Alaina Coates
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(Irmo, South Carolina)
 Coates with the Minnesota Lynx in 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | April 7, 1995 Irmo, South Carolina, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Dutch Fork (Irmo, South Carolina) | ||||||||||||||
| College | South Carolina (2013–2017) | ||||||||||||||
| WNBA draft | 2017: 1st round, 2nd overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Drafted by | Chicago Sky | ||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2017–present | ||||||||||||||
| Position | Center | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Sopron Basket | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Chicago Sky | ||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Zhejiang Far East | ||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Minnesota Lynx | ||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Atlanta Dream | ||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Hatay Büyükşehir Belediyespor | ||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Washington Mystics | ||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Ramat HaSharon | ||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Nesibe Aydın GSK | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Indiana Fever | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Galatasaray | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Phoenix Mercury | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Las Vegas Aces | ||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Nesibe Aydın GSK | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | BC Castelnuovo Scrivia | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | |||||||||||||||
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| Stats at WNBA.com | |||||||||||||||
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Alaina Denise Coates (born April 7, 1995) is an American professional basketball player who is a free agent. She played college basketball for the University of South Carolina.
Coates enjoyed a stellar high school career. She was both a McDonald's and Parade All-American. She was chosen as the 2013 Gatorade South Carolina Player of the Year, South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association (SCBCA) Class 4A Player of the Year, Charlotte Observer South Carolina Miss Basketball, and became a three-time SCBCA Class 4A all-state selection.
During her senior season, she posted 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game while leading her team to back-to-back state championships (including an undefeated 29–0 season in 2012–13.)
College career
Heavily recruited by power programs, she was ranked the 28th overall player as part of a high-profile 2013 recruiting class. After receiving offers from Tennessee, and Georgia, she eventually chose South Carolina to play for her hometown team. She went on to become a 4x All-SEC player, and All-American. Coates played a crucial part in helping South Carolina become a national powerhouse. In her senior season, Coates injured her ankle, which caused her to miss South Carolina's SEC Tourney & National Championship run. Coates finished the season averaging 13.4 ppg and 11.1 rpg.
Professional career
WNBA
Chicago Sky
After her senior season, Coates was drafted second overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2017 WNBA draft. In April 2017, it was announced that Coates would miss part of the 2017 WNBA season following ankle surgery.[1] However, a timetable for her return still wasn't determined and Coates would end up missing the entire season.[2] In February 2018, Coates officially signed with the Sky.[3] She made her career debut on May 19, 2018, in the Sky's season opener against the Indiana Fever, she scored 5 points in 12 minutes of play in an 82–64 victory.[4] On July 3, 2018, Coates scored in double digits for the first time with 10 points in 16 minutes of play during a 108–85 loss to the Dallas Wings.[5] By the end of the season, the Sky finished 13–21, missing out on the playoffs.
Minnesota Lynx
On May 21, 2019, Coates was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for a 2020 third-round draft pick.[6] On July 14, 2019, Coates was waived by the Minnesota Lynx.
Atlanta Dream
On July 17, 2019, Coates signed with the Atlanta Dream.
Washington Mystics
Coates signed with the Washington Mystics on June 29, 2020, and made her debut for the team on the opening day of the season.[7]
Indiana Fever
On February 7, 2023, Coates signed with the Indiana Fever on a training camp contract.[8] Coates was temporarily suspended on May 5, due to overseas commitments, and was activated May 11. The Fever waived Coates on June 7, 2023.[9]
Phoenix Mercury
On June 27, 2023, Coates signed a Hardship Contract with the Phoenix Mercury.[10] Coates appeared in 2 games for the Mercury and was released from the hardship contract on June 29, 2023.
Las Vegas Aces
On August 2, 2023, Coates signed a 7-Day Contract with the Las Vegas Aces.[11] Coates stayed with Aces following the 7-Day, signing a 2nd and 3rd 7-Day Contract with Las Vegas.[12] After her 3rd 7-Day Contract, Coates signed a rest-of-season hardship contract to remain with the Aces.[13]
Overseas
In October 2018, Coates signed with Zhejiang Far East of the Chinese League for the 2018-19 off-season.[14]
Coates played for Nesibe Aydın GSK of the Turkish Women's Basketball Super League (TKBL) in the 2021–2022 season.[15]
On October 5, 2022, she signed with Galatasaray.[16]
Coates returned to Nesibe Aydın GSK for the 2023–2024 season.[17]
She played for BC Castelnuovo Scrivia of the Lega Basket Femminile from September to December 2024.[18]
Personal life
Alaina is the daughter of Gary and Pamela Coates. She has an older brother, Gary. Her uncle, Ben Coates, is retired from the NFL and was a member of the Baltimore Ravens first Super Bowl. While at South Carolina, she majored in sociology. In March 2018, Coates's father died of cardiac arrest.[19]
