Ryneldi Becenti

Ryneldi Becenti (born August 11, 1971) is a retired American professional basketball player. She became the first Native American to play in the WNBA when she played for the Phoenix Mercury in 1997.

High school

Becenti attended Window Rock High School in Fort Defiance, Arizona, and in 1989, Scottsdale Community College in Phoenix. She was the country's top junior college point guard in 1990–91, and left Scottsdale a two-time NJCAA All-American.

Professional career

In 1995, Becenti was playing professional basketball in Sweden. She also played in Greece and, briefly, Turkey. She was the first Native American woman to play professional basketball for a foreign nation. In 1997, she signed with the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA as a free agent and played in their inaugural season. In 1998, she was drafted by the Chicago Condors in the American Basketball League.

Honors

In 1996, she became the first female basketball player to be inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame.

Career statistics

WNBA Source

Regular season

College