Natasha Mack
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
.jpg) Mack with the Phoenix Mercury in 2024 | |
| No. 4 – Phoenix Mercury | |
|---|---|
| Position | Forward |
| League | WNBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | November 3, 1997 Lufkin, Texas, U.S. |
| Nationality | American / Montenegrin |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 182 lb (83 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Lufkin (Lufkin, Texas) |
| College |
|
| WNBA draft | 2021: 2nd round, 16th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Chicago Sky |
| Playing career | 2021–present |
| Career history | |
| 2021 | Chicago Sky |
| 2021 | Minnesota Lynx |
| 2021–2023 | AZS UMCS Lublin |
| 2023 | Mainland Pouākai |
| 2023–2024 | Botaş SK |
| 2024–present | Phoenix Mercury |
| 2025 | Uni Girona CB |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Natasha Mack (born November 3, 1997)[1] is an American-Montenegrin[2] basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played for Oklahoma State University and Angelina College in her native Lufkin, Texas before being drafted by the Chicago Sky in the 2021 WNBA draft.
Mack was born in Lufkin, Texas.[3] She played for Lufkin High School's basketball team. She was ranked as a four-star prospect after high school and was recruited to play at the University of Houston.[4] However, she left the university shortly afterwards, after feeling burnout, a lack of fit with the team, and tensions at home.[5][4] She returned to Lufkin and worked at a poultry plant, "shearing the wings off of chicken."[5][4]
College career
A year after graduating from high school and leaving Houston, Mack was recruited by Randy McKelvey, an assistant basketball coach at Angelina College, a local community college in Lufkin. She was initially reluctant to return to basketball, but agreed to do so a few days later.[4] She was selected to a junior-college all-star event after her first season and was named a junior-college All-American and won the NJCAA Player of the Year Award after her sophomore season.[4][3]
After her senior season, she was selected to the Big-12 All-Defensive Team First-Team and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and WBCA Defensive Player of the Year.[6][7][8]
Professional career
Chicago Sky (2021)
Mack was drafted in the second round of the 2021 WNBA draft by the Chicago Sky. She was waived by the Sky on May 13, 2021,[9] but was re-signed by the team shortly afterwards on May 18.[10] Mack went back and forth with signing Hardship Contracts with the Sky until ultimately being let go for the last time in June 2021.[11]
Minnesota Lynx (2021)
Mack signed a 7-day contract with the Lynx on July 6, 2021.[12]
Phoenix Mercury (2024)
After two years playing overseas in Poland, New Zealand and Turkey, Mack signed with the Phoenix Mercury for the 2024 WNBA season. On May 14, 2024, she earned her first WNBA career start in Mercury's opening loss at the Las Vegas Aces.[13]