Nia Coffey (born June 11, 1995) is an American professional basketball player with the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). A small forward, she was drafted with the fifth overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft, which is the highest of any Northwestern basketball player in school history.[1]

Nia Coffey
Coffey with the Atlanta Dream in 2023
No. 12 – Atlanta Dream
PositionSmall forward
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1995-06-11) June 11, 1995 (age 29)
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight182 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High schoolHopkins (Minnetonka, Minnesota)
CollegeNorthwestern (2013–2017)
WNBA draft2017: 1st round, 5th overall pick
Selected by the San Antonio Stars
Playing career2017–present
Career history
20172018San Antonio Stars / Las Vegas Aces
2019Atlanta Dream
2020Phoenix Mercury
2021Los Angeles Sparks
2022–presentAtlanta Dream
Career highlights and awards
  • 4× First-team All-Big Ten (2014–2017)
  • Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2014)
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing the  United States
FIBA Under-19 World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2013 Lithuania Team

Coffey went to Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota where she was a McDonald's All-American.[2]

She is the daughter of former NBA player, Richard Coffey, and the sister of NBA player, Los Angeles Clipper Amir Coffey.[3]

College career

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Nia Coffey Entered her first year at Northwestern as the starting Power Forward. On November 5, 2013, she made her collegiate debut recording 14 pts, 6 Rebounds, 4 Assists and 2 blocks in a 98–57 win over Lewis University.[4] At the end of her freshman season she was the first player in Northwestern History to be named first team all Big Ten as a freshman.[5]

On January 29, 2015, Coffey hit her career high of 35 points in a 102–99 loss against Iowa[6]

In Her Junior Season she broke the Northwestern Wildcats women's basketball record for most rebounds in a season with 344. Which she held until the 2017–2018 season.[7] She ended that season as an Honorable Mention for a spot on the WBCA All American Team and on the AP All American Team [5]

In her Senior Season Coffey Broke the NU Records for most Consecutive Games scoring in Double Figures, Total Rebounds, Free Throws Made, Free Throw Attempts and FGA in a career. She received another Honorable Mention for the AP All American Team.[8]

Nia Coffey ended her career as the first Player in NU history to make the All Big Ten First Team (Coaches) in all 4 years of playing. She also made All Big Ten First Team (Media) in her final 3 seasons. Coffey Led NU in scoring and rebounding for all 4 years of her career.[8]

Professional career

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San Antonio Stars / Las Vegas Aces

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On April 13, 2017, Coffey was drafted by the San Antonio Stars with the 5th pick of the 2017 WNBA Draft.[9] This was the highest any NU Basketball player had ever been drafted.

She made her debut on May 13, 2017, in the season opener against the New York Liberty[10]

On May 27, 2018, she scored her career high of 23 points in a 98–103 loss against the Seattle Storm.[11]

Atlanta Dream (first stint)

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on April 11, 2019, she was traded to the Atlanta Dream in a 3 team trade where the Aces received Sugar Rodgers.[12]

Phoenix Mercury

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On February 19, 2020, Coffey was traded to the Phoenix Mercury as part of a three-team trade.[13]

On February 10, 2021, Coffey was waived.[14]

Los Angeles Sparks

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On March 4, 2021, Coffey was signed to the Los Angeles Sparks[15]

On June 1, 2021, she got a career-high 6 blocks in a game against the Dallas Wings[16]

This season Coffey scored a Career High 8.3 PPG and also received a career high in minutes.

Atlanta Dream (second stint)

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On February 1, 2022, Coffey Signed a 1-year deal with the Dream.[17]

On February 1, 2023, Coffey Re-Signed a 2nd 1-year deal with the dream.[18]

On February 1, 2024, Coffey Re-Signed with the dream on a 2-year contract.[19]

National career

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Coffey played for Team USA in the 2013 Fiba Under 19 World Championship for Women. She broke the Team USA record for most free throws without a miss in the U19 tournament with 11.[20]

Career statistics

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WNBA

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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

Regular season

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Stats current through end of 2024 season

