Kia Vaughn

Kia Vaughn (born January 24, 1987) is an American-born former professional basketball player. She last played for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) She attended high school at St. Michael's All Girls High School in New York, and later went on to star at Rutgers University.

High school Born in the Bronx, New York, Vaughn played for St. Michael Academy in New York City, where she was named a WBCA All-American. Her father Linzell "Predator" Vaughn is a noted street ball player at Rucker Park. She participated in the 2005 WBCA High School All-America Game where she scored two points. That year, she helped lead the Rutgers women's basketball team to a Big East Conference championship. The Lady Scarlet Knights lost to the Tennessee Lady Vols in the NCAA championship game.

Vaughn continued to excel in her junior season, garnering Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association All-Met First Team honors along with being named to the All Big-East second team. She averaged 10 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game on the season. Her senior campaign was solid, but a little underwhelming as she averaged only 9.7 points per game 6.7 rebounds per game.

In her first season with the Mystics, she was a role player on the roster and then would be upgraded in the Mystics' starting lineup the following year at the five spot. In 2015, Vaughn would have an injury-riddled season, she missed the first half of the season due to a concussion, she made her return in the beginning of August and played 20 games. In the 2016 season, Vaughn would be fully healthy, playing all 34 games with 4 starts. In January 2017, the New York Liberty re-acquired Vaughan in a three-team trade deal that sent teammate Bria Hartley also to the Liberty, Carolyn Swords along with the 15th overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft to the Seattle Storm and the Mystics receiving two 2017 first round draft picks from the Storm.

In February 2018, Vaughn re-signed with the Liberty.

Vaughn did not play in the 2019 WNBA season, choosing to focus on her season in Turkey.

Vaughn signed with the Phoenix Mercury for the 2020 season. She would re-sign with the team in 2021.

On August 14, 2022, Vaughn announced her retirement.

Overseas From 2012 to 2015, Vaughn played three off-seasons in Czech Republic for ZVVZ USK Praha. In August 2016, Vaughn re-signed with ZVVZ USK Praha for the 2016-17 WNBA off-season In September 2017, Vaughn signed with Fenerbahçe Istanbul of the Turkish Super League for the 2017-18 off-season.

WNBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Litigation On August 14, 2007 Vaughn, one of the women involved in the controversial remarks made earlier that year by Don Imus and his producer Bernard McGuirk, filed suit against Imus, McGuirk, NBC Universal, CBS Corporation, MSNBC, CBS Radio, Viacom, Westwood One radio, citing slander, libel, and defamation of character. Vaughn was the only player to pursue legal damages brought on by the controversy. Vaughn dropped the lawsuit against Imus on September 11, 2007, citing her desire to "concentrate on her studies and basketball training."