson & Mitchell 2019: Gustafson 2020: Doyle 2021: Hillmon 2022: Clark 2023: Clark 2024: Clark 2025: Watkins 2026: Betts v t e Big Ten Athlete of the Year 1980s 1982: Jim Spivey 1983: Ed Banach & Judi Brown 1984: Sunder Nix & Lisa Ishikawa 1985: Barry Davis & Cathy Branta 1986: Chuck Long & Stephanie Herbst 1987: Steve Alford & Jennifer Averill 1988: Jim Abbott & Suzy Favor 1989: Glen Rice & Suzy Favor 1990s 1990: Anthony Thompson & Suzy Favor 1991: Mike Barrowman & Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse / Joy Holmes 1992: Desmond Howard & MaChelle Joseph 1993: John Roethlisberger & Lara Hooiveld 1994: Glenn Robinson & Kristy Gleason 1995: Tom Dolan & Laura Davis 1996: Eddie George & Olga Kalinovskaya 1997: Blaine Wilson & Gretchen Hegener / Kathy Butler 1998: Charles Woodson & Sara Griffin 1999: Luke Donald & Stephanie White-McCarty 2000s 2000: Ron Dayne & Lauren Cacciamani 2001: Ryan Miller & Katie Douglas 2002: Jordan Leopold & Christie Welsh 2003: Amer Delić / Matt Lackey & Perdita Felicien 2004: Damion Hahn & Kelly Mazzante 2005: Luis Vargas & Jennie Ritter 2006: Peter Vanderkaay & Tiffany Weimer 2007: Cole Konrad & Jessica Davenport 2008: Brent Metcalf & Hannah Nielsen 2009: Jake Herbert & María Hernández 2010s 2010: Evan Turner & Megan Hodge 2011: David Boudia & Shannon Smith 2012: Draymond Green & Christina Manning 2013: Derek Drouin & Amanda Kessel 2014: David Taylor & Daniella Hill 2015: Logan Stieber & Taylor Cummings 2016: Denzel Valentine & Rachel Banham 2017: Kyle Snyder & Lilly King 2018: Kyle Snyder & Lilly King 2019: Bo Nickal & Megan Gustafson 2020s 2020: Chase Young & Dana Rettke 2021: Luka Garza & Sarah Bacon 2022: Gable Steveson & Dana Rettke 2023: Zach Edey & Caitlin Clark 2024: Zach Edey & Caitlin Clark 2025: Carter Starocci & JuJu Watkins

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rachel Banham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Banham) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Banham?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.