WNBA regular season statistics[21]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2017 San Antonio 27 1 7.8 .271 .000 .727 1.9 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.8
2018 Las Vegas 28 10 13.8 .380 .400 .618 2.4 0.6 0.3 0.2 1.4 5.3
2019 Atlanta 28 6 13.9 .338 .379 .548 2.8 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.8 5.0
2020 Phoenix 15 1 15.3 .421 .333 .167 2.5 0.8 0.3 0.3 0.5 2.7
2021 Los Angeles 32° 17 25.2 .421 .417 .778 3.8 0.9 0.8 1.2 1.4 8.3
2022 Atlanta 16 16 21.0 .347 .290 .742 5.2 0.8 0.6 0.1 2.2 6.4
2023 Atlanta 31 31 21.9 .432 .402 .625 4.8 1.5 0.5 1.2 1.5 6.9
2024 Atlanta 40 11 13.3 .324 .273 .762 2.4 1.2 0.3 0.7 1.0 3.3
Career 8 years, 4 teams 217 93 16.4 .377 .364 .656 3.1 0.8 0.5 0.6 1.1 5.0

Playoffs

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WNBA playoff statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2024 Atlanta 2 0 11.0 .333 .250 2.0 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 3.5
Career 1 year, 1 team 2 0 11.0 .333 .250 2.0 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 3.5

College

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NCAA statistics[22]
Year Team GP Points FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2013-14 Northwestern 32 490 46.4% 31.3% 66.9% 8.1 2.1 1.7 1.8 15.3
2014–15 Northwestern 32 505 44.0% 32.8% 62.1% 8.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 15.8
2015–16 Northwestern 35 711 43.2% 31.4% 62.5% 9.8 2.1 1.1 2.1 20.3
2016–17 Northwestern 29 581 42.9% 28.0% 71.2% 10.4 2.7 1.2 1.4 20.0
Career 128 2287 44.0% 30.7% 65.9% 9.2 2.1 1.4 1.8 17.9

References

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  1. ^ Thompson, Phil (April 15, 2017). "WNBA draft pick Nia Coffey (and her puppy) ready to run with the big dogs". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  2. ^ Armacost, Lyndsey (November 2, 2015). "Nia Coffey hates to lose, and that's why she never has". SB Nation. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  3. ^ "WNBA draft pick Nia Coffey makes brother and Gopher Amir Coffey proud". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "2013 14 box score stats 20131107aaa" (PDF). nusports.com. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "DIFFERENCE MAKER". Northwestern. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  6. ^ "No. 20 Iowa women break record for 3s, beat Northwestern". AP. January 29, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  7. ^ "Nia Coffey". nusports.com. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "2020 21 WBB Record Book" (PDF). nusports.com. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  9. ^ "2017 WNBA draft results". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  10. ^ "Liberty 73-64 Stars (May 13, 2017) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  11. ^ Spruill, Tamryn (May 28, 2018). "Aces lose to Storm at Mandalay Bay home opener, still win big". Swish Appeal. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "Atlanta Dream Acquire Nia Coffey in Trade – Atlanta Dream". dream.wnba.com. April 11, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  13. ^ "Dream Acquire Courtney Williams In Three-Team Trade". dream.wnba.com. February 19, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Spruill, Tamryn (February 1, 2021). "Natasha Cloud, Seimone Augustus should be no-brainer signings for any team". Swish Appeal. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  15. ^ "Sparks Sign Nia Coffey". sparks.wnba.com. March 4, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  16. ^ Nemchock, Eric (June 8, 2021). "Coffey, Hines-Allen putting up solid fantasy stat lines at PF position". Swish Appeal. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  17. ^ "Dream Bring Back Hayes, Coffey as Key Pieces to 2022 Roster". dream.wnba.com. February 1, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  18. ^ "Nia Coffey and AD Re-Sign with Atlanta". dream.wnba.com. February 1, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  19. ^ "Atlanta Dream Sign Tina Charles and Aerial Powers; Re-sign Nia Coffey". dream.wnba.com. February 1, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  20. ^ "5x5 Women's U19 World Cup History". usab.com. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  21. ^ "Nia Coffey WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  22. ^ "NCAA Statistics". web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
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