Elizabeth Williams Bio
Elizabeth Olatayo Williams is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Chicago Sky of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Galatasaray of the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League. Born on June 23, 1993, she played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils before being selected fourth overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2015 WNBA draft. Williams has built a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable interior defenders, earning WNBA Most Improved Player honors in 2016 and an All-Star selection in 2017.
Early Life and Background
Elizabeth Olatayo Williams was born on June 23, 1993, in Colchester, England, to Nigerian parents. Her dual cultural heritage shaped her international outlook, and she later came to represent both the United States and her Nigerian roots throughout her basketball journey. She grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she attended Princess Anne High School and quickly established herself as one of the top young players in the country.
During her high school years, Williams was a dominant presence in the paint. She earned the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year award in 2011 and was named the Most Valuable Player of the McDonald’s All-American Game that same year. Her early success in international competitions included leading the first U.S. U16 team to a gold medal at the 2009 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Mexico, where she was named Most Valuable Player, followed by another gold with the U17 squad in France in 2010.
Path to Basketball
Williams’ path to professional basketball was forged through USA Basketball’s developmental pipeline. After winning gold at the 2009 U16 and 2010 U17 levels, she joined the U19 team that captured another gold medal at the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship in Chile, averaging 8.9 points and 5.0 rebounds across the tournament. Those international experiences sharpened her defensive instincts and prepared her for the rigors of college basketball at a high level.
Her standout high school play translated directly into a recruitment battle that she won decisively. She was named the ACC Rookie of the Year and the USBWA National Freshman of the Year in 2012 after arriving at Duke. Over four seasons with the Blue Devils, she became one of the most decorated defenders in program history, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors four consecutive times and finishing her career with 426 blocks, the ninth-highest total in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history at the time.
Elizabeth Williams Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
Williams was selected fourth overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2015 WNBA draft. Her rookie season was brief in terms of team tenure, as she appeared only in 2015 with the Sun before being traded to the Atlanta Dream ahead of the 2016 campaign. During that single year in Connecticut, she averaged 3.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game while learning the professional game.
Parallel to her rookie WNBA year, Williams began her overseas career with İstanbul Üniversitesi in Turkey during the 2015–2016 season. The move gave her valuable experience in a different style of basketball and helped her develop the physical toughness that would soon become a trademark. That offseason work, combined with her improved skill set, set the stage for a breakout second season in the WNBA.
Atlanta Dream Breakthrough (2016–2021)
Williams’ trade to the Atlanta Dream proved transformative. In her first year with the team, she posted averages of 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, a dramatic leap from her rookie numbers. That performance earned her the WNBA Most Improved Player Award for 2016 and firmly established her as one of the league’s premier defensive centers.
The following year, she was selected to the WNBA All-Star team in 2017, capping a remarkable two-year rise. She spent the bulk of her WNBA career with the Dream, anchoring the team’s interior defense and serving as a vocal leader on and off the court. In 2020, she was named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team, cementing her status among the elite defenders in the league. Her time in Atlanta was also marked by activism, as she and her teammates publicly opposed co-owner Senator Kelly Loeffler’s political positions and supported Raphael Warnock in his successful 2020 special election campaign for U.S. Senate in Georgia.
Washington Mystics Era (2022)
Following the 2021 season, Williams signed with the Washington Mystics for her eighth WNBA season, a move she explained in a February 2022 article for The Players’ Tribune. The change of scenery offered her a fresh start with a contending organization. She contributed as a veteran post presence, providing leadership and rim protection to a Mystics roster aiming to remain in championship contention.
Chicago Sky Era (2023–Present)
On February 3, 2023, Williams signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Sky, joining a franchise in transition. She became a stabilizing force in the paint, and on September 29, 2024, she signed a one-year extension to remain with the Sky. Her 2024 campaign was cut short when she suffered a torn meniscus on June 6, 2024, sidelining her for the remainder of the season. Despite the injury, the team moved quickly to secure her services, signaling her importance to the franchise’s long-term plans.
Playing Style and Strengths
Williams is widely regarded as one of the WNBA’s most reliable interior defenders, with elite shot-blocking instincts and the ability to guard multiple positions in the post. Her 6-foot-3 frame and timing allow her to disrupt opponents at the rim, while her high basketball IQ makes her an effective communicator on the defensive end. Offensively, she has developed a consistent mid-range jumper and finishing ability around the basket, complementing her rebounding and screen-setting skills.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Williams’ signature accomplishments are her 2016 WNBA Most Improved Player Award, her 2017 All-Star selection, and her 2020 WNBA All-Defensive First Team honor. She also became a 2023 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team selection and added an All-Defensive Second Team nod in 2023. Her four-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year awards at Duke and her place in the NCAA top ten for career blocks underline her consistent defensive excellence across every level of the sport.
Elizabeth Williams Career Wins
Throughout her professional career, Elizabeth Olatayo Williams has earned a collection of team championships and individual honors across multiple leagues. Her trophy case includes a Turkish Super League title in 2022, a Turkish Presidential Cup in 2019, and a Turkish Cup in 2020. She was also named WBCA Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 following her senior season at Duke.
WNBA Highlights
In the WNBA, Williams has earned three major individual awards: Most Improved Player in 2016, an All-Star selection in 2017, and All-Defensive First Team honors in 2020. She added a WNBA All-Defensive Second Team selection in 2023, further recognizing her sustained defensive impact. Her 2016 trade from Connecticut to Atlanta proved the turning point that launched her into league-wide recognition.
Other Wins and Performances
Overseas, Williams’ stints with Turkish clubs, including Fenerbahçe, Botaş, Çukurova Basketbol, and Galatasaray, have produced her biggest team trophies. She won the Turkish Cup in 2020 with Fenerbahçe, the Turkish Presidential Cup in 2019, and the Turkish Super League championship in 2022. Internationally, she helped the United States win gold medals at the 2009 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship, and the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship, beginning a championship pedigree that has continued throughout her professional life.
Elizabeth Williams Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Elizabeth Olatayo Williams was born in Colchester, England, to Nigerian parents, giving her a rich dual heritage that has informed her identity and career. The family’s basketball tradition runs deep, as her younger brother, Mark Williams, followed in her footsteps at Duke, played college basketball for the Blue Devils, and was selected 15th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2022 NBA draft.
Personal Life
Williams has been a prominent voice on social and political issues, particularly during her time with the Atlanta Dream, when she and her teammates engaged in advocacy related to racial justice and the 2020 U.S. Senate election in Georgia. She continues to use her platform to speak on matters of importance to players and communities. Her brother Mark’s professional basketball career keeps the family closely connected to the sport at the highest levels.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks a new chapter for Elizabeth Olatayo Williams, who signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League on June 19, 2025. The move continues her long tradition of competing at a high level in Europe during the WNBA offseason and reflects her value as a veteran post player in the international market. Galatasaray, a storied Turkish club, provides another competitive platform for her to add to her overseas résumé.
Back in the WNBA, Williams remains under contract with the Chicago Sky, where she signed a one-year extension in September 2024 to remain with the franchise. After missing the latter portion of 2024 with a torn meniscus, her recovery and return to form will be a central storyline for the Sky. The team will look to her for veteran leadership, rim protection, and consistent interior scoring as it navigates its competitive schedule.
Williams enters 2025 with one of the most decorated defensive résumés in the league and a clear opportunity to add to it. Her combination of size, experience, and basketball intelligence makes her a difference-maker on both ends of the floor, and her continued presence with the Sky offers stability for a team in pursuit of postseason success.
