Former Ags Coddington, White sign pro contracts
Former Utah State women’s basketball standouts Alice Coddington and Amber White have both signed professional contracts to continue their basketball careers.
Coddington signed with the TransACT Canberra Capitals who play in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) the premier league for women’s basketball in Australia. In the past six years, the Capitals have been to the championship game five times, including capturing four titles. After winning back-to-back titles, the Capitals lost in the championship game last season.
“I’m excited at the opportunity I was given to not only play in the WNBL, but to also play for Canberra my hometown team, where I can be surrounded with family. I’m also extremely grateful for my time spent at Utah State, and I feel it has really prepared me for the next level,” Coddington said.
The guard ended her time at Utah State as the career steals leader, finishing with 236 steals. Coddington also finished third in USU history for most assists with 334, also behind current assistant coach Danyelle Snelgro in second with 336 and Taylor Richards (2005-08) with 371. She was named to the Western Athletic Conference’s all-defensive team two-straight seasons.
White will continue her playing career with the OKE Panthers in Osnabruck, Germany. This season, the Panthers will play in the first Bundesliga which is the highest women’s basketball league in Germany. White will be joined on the team by two other Americans, Emma Cannon and Angela Pace. Cannon was a former standout at Florida Southern, while Pace was a former Northeast Conference Player of the Year at Robert Morris.
“I am very anxious to get over there and attempt to get accustomed to a whole new lifestyle, but I am very excited to have the opportunity to continue my playing career. They are a team on the rise definitely looking for success,” White said.
White averaged 5.7 points per game in her four years as an Aggie. The forward led the team in scoring, averaging 11.6 ppg during the 2009-10 season. White earned second team all-WAC honors in 2010.
“Watching your student-athletes achieve their goals on and off the court is such an honor. In the past few months, Alice and Amber have begun to see the rewards from their four years of hard work and commitment. They now have valuable degrees in hand from Utah State, established great tradition within our program and created lifelong memories and friendships, and now will become professional athletes. I am so proud of them,” USU head coach Raegan Pebley said.
Coddington and White join fellow senior Stacey Howard in the professional ranks. In April, Howard signed a semi-professional contract with the Bundaberg Bears in Bundaberg, Queensland, just four hours north of her hometown of Brisbane.
The 2011-12 Aggie women’s basketball team will return to the court on Friday, Nov. 11, opening the season at Wyoming.
Fans can follow USU women’s basketball at http://twitter.com/UTAHSTATEofmind and Utah State athletics at http://twitter.com/USUAthletics.