Rachel Banham Bio
Rachel Banham is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the Lunar Owls of Unrivaled. Banham played guard for the Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s basketball team, where she set a number of team records. She was drafted by the Connecticut Sun with the 4th pick of the 2016 WNBA draft. Banham was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in 2020 and later re-signed with the Sun in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Rachel Banham was born on July 15, 1993, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She attended Lakeville North High School in Lakeville, Minnesota, where she graduated in 2011. Banham began her basketball career early, starting on the varsity team as an eighth-grade student. During her senior year, she averaged 17.8 points per game, 5.3 rebounds, and four assists, leading her team to a 29–3 record and a conference championship.
Path to Basketball
After high school, Rachel Banham continued her education and basketball career at the University of Minnesota. She started all 36 games her freshman year and was named Freshman All-American First Team and Big Ten Freshman of the Year. During her freshman year, she averaged 16.1 points per game, ranking her 97th in the nation. In her sophomore year, she averaged 20.7 points per game, becoming the second-leading sophomore scorer in NCAA Division I. Banham’s junior year saw her average 22.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Unfortunately, she suffered a season-ending ACL injury early in her senior season but returned to have a remarkable final year, becoming the Gophers’ all-time leading scorer and tying an NCAA record with a 60-point game against Northwestern on February 7, 2016.
Rachel Banham Career
Early Career (2016-2019)
Rachel Banham was selected 4th overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2016 WNBA draft. In her rookie season, she played in 15 games, averaging 10.9 minutes, 3.7 points, 1 assist, and 1 rebound per game. However, her rookie year was cut short due to an MCL injury. Her best year with the Sun came in 2018 when she averaged a career-high 5.2 points.
Breakthrough (2020-2023)
On February 25, 2020, Banham was acquired by the Minnesota Lynx in a sign-and-trade deal. During the 2020 Bubble Season, she showed significant improvement, averaging 6.9 points and 2.4 assists per game. She had her best game against the Indiana Fever, scoring a career-high 29 points and 10 assists. In 2021, her role decreased due to team changes, but she was re-signed mid-season. In February 2024, Banham returned to the Connecticut Sun, where she set a WNBA record with 8 three-pointers off the bench on July 14, 2024. Shortly after, she was traded to the Chicago Sky.
Notable Works and Milestones
Rachel Banham’s signature work includes her record-setting performance in college and her impressive scoring ability in the WNBA. She has received multiple accolades, including being named Big Ten Player of the Year in 2016.
Rachel Banham Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Rachel Banham has received numerous nominations and accolades, including being named First-team All-American and Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year in 2016.
Rachel Banham Awards Won
Rachel Banham has achieved significant recognition in her career, including being named Big Ten Player of the Year and setting multiple records during her time at the University of Minnesota.
Rachel Banham Family
Rachel Banham is engaged to Andre Hollins, a fellow athlete. Their engagement was announced on January 2, 2022.
Personal Life
Rachel Banham maintains a relatively private personal life, focusing on her professional career and engagement. She continues to be an influential figure in women’s basketball, inspiring many young athletes.
