Natalie Williams (2004) - Hall of Fame

Natalie Williams

Induction:
2004

Arguably, the greatest two-sport athlete in UCLA history, Williams was the first-ever woman to earn first-team All-American honors in both basketball and volleyball in the same year (1992-93). A four-year starter (1989-92) and three-time 1st team All-American in volleyball, Williams was twice the recipient of the prestigious Honda Award given to the Most Outstanding Collegiate Woman Athlete in the sport of volleyball. Williams was twice named NCAA Tournament MVP while leading the Bruins to consecutive NCAA Championships in 1990 and 1991. She set UCLA records by hitting .416 in 1992 and hammering 43 kills in a match in 1991. She also set the career kill mark (since broken) with 2115. Williams also starred for four years on the hardwood for the Bruins (1991-94) and was twice named first-team All-American. In basketball, Williams was a three-time All-Conference performer and was named the Conference Player of the Year in 1994. Williams was twice the Pac-10 scoring leader and led the Pac-10 in rebounding on three occasions. Williams averaged 20.4 ppg for the Bruins and her rebounding average of 12.8 ranks first all-time in Pac-10 history. She had career high games of 43 points and 25 rebounds. Williams earned Pac-10 Player of the Week sixteen times (eight in each sport) and in February 1996, she was selected the Pac-10 Female Athlete of the Decade (1987-96). After graduation, Williams played two seasons with the Portland of the American Basketball League. In 1997-98, she enjoyed a MVP season leading the league in both scoring and rebounding. In 1999, she played for Utah (WNBA) and ranked first in the league in rebounding and fourth in scoring. In the summer of 2000, she helped the USA women's basketball team win the gold medal at the Olympic Games. Williams continues to play in the WNBA and with the National team.

* Accomplishments listed above were at the time of induction.