A WNBA veteran of 16 seasons is bringing her knowledge of the game and work ethic to an HBCU women’s basketball program.
Long-time WNBA forward Candice Dupree comes to Tennessee State University following two years with the San Antonio Spurs player development staff ready to help the Tigers, picked 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference’s preseason poll, become a team to watch out for.
Dupree, a seven-time WNBA All-Star, also looks forward to giving back to the game as well as the community.
“I think for me, working in the NBA is great, but I wanted my own thing. I don’t enjoy working for others and so here, I get to implement my own culture, my own set of rules,” Dupree said during a recent OVC coaches’ call. “I also wanted to find a way to give back to the women’s game. I also want to coach players that look like me and not only help them get through college but life after playing.”
Dupree played in the WNBA from 2006 to 2021, winning a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014.
Over her career with the Mercury, Chicago Sky, Seattle Storm, and Atlanta Dream, she averaged 14 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 49.5% from the field and 82.1% from the free-throw line. Following her retirement, she began working with the Spurs’ player development department.
Dupree believes the player development aspect of the job is still very important, noting that going from the pro ranks to college will take some getting used to.
“It’s definitely a unique experience; you come from a space of unlimited resources and money to the collegiate level. That was definitely a huge adjustment,” she said. “The development component is key, teaching them the foundation. Everybody complains about AAU being all about winning.
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“There’s no teaching involved. You’re trying to teach them the game, how to develop, and life after playing. Pro careers are very short, so you’ve got to gameplan, get out in the community, and network so you can build that database when you’re done playing.”
Dupree has seven newcomers on this year’s roster, and key returners such as last season’s leading scorer Sanaa’ St. Andre. The coach knows her work is cut out for her but believes she has the right players – and people – in place to jumpstart Tennessee State’s rebuild.
“I think they’re great humans outside of basketball,” Dupree said of her team. “They’ve been extremely great to work with. The buy-in has been great. They’ve responded well. The versatility on our roster, we’re not the biggest team by any means but I think we can get up and down the floor. As long as they keep buying in, we’ll surprise some people.”
The Tigers begin their season on Monday, Nov. 4, at home at the Gentry Center against NAIA school Cumberland.